Method for the realisation of electrical connections, as well as a distribution device and elements used herewith

Abstract: Method for the realisation of electrical connections, characterized in that it consists in providing at least two conducting elements (1) which are provided with connection lips (2); removing a number of these connection lips (2) depending on the desired connections; applying the conducting elements (1), which are mutually electrally insulated, one above the other; applying the remaining connection lips (2) to connectors (7) depending on the desired connections.

Description: The present invention concerns a method for the realisation of electrical connections, as well as a distribution device, more particularly a branch box, and elements used hereby. The invention aims in the first place at the realisation of electrical connections in electrical feeding networks for lighting, power-joints and similar, but can in general be applied to electrical conducting networks of whatever nature, thus also in telephone networks, broadcasting networks, video networks, monitoring networks, data networks, electrical networks for detection systems and/or alarm groups, and so on. It is known that electrical connections can be realized by joining the concerned electrical conductors in a branch box by means of wire connectors. According to another known technique the conductors are joined to each other by screwing them in clamps. These techniques offer the inconvenience that only a limited number of connections is possible because of the generally limited space which is available in similar branch boxes. According to a more recent technique, use is made of electrical conductors which are joined to each other solely by using plugs and counterplugs. This technique, which offers the advantage that a wiring can be installed, which is quickly applied and easy to change, offers the inconvenience that still a cumbersome wiring in the branch boxes must be realized. From document GB-A-2.129.222, it is known to construct a distribution device by locating two or more conducting elements one above the other, said conducting elements having lips 2 which are offset in respect to each other. This distribution device shows the disadvantage that only a limited number of connections is possible, due to the fact that at one and the same location there is only a connection possible with one conducting element. Document DE-U-9108497 discloses a conducting element having connection lips which can be removed. These conducting elements are not apt to be mounted above each other and to be connected to the same connectors. Document FR 2.456.403 discloses a conducting element having connection lips, in which the lips are disposed at relatively large distances from each other. As a consequence, only a limited number of connections is possible. Document US 4.148.546 discloses an electrical power distribution assembly comprising plugs and counter plugs having contacts at a plurality of levels, resulting in several disadvantages. The invention aims at a method for the realisation of electrical connections, which allows to exclude the disadvantages of the said techniques. To this end the invention consists of a method for the realisation of electrical connections, for connecting electrical wires, whereby at least two conducting elements, comprising connection lips, are provided one above the other in a mutually electrically insulated manner, characterized in that said method also comprises the steps of removing a number of said connection lips depending on the desired connections and providing first connectors in the form of plugs or counter plugs to the remaining connection lips and plugging the wires to be connected by means of second connectors, in the shape of counter plugs or plugs fixed to these wires, into the first connectors. In such a way different connectors can be joined electrically to each other according to a great number of possibilities, by means of a very compact unit which is composed of the above-mentioned two or more plate-shaped conducting elements. Due to the fact that the plate-shaped conducting elements have a small thickness, a large number of them can be mounted one above the other, whereby rather complicated connections can also be realized. The invention is therefore particularly adapted for places where many electrical wires are to be installed, such as in offices, shop premises, warehouses, etc. The invention also aims at a distribution device which allows to realize electrical connections according to said method, which is moreover very convenient in its application. To this end the invention also relates to a distribution device, comprising a housing and two or more conducting elements located in said housing one above the other and mutually electrically insulated, characterized in that said conducting elements are provided with removable and bendable connection lips and in that the device is provided with connectors in the form of plugs or counter plugs, mounted in said housing and connected to non-removed connection lips, whereby these connectors allow that wires provided with connectors can be plugged into the first mentioned connectors. In order to better show the characteristics of the invention, is described a preferred embodiment of the invention hereafter as an example, without any limitative character, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which : figure 1 represents an elevational view of a conducting element of a distribution device according to the invention; figure 2 represents a view according to arrow F2 in figure 1; figure 3 schematically represents the method according to the invention, in an embodiment in which use is made of conducting elements such as represented in figures 1 and 2; figure 4 represents a view according to arrow F4 in figure 3; figures 5, 6 and 7 represent sectional views according to lines V-V, VI-VI and VII-VII in figure 4; figure 8 represents a perspective view of a distribution device according to the invention; figure 9 represents an elevational view of the bottom plate of the distribution device represented in figure 8; figures 10 and 11 represent sectional views according to lines X-X and XI-XI in figure 9; figure 12 represents a bottom view