Abstract:
A device for locking an electric apparatus to a supporting rail with two opposite raised edges, the device including a first attachment unit configured to be connected with a first raised edge of the supporting rail; a second attachment unit configured to be connected with a second opposite raised edge of the supporting rail, configured to be movable in an unlocked position; and an operating element connected to the first and second attachment units and configured to convert a translation movement of the first attachment unit into a rotary movement of the second attachment unit, the second attachment unit including a rod that is configured to perform the rotary movement when actuated by the translation movement of the operating element.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   (1) Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a device for attaching an electric apparatus onto a supporting rail with two opposite raised edges. The invention is particularly suitable for the attachment of an electric apparatus onto a DIN rail. 
   (2) Description of the Related Art 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,775,955 reveals a device for attaching an electronic module onto a DIN rail having two opposite coplanar raised edges. The attachment device comprises two distinct and independent plates intended to be slid into two lateral openings formed on the body of the module. Each plate makes it possible to come and lock the module onto a raised edge of the rail. In this patent, the attachment of the module is not very practical because it requires two successive manipulations. 
   Also known via U.S. Pat. No. 5,704,805 is a device for attaching an electric apparatus onto a DIN rail having two opposite raised edges comprising a single control point. For that, the device comprises two hooks each intended to receive a raised edge of the rail and an actuator capable of controlling the simultaneous movement of the two hooks. The actuator consists of a screw acting on the two hooks by means of a plate. Screwing/unscrewing the screw causes the plate to move which in turn causes the hooks to move. 
   In such a device, even if the control means is one and the same for locking the apparatus onto the two raised edges of the rail, it requires a specific control means which markedly increases the number of parts necessary to manufacture it. In addition, with such a configuration, a user must carry out an action on the screw with the aid of a screwdriver while he holds the electric apparatus on the rail, which proves awkward in use. Finally, such an attachment device is accessible only inside the electric apparatus and therefore is impossible to manipulate when, for example, the apparatus is closed and ready for use. 
   Documents U.S. Pat. No. 6,293,820, DE 197 09 811, U.S. Pat. No. 5,842,889 and WO 00/62385 all propose coupling devices comprising an actuation means that can be accessed from the outside by the operator and making it possible to actuate two coupling means simultaneously on each of the raised edges of the rail. Document U.S. Pat. No. 5,842,889 in particular describes an attachment device comprising a rod movable in translation furnished with one end for holding and one end interacting with an actuation mechanism consisting mainly of two flexible branches connected to the apparatus and furnished with coupling means. The translation of the rod in the direction of the rail causes the branches to stretch and the apparatus to clamp onto the rail. 
   In the latter documents, the actuation member is also specific and makes it possible to actuate simultaneously the two coupling means on each of the raised edges of the supporting rail. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The object of the invention is to propose a device for locking an electric apparatus onto a supporting rail that is simple in its design and in its use while allowing a very good coupling of the electric apparatus. 
   This object is achieved by a device for locking an electric apparatus onto a supporting rail with two opposite raised edges, said device having at least two attachment means, a first attachment means intended to come into contact with one raised edge of the supporting rail and a second attachment means intended to come into contact with the opposite raised edge of the supporting rail, these attachment means being movable and able to take a locked position on their respective raised edge of the supporting rail or an unlocked position, said device being characterized in that it comprises operating means connecting the first attachment means to the second attachment means and capable of converting a translation movement of the first attachment means into a rotary movement of the second attachment means. 
   The locking device according to the invention makes it possible to come and lock an electric apparatus onto the rail using a single operation while causing the movement of the second attachment means via the movement of the first attachment means. 
   According to the invention, it is therefore by commanding in translation the first attachment means that the second attachment means is simultaneously actuated in rotation. 
   According to a first particular feature, the operating means comprise an actuation member capable of causing a translation movement integral with the movement of the first attachment means. According to the invention, the translation movement of the actuation member performed by the operator to couple the electric apparatus onto the supporting rail is therefore that which makes it possible to actuate the first attachment means. Unlike the prior patents, a single part is therefore used for the actuation of the device and to carry out the coupling onto one of the raised edges of the rail. 
   According to another particular feature, the translation movement of the actuation member is performed perpendicularly to the axis of the supporting rail and parallel to a bearing plane formed by the raised edges of the supporting rail. In documents DE 197 09 811 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,842,889, the movement of the actuation member is performed perpendicularly to the axis of the rail and perpendicularly to the bearing plane formed by the raised edges of the supporting rail. 