of the cover of the distribution device of figure 8; figures 13 and 14 represent sectional views according to lines XIII-XIII and XIV-XIV in figure 12; figure 15 represents a view such as in figure 12, in a partly assembled position; figure 16 represents a practical embodiment of an insulating plate, schematically represented in figure 3 and shown with arrow F16; figure 17 represents a view according to arrow F17 in figure 16; figure 18, represents in an enlarged scale, a sectional view according to line XVIII-XVIII in figure 15. According to the invention and as represented in figures 1 to 3, electrical connections are realized by means of plate-shaped conducting elements 1 which are provided with connection lips 2, whereby a number of these connection lips 2 can be removed depending on the connection which is to be realized, more specifically can be cut off, while the remaining connection lips 2 can be bent. The conducting elements 1, which are the main object of the invention, can hereby be of a different nature. Preferably they show a great number of connection lips 2 which extend in the four main directions. More specifically, the conducting elements 1 show an H-shaped basic structure, whereby connection lips 2 are applied both perpendicularly on the outer faces of the side legs 3-4 and perpendicularly on the two opposite faces of the center leg 5. A universal embodiment will be provided with a division of connection lips 2 such as represented in figure 1, more specifically with on each side leg 3-4 six connection lips 2 and with on each side of the center leg 5 nine connection lips 2. Preferably the conducting elements 1 are made of a flat plate with a thickness of 0,2 to 2 millimetre, of a material with a good electrical conductivity, for example copper or aluminium, which may be surface treated or not. In order to realize the method according to the invention, several conducting elements 1 are made available,of which a number of connection lips 2 are cut off depending on the electrical connection which must be made. In figure 3 one starts from three conducting elements 1, whereby the connection lips 2, which are cut off, are represented in dotted line. The used conducting elements 1, which preferably show an identical basic structure, are positioned the one above the other and placed the one above the other, whereby they are electrically insulated. The electrical insulation is hereby preferably realized by means of insulating plates 6 which are positioned between the conducting elements 1. By assembling the conducting elements 1 and the insulating plates 6 into a packet, a compact unit is obtained. Subsequently, according to the invention, and as schematically represented in figure 3, connectors 7 are placed on the connection lips 2 which have not been cutt off. To this end it is preferred to bend the connection lips 2, to be connected, of the conducting elements 1 situated at different levels, in such a way that the free ends thereof end up at the same level, which allows to connect multipolar connectors. The connection of the bent connection lips 2 to the connectors 7 is represented in detail in the figures 4 to 7. According to the invention, for bending, preferably use is made of a press, not represented in the figures, which fits the said packet of conducting elements 1 and the insulating plates 6, and which is realized in such a way that during pressing, each connection lip 2, which is not cut off, is bent into one and the same reference plane, which is preferably determined by a pressing plate joined to the press. As also represented in figures 3 to 7, preferably connectors 7 are used which can be mounted on the connection lips 2 by means of tension screws 8. According to the invention connectors 7 in the shape of plugs or counterplugs are used, in such a way that the electrical connection which is to be realized thereafter, can be simply done by plugging the ends of the wires 9 to be connected, by means of connectors 10, in the shape of plugs or counterplugs, into the connectors 7. It is, however, evident that the invention is not limited to connectors 7 and 10 in the shape of plugs and counterplugs. For example, instead of the latter, use can as well be made of lustre terminals or other connector elements. The invention also aims at a distribution device 11, more particularly a branch box, that allows to realize the said method in a practical way. To this end such distribution device 11, as represented in figure 8, is composed of a housing 12 in which the said conducting elements 1 are or will be located. Preferably the housing 12 such as represented in figures 9 to 14 is composed of a bottom plate 13 and of a cover 16 formed by an upper face 14 and downwardly directed side walls 15, whereby in the side walls 15 removable portions 17 are provided to form passages for the wires 9 and more particularly for the connectors 10. The bottom plate 13 and the cover 16 are hereby provided with matching coupling parts 18-19, preferably pen- or box-shaped, which fit or snap together in such a way that the housing 12, after having been assembled, can only be opened by breaking it. The housing 12 is, preferably at the four sides, provided with seats 20 for the connectors 7 and/or 10. According to the invention the distribution device 11 is preferably also provided with different abutting elements and/or locking elements for the connectors 7 and/or 10, as described hereunder. In order to keep the connectors 7 attached to the housing 12, protruding parts 21 are applied thereto which can co-operate with recesses at the bottom side of the connectors 7. These protruding parts 21 are preferably located on the bottom plate 13 as represented in the figures. Moreover, the bottom plates 13 is also provided with one or more abutting frames 22 against which the connectors 7 are seated. It is also preferred to apply to the housing 12, more particularly to the cover 16, locking elements in the shape of frames 23, between which, respectively behind which the said connectors 7 become locked when assembling the unit. To lock the connectors 10 after plugging, the bottom plate 13 is provided with one or more protruding parts 25, mounted on an elastically bendable part 24 thereof, which can co-operate with recesses applied