   According to another particular feature, the second attachment means comprises two distinct attachment points on the raised edge of the supporting rail. Thus, the electric apparatus is locked onto the rail at three distinct points which makes it possible to obtain a perfect stability of the apparatus on the rail. According to the invention, the locking of the apparatus onto the supporting rail at three points is achieved by a single control movement. 
   According to a first embodiment of the invention, the second attachment means comprises, for each of its attachment points, a rod fixedly attached to the electric apparatus and mounted in rotation thereon, said rod comprising one end mounted in a guide rail formed in the actuation member and one free end capable of coming to lock said electric apparatus onto a raised edge of the supporting rail. 
   According to a second embodiment of the invention, the second attachment means comprises, for each of its attachment points, a rod fixedly attached to the electric apparatus and mounted in rotation thereon, said rod and the actuation member being connected by means of an elastically deformable part. 
   According to a particular feature of this second embodiment, the rod, the elastically deformable part and the actuation member form a single part. 
   According to the invention, the translation movement of the actuation member rotates the two rods in opposite directions. 
   Advantageously, the attachment device according to the invention comprises two identical rods mounted in parallel, symmetrically relative to the axis of translation of the actuation member. With such an arrangement, the electric apparatus is locked onto the rail at three distinct points, one point on the top raised edge of the supporting rail and two points on the bottom raised edge of the supporting rail. 
   Advantageously, at its free end, the rod has a rib in which the raised edge of the supporting rail is capable of coming to lodge when the second attachment means is in its locked position. This makes it possible to improve the locking of the electric apparatus onto the supporting rail. 
   According to another particular feature, the actuation member is controlled manually. The actuation member is for example accessible from the outside of the electric apparatus. It may for example be a tab that it is possible to pull or to push to actuate the actuation member and therefore the rods connected to the actuation member. The single movement of the actuation member makes it possible therefore to lock the apparatus perfectly onto the rail. 
   Advantageously, the first attachment means comprises at least one coupling notch or hook formed on the actuation member and intended to receive the raised edge of the supporting rail. Thus the translation movement of the first attachment means formed by this hook corresponds to the translation movement of the actuation member. 
   Advantageously, the attachment device comprises a device capable of simultaneously holding the attachment means in their locked or unlocked position. It may for example involve elastically deformable hard points during the translation of the actuation member. 
   The device according to the invention is particularly suited for locking onto a supporting rail a plurality of electronic modules, such as for example various modules of a modular programmable logic controller, connected together by means of side connectors, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,775,955. In such a configuration, when a first module is present on the rail, a second module having to be connected to this first module is brought to rest against the raised edges of the rail and is slid until it is connected to the first module. Once the second module has been connected, its attachment device is actuated so as to be able to lock it onto the rail. The attachment device according to the invention therefore allows a user to come and connect and lock a large number of modules quickly with a minimum of manipulations. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other features and advantages will appear in the following detailed description with reference to an embodiment given as an example and represented by the appended drawings in which: 
       FIGS. 1A and 1B  represent, in perspective, the inside of an electric apparatus furnished with an attachment device according to the invention respectively in a position of being unlocked from a supporting rail and in a position of being locked onto this supporting rail. 
       FIGS. 2A and 2B  represent, in front view, the inside of the electric apparatus furnished with the attachment device according to the invention, respectively in a position of being unlocked from a supporting rail and a position of being locked onto this supporting rail. 
       FIG. 3  represents an exploded view in perspective of the electric apparatus and of the attachment device intended to be mounted on said apparatus. 
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  represent, in section along A-A respectively in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the electric apparatus respectively in a position of being locked onto the supporting rail and in a position of being unlocked from this rail. 
       FIG. 5  represents, in a front view, the rear of the electric apparatus attached to the supporting rail. 
       FIG. 6  represents in detail the plate used in the attachment device according to the invention. 
       FIG. 7  represents a rod used in the attachment device of the invention. 
   

   The invention will now be described in association with  FIGS. 1A to 7 . 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention consists of a device for attaching an electric apparatus  1  onto a supporting rail  2 . This supporting rail  2  extends along a main axis (A), is extruded and bent so as to have a hat-shaped cross section. It has a central web  20  connected to two parallel flanges  21 ,  22 , bent so as to form two raised edges  23 ,  24  situated in one and the same plane either side of the central web. The top raised edge  23  of the rail forms a top edge  25  and the bottom raised edge  24  of the rail forms a bottom edge  26 . The rail may support several electric apparatus placed adjacent to and where necessary connected to one another. 
   The electric apparatus  1  comprises a casing having a front panel (not shown), a rear panel  10 , two side panels  11 ,  12 , a top panel  13  and a bottom panel  14 . The rear panel  10  has a recess  103  forming a guide passageway at the bottom of which the two raised edges  23 ,  24  of the rail  2  come to bear. This guide passageway is formed over the whole width of the casing and has a spacing between its top face and its bottom face slightly greater than the width of the supporting rail  2 . The guide passageway therefore defines, on the outer face of the rear panel  10  of the casing, a flat bottom  100  against which the two raised edges  23 ,  24  of the supporting rail  2  come to rest, a top face  101  and a bottom face  102  forming an angle slightly greater than 90° with the bottom  100  of the guide passageway ( FIGS. 4A and 4B ). The electric apparatus  1  is attached by its rear panel  10  and for this is brought along an axis perpendicular to the bearing plane formed by the two raised edges  23 ,  24  of the supporting rail  2  so that the axis (A) of the supporting rail  2  is parallel with the width of the casing and so that the raised edges  23 ,  24  of the supporting rail  2  come to rest against the bottom  100  of the guide passageway formed on the rear panel  10  of the casing. 
   In  FIGS. 1A and 1B , it can also be seen that the casing has aeration slots  130 ,  140  through its top panel  13  and its bottom panel  14 . 
   The attachment device according to the invention is placed inside the casing of the electric apparatus  1  and attached to the inner face of the rear panel  10  of the casing ( FIG. 3 ). The attachment device according to the invention has in particular the advantage of not obstructing the aeration slots  140  formed on the bottom panel  14  of the casing of the electric apparatus  1 . 
   The attachment device comprises an actuation member consisting of an elongated plate  3 , sliding in a slide formed inside the casing. As shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , the plate  3  follows the inner shape of the rear panel  10  of the casing. With reference to  FIGS. 3 and 6 , the plate therefore mainly has a top part  30  and a bottom part  31  extending over the inner surface of the rear panel  10 , either side of the inner surface of the recess  103  of the rear panel  10  and an intermediate part  32  espousing said inner surface of the recess  103 . This intermediate part  32  has a greater length than the spacing distance between the two inner parallel edges formed by the recess  103 , in order to give the plate  3  a freedom in translation. 
   The slide is formed so that the plate  3  can move along its length along an axis perpendicular to the axis (A) of the supporting rail  2  on which the electric apparatus  1  is placed and parallel to the bearing plane formed by the raised edges  23 ,  24  of the supporting rail  2 . This slide consists of a rail  40  formed on the inner face of the rear panel  10  of the casing above the recess  103 , in which the top part  30  of the plate  3  slides, and consists of two tenons  41 ,  42 . A first tenon  41  ( FIG. 3 ) interacts with a first guide  33  formed on the top part  30  of the plate  3  and a second tenon  42  ( FIG. 3 ) interacts with a second guide  34  formed on the bottom part  31  of the plate  3 . 
   According to the invention, the first guide  33  formed on the top part  30  of the plate  3  has two successive constrictions or bosses  330  forming elastically deformable hard points during the translation of the plate  3  ( FIG. 6 ). These hard points make it possible to register the different positions of the plate  3  during the translation in the slide. In the direction of locking the electric apparatus  1  onto the supporting rail  2 , the top end-of-travel end of the second guide  34  forms a stop to the translation movement of the plate  3  in the slide. 
   To be able to be controlled by a user, the plate  3  has a top end forming a tab  35  protruding outside the casing through an opening formed through the top panel  13  of the casing. 
   The plate  3  also comprises a first attachment means consisting of a hook  36  ( FIG. 4B ) intended to receive a raised edge  23  of the supporting rail  2  and formed opposite an opening  104  formed through the rear panel  10  of the casing, at the corner situated between the top face  101  of the guide passageway of the electric apparatus  1  and the bottom  100  of this passageway ( FIG. 3 ). During the translation of the plate  3  in the direction of locking the electric apparatus  1 , this hook  36  will protrude from the opening  104 , on the outside of the casing to come and engage on the top raised edge  23  of the supporting rail  2 . 