in the bottom side of the connectors 10 which must be plugged in, whereby the bending of the elastically bendable parts 24 allows that the said connectors 10 normally are locked, but can still also be unplugged at each moment. The housing 12 which, as said hereabove is multipartial, presents passages 26 for the connectors 7 and/or 10. These passages 26 are preferably applied in the side walls 15 of the cover 16. They can be closed by means of the said removable portions 17. The passages 26 are preferably realized in such a way that the concerned connectors 7 and/or 10 are automatically kept in their seats when assembling the housing 12. Moreover, the housing 12 can also be provided of different means to fix the latter to a wall or to other objects. In the represented embodiment the bottom plate 13 is to this end provided with openings 27-28, in the bottom plate 13 andin the cover 16 respectively for applying screws. Also, the bottom plate 13 is provided with bow-shaped parts 29, through which a strip or similar can be put to allow the binding of the housing 12 to an object. According to a special characteristic, the housing 12 is also provided with seats for applying intermediate separating elements with which the housing 12 can be divided in electrically separated compartments. In the represented embodiment those seats can be made by recesses 30-31 which are aplied in frames 22-23. As schematically represented in the figures 9 and 12, intermediate separating elements 32 can then be applied between the bottom plate 13 and the upper face 14 of the cover 16. Hereby it is an aim that in such case not only the concerned connection lips 2 are cut off, but that also the basic structure of the conducting elements 1 at the spot of the intermediate separating parts 32 is interrupted. The use of similar intermediate separating part 32 allows to use the obtained compartments 33-34 for different purposes, for example to realize connections in a feeding network, on the one hand, and to realize connections in a telephone network, on the other hand. According to the invention, in this case connectors 7 and 10 will preferably be used which show a different colour per network, in order to exclude a wrong connection. In order to effectively position the said conducting elements 1, and preferably also the insulating plates 6, the invention provides for the necessary centering means. According to a practical embodiment these centering means are composed of elements, mutually catching each other, which are applied to the respective conducting elements 1 and/or the insulating plates 6. More particularly it is preferred that to this end use is made of insulating plates 6 such as represented in the figures 16 and 17. Such insulating plate 6, which preferably consists of a self-extincting synthetic material, is to this end provided with protruding parts 35 and corresponding seats 36, which are situated preferably at the upper side respectively the lower side. These protruding parts 35 are hereby realized in such a way that they fit in the openings 37 applied to this end to the conducting elements 1, as well as in such a way that the protrusions 35 of an insulating plate 6, situated underneath, can be clampedly pressed in the seats 36 of an insulating plate 6 located thereabove. When assembling the unit, the concerned conducting elements 1 are placed one above the other provided with each time an insulating plate 6 underneath, between them and above, and the obtained packet is pressed together. On this unit the required connectors 7 are fixed depending on the connections which must be realized. It is to be noted that the insulating plates 6 preferably have the same shape as the basic structure of the conducting elements 1, in other words an H-shape, in such a way that they do not hinder the mounting of the connectors 7 on the connections lips 2. Subsequently this unit is laid on the bottom plate 13. In the case of an electrical connection, such as represented in figure 3, a situation as represented in figure 18 is created. Finally the cover 16 is mounted on the bottom plate 13, in this case simply by pressing. Evidently, the removable portions 17 which are situated at the spot of the used connectors 7, are removed. Subsequently the wiring can be connected, simply by plugging the connectors 10 in the connectors 7. Hereby a situation is created as represented in figurel8. This figure shows how the connectors 7 and 10 are locked in the housing 12 by means of the said abutting elements and locking elements. Figure 18 also represents how the protrusions 35 fit through the openings 37 and catchy the seats 36. It is clear that the distribution device 11 can be realized in different shapes. However, preferably use shall be made of a rectangular housing 12 which has plugging possibilities at its four sides. It is to be noted that in the figures 3 and 17, for clarity's sake, a connection is represented whereby only three poles are connected. It is evident that more complicated connections are possible, with several conducting elements 1. The housing 12 can be realized in different heights in order to house more or less conducting elements 1. The housing 12 is preferably made of shock-resistant and self-extincting synthetic material, with an elevated electrical insulating capacity. The invention also concerns the elements which are used in the distribution device 11, and more particularly the conducting elements 1 described hereabove. According to a variant one can start from a conducting element 1 whereby on each connection lip 2 already previously a one-pole connector is fixed, either a connector to fix a wire, or a connector in which a plug or counterplug can be connected, whereby the one-pole connector can then form one part with the accompanying connection lip 2. The connection lips which must be removed are then cut off together with the connectors fixed thereto. For the connectors 7 and 10 use can be made of known embodiments, for example of the trade mark Wieland. The present invention is in no way limited to the embodiment described by way of example and represented in the figures, but the method and the distribution device according to the invention can be realized in different variants without leaving the scope of the invention.