   The plate  3  has, at its end opposite the tab  35 , on its bottom part  31 , two symmetrical wings  36 ,  37  ( FIG. 6 ) formed in the same plane as the bottom part  31  of the plate  3 . In each of the wings  36 ,  37  an oblong opening  360 ,  370  is formed oriented along an axis perpendicular to the axis of translation of the plate  3 . Each of these oblong openings  360 ,  370  forms a slide rail intended to receive an end  52  ( FIG. 7 ) of a rod  5 ,  6 . These rods  5 ,  6  form the second means of attaching the electric apparatus ( 1 ) onto the supporting rail  2  and each of them forms a distinct attachment point on the supporting rail  2 . These rods  5 ,  6  are identical, fixedly attached to the casing and mounted in rotation on the inner face of the rear panel  10  of the casing, symmetrically relative to the axis of translation of the plate  3 . The axis of rotation  50 ,  60  of the rods  5 ,  6  is perpendicular to the plane formed by the inner surface of the rear panel  10  of the supporting rail. The free end of each rod  5 ,  6 , situated beyond its axis of rotation relative to the end fixedly attached to the plate  3 , is placed facing an opening  7 ,  8  formed on the casing. These openings  7 ,  8  ( FIG. 3 ) are formed either side of the plate  3 , through the rear panel  10  of the casing, at the corner formed between the bottom  100  of the guide passageway of the casing and the bottom face  102  of this passageway. 
   Advantageously, the rods  5 ,  6  comprise, either side of their axis of rotation, two rigidly connected and angularly offset parts. Again advantageously, the free end of each rod  5 ,  6  may have a rib  51  intended to receive the bottom raised edge of the supporting rail  2  ( FIG. 7 ). 
   Between the two wings  36 ,  37  of the plate  3 , the second guide  34  is formed interacting with the tenon  42  formed on the inner face of the rear panel  10  of the casing to guide the plate  3  in translation relative to the casing. This second guide  34  will for example be shaped like a keyhole to make it easier to assemble/dismantle the plate  3 . 
   According to the invention, once the two raised edges  23 ,  24  of the supporting rail  2  are resting against the bottom  100  of the guide passageway of the casing of the electric apparatus  1 , a user comes to lock said casing onto the supporting rail  2 . To perform this locking, the user acts on the tab  35  of the plate  3 . In the unlocked position, the tab  35  is raised and the plate  3  is in the raised position. By pressing on the tab  35 , the plate  3 , guided by the slide formed on the inner face of the rear panel  10  of the casing, slides parallel to the bearing plane formed by the raised edges  23 ,  24  of the supporting rail  2  and perpendicular to the main axis (A). While moving, the hook  36  of the plate  3  protrudes outside the opening  104  and comes to engage on the top raised edge  23  of the supporting rail  2 . The translation of the plate  3  also causes each of the ends of the rods  5 ,  6  to slide into the oblong openings  360 ,  370  formed on the wings  36 ,  37  of the plate  3 . This sliding of the end of the rods  5 ,  6  causes the rods  5 ,  6  to rotate about their axis of rotation  50 ,  60 . The rods  5 ,  6  being disposed in parallel, the two rods  5 ,  6  rotate in opposite directions. Thanks to this rotation, the free end of each rod  5 ,  6  comes to rest against the bottom edge  26  of the supporting rail  2 . If the free end of each rod  5 ,  6  has a rib  51 , the bottom raised edge  24  of the supporting rail  2  is engaged in this rib  51 . When the electric apparatus  1  is locked onto the supporting rail, the part of each of the rods  5 ,  6  situated between its axis of rotation and its free end connected to the raised edge  24  of the supporting rail  2  follows an axis perpendicular to the main axis (A) of the supporting rail  2  (see  FIG. 2B ). With such a position of the rods  5 ,  6 , the locking of the electric apparatus  1  is irreversible without an intentional action on the plate  3  of the actuation member. Specifically, any unwarranted force exerted on the casing of the electric apparatus  1 , in a vertical plane and along an axis perpendicular to the axis (A) of the supporting rail  2 , cannot generate a force forming a sufficient torque to unlock the rods  5 ,  6 . 
   According to a variant embodiment of the invention, the plate and the rods form a single part. In such a configuration, the sliding of the end of each rod into its respective oblong opening is replaced by an elastic deformation between the rod and the plate. 
   It is clearly understood that it is possible, without departing from the context of the invention, to imagine other variants and enhancements of detail and even to envisage the use of equivalent means.