Claims: Method for the realisation of electrical connections, for connecting electrical wires (9), whereby at least two conducting elements (1), comprising connection lips (2), are provided one above the other in a mutually electrically insulated manner, characterized in that said method also comprises the steps of removing a number of said connection lips (2) depending on the desired connections and providing first connectors (7) in the form of plugs or counter plugs to the remaining connection lips (2) and plugging the wires (9) to be connected by means of second connectors (10), in the shape of counter plugs or plugs fixed to these wires (9), into the first connectors (7). Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the connection lips (2) of the conducting elements (1), which are located at different levels, are bent, in such a way that at least per connector (7) their ends are located on the same level. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that all connection lips (2) used for the connection, are bent until they are located in the same level. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that the bending is done with a press, whereby all connection lips (1) are bent in one pressing movement and are pushed against a reference surface. Distribution device, allowing to realise the method according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a housing (12) and two or more conducting elements (1) located in said housing (12) one above the other and mutually electrically insulated, characterized in that said conducting elements (1) are provided with removable and bendable connection lips (2) and in that the device is provided with connectors (7) in the form of plugs or counter plugs, mounted in said housing (12) and connected to non-removed connection lips (2), whereby these connectors (7) allow that wires (9) provided with connectors (10) can be plugged into the first mentioned connectors (7). Distribution device according to claim 5, characterized that the conducting elements (1) consist of plates which are electrically separated from each other by means of insulating plates (6). Distribution device according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the conducting elements (1) have an identical shape in their original situation. Distribution device according to any one of the claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the conducting elements (1) have an H-shaped basic structure, whereby connection lips (2) are applied perpendicularly on the outer faces of the side legs (3-4), and also perpendicularly on both opposite faces of the center leg (5). Distribution device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is provided with centering means in order to mutually center the conducting elements (1). Distribution device according to claim 9, characterized in that the centering means consist of protrusions (35) fixed to the insulating plates (6) and seats (36), whereby these protrusions (35) pass through opening (37) in the conducting elements (1), in such a way that the successive insulating plates (6) snap together. Distribution device according to any one of the claims 5 to 10, characterized that it is provided with seats (20) for connectors (7 and/or 8) Distribution device according to any one of the claims 5 to 11, characterized in that it contains abutting and/or locking elements for the connectors (7) which co-operate with the connection lips (2) and/or for the connectors (10) to which the wires (9) to be connected are fixed. Distribution device according to claim 12, characterized in that the said abutting and/or locking elements are formed by one or more of the following provisions : locking elements which consist of protrusions (2)fixed to the housing (12) which can co-operate with recesses provided in the bottom side of the connectors (7) which co-operate with the connection lips (2); abutting elements in the shape of one or more frames(22) against which the connectors (7), which co-operate with the connection lips (2), rest; locking elements which consist of protrusions (25)applied to the housing (12) on an elastically bendable part (24) thereof, which can co-operate with recesses applied in the bottom side of the connectors (10) which have to be plugged, whereby the bending of the elastically bendable part (24) allows that the said connectors (10) can be unplugged; a multipartial housing (12) provided with passages (26)for connectors (7 and/or 10), in such a way that the connectors (7 and/or 10), when assembling the housing (12), are kept in their position; locking elements in the shape of one or more frames (23) fixed to the housing, between which respectively behind which the connectors (7), connected to the connection lips (2), are locked during the assembling of the unit; Distribution device according to any one of the claims 5 to 13, characterized in that the housing is composed of a bottom plate (13) and of a cover (16) formed by an upper face (14) and side walls (15) directed downwardly, whereby the side walls are provided with removable portions (17) to form passages (26) for the connectors (7 and/or 10). Distribution device according to claim 14, characterized in that the bottom plate (13) and the cover (16) are provided with coupling parts (18-19) which fit or snap together in such a way that the housing (12), after having been assembled, can only be opened by breaking it. Distribution device according to any one of the claims 5 to 15, characterized in that the housing (12) is provided with seats for applying intermediate separation elements (32) with which the housing (12) can be devided in electrically separated compartments (33-34). Element, more particularly a conducting element which can be used in the distribution device of claim 5, characterized in that this conducting element (1) consists of an electrically conducting plate with an H-shaped basic structure, whereby connection lips are applied perpendicularly on the outer sides of the side legs (3-4) of the H-shape, as well as perpendicularly on both opposite sides of the center leg (5) of the H-shape.

Inventors: CAMP FRANCISCUS, GEEBELEN JOZEF, CAMP, FRANCISCUS, GEEBELEN, JOZEF
Applicants: CAMP FRANCISCUS, GEEBELEN JOZEF, CAMP, FRANCISCUS, GEEBELEN, JOZEF
Application year: 1996
Main classification: H01R9
IPC codes: H01R9, H01R31, H02B1