Modular electrical apparatus comprising a coupling device for the connection with a further modular electrical apparatus

Abstract

 It is described a modular electrical apparatus (10) comprising at least one coupling device (50, 60) for the connection with a further (70) modular electrical apparatus. The electrical apparatus (10) includes a cased apparatus body (20) and the coupling device (50, 60) comprises:
- an actuation element (80), which may slide along an actuation direction (M1, M2) between a blocking operating position and a releasing operating position of said electrical apparatuses; and
- a coupling element (90), which may slide along a coupling direction (A1, A2) between a coupling operating position and an uncoupling operating position, respectively, for connecting and disconnecting between each other said electrical apparatuses (10, 70), the coupling direction (A1, A2) being a transversal direction with respect to said actuation direction (M1, M2).
The coupling device (50, 60), also includes guiding means (92, 94) comprising at least one first (92) guiding plane suitable for interaction with the coupling element (90) in order to cause said element to slide along the coupling direction (A1, A2). In particular, the first (92) guiding plane is an inclined plane with respect to said actuation direction (M1, M2) and coupling direction (A1, A2).

Description

[0001] The present invention refers to the technical field of electrical apparatuses and, more specifically, it concerns a modular electrical apparatus comprising a coupling device for the connection with a further modular electrical apparatus, as defined in the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] In certain applications, for example in electrical installations, there is a need to mechanically couple electrical apparatuses having different functions so that, once coupled, the apparatuses can interact with one another.

[0003] With particular reference to the field of electrical protection apparatuses of modular standard, for example of DIN type modular standard, there is often the need to associate an auxiliary function with an electrical protection apparatus or main apparatus, such as an automatic switch, mechanically coupling it with a further modular electrical apparatus or accessory apparatus, for example a remote control motor module, capable of providing the required accessory function.

[0004] Some of the solutions normally used in the prior art to make the connection between the main electrical apparatus and the accessory electrical apparatus foresee the use of coupling devices including projecting hooks screwed onto the accessory apparatus. Such projecting hooks may interact with corresponding fastening means, such as fastening holes, foreseen on the body of the main apparatus to allow the coupling between the apparatuses. Other solutions of the prior art, on the other hand, foresee the use of coupling devices including projecting hooks hinged to the accessory apparatus or else the use of clips positioned astride of the electrical apparatuses to be connected.

[0005] The solutions of the prior art discussed above do, however, have some drawbacks due to the fact that the coupling devices adopted require the use of tools, such as a screwdriver, to allow the apparatuses to be coupled together and the fact that, even in the case in which tools do not need to be used, such devices do not in any case manage to ensure a strong and reliable coupling in relation to the great forces that are generally exchanged between the accessory electrical apparatus and the main electrical apparatus.

[0006] A purpose of the present invention is to provide a modular electrical apparatus comprising a coupling device for coupling with a further modular electrical apparatus that allows the aforementioned drawbacks with reference to the prior art to be avoided.

[0007] More specifically, a purpose of the present invention is to provide a modular electrical apparatus that allows the connection with a further modular electrical apparatus to be carried out quickly and easily without the need for tools, and at the same time which allows a solid and strong coupling to be made with the apparatus to which it is connected.

[0008] This and other purposes are accomplished through a modular electrical apparatus as defined and characterised in the attached claim 1 in its most general form and in the dependent claims in some particular embodiments.

[0009] The object of the present invention is also a component assembly as defined in claim 10.

[0010] The invention shall become clearer from the following detailed description of an embodiment thereof, given as an example and therefore in no way limiting in relation to the attached drawings, in which:

• figure 1 is a perspective view of a modular electrical apparatus according to the present invention including a pair of coupling devices for coupling with a further electrical apparatus, in which the coupling devices are represented in a first operating configuration;
• figure 2 is a perspective view in which a detail of the electrical apparatus of figure 1 is represented in greater detail;
• figure 3 is a perspective view of the detail of figure 2 seen from a different angle;
• figure 4 is a perspective view of the electrical apparatus of figure 1 in which the coupling devices are represented in a second operating configuration;
• figure 5 is a perspective view in which a detail of the electrical apparatus of figure 4 is represented in greater detail;
• figure 6 is a cross section view of a detail of the electrical apparatus of figure 1 in which it is possible to see one of the coupling devices in the first operating configuration;
• figure 7 is a cross section view of a detail of the electrical apparatus of figure 4 in which it is possible to see one of the coupling devices represented in the second operating configuration;
• figure 8 is a perspective view in which one of the coupling devices illustrated in figure 1 is represented with parts separated;
• figure 9 is a perspective view in which a second modular electrical apparatus for being coupled with the electrical apparatus of figure 1 is illustrated; and
• figure 10 is a perspective view in which the electrical apparatus of figure 1 and the electrical apparatus of figure 9 are illustrated coupled together.

[0011] In the following description identical or similar elements represented in the figures shall be indicated with the same reference numerals.

[0012] Moreover, in the rest of the present description, the terms "lower" and "upper" refer to the attached figures considered in the normal condition of observation and in no way rotated.

[0013] Initially with reference to figure 1 a first modular electrical apparatus or accessory apparatus, in accordance with a currently preferred embodiment of the present invention has been wholly indicated with 10. The apparatus 10 comprises a substantially cased apparatus body 20 including:

• a rear wall 22, to be removably fixed to a supporting device (not represented in the figures), such as a electrical apparatus-mounting rail, for supporting the accessory apparatus;
• a pair of opposite walls 24, 26, one upper 24 and one lower 26, respectively, joined to the rear wall 22 and arranged transversally, in the example perpendicularly, to such a wall; and
• a lateral wall 28 joined and arranged transversally, in the example perpendicularly, both to the rear wall 22 and to the upper and lower walls 24, 26.

[0014] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the cased body 20 more specifically comprises a first half-shell or base 30 and a second half-shell or cover 40.

[0015] The accessory apparatus 10 comprises at least one coupling device 50, 60, in the example a fastening device, to connect the accessory apparatus to a second modular electrical apparatus or main apparatus, wholly indicated with 70 in figure 9.

[0016] In the present example the main apparatus, without for this reason introducing any limitation, is an automatic switch 70, whereas the accessory apparatus, generically represented in the figures, can be an actuator device, such as a remote control motor module of DIN modular standard, which is suitable for being mechanically coupled with the switch to operatively interact with the switch itself.

[0017] In accordance with the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the actuator 10 comprises a first and a second coupling device, one upper device 50 and one lower device 60, respectively, which are arranged at two opposing ends of the cased body 20. The coupling devices are mounted in particular between the base 30 and the cover 40.

[0018] Since in the embodiment given as an example the two coupling devices are identical to one another, hereafter for the sake of briefness exclusively the upper coupling device 50 will be described. Therefore, it should be understood that everything that will be described in relation to the upper coupling device 50 will be equally valid for the lower coupling device 60, in particular taking into consideration that the two devices are mounted in an opposite way to one another.

[0019] With reference to figures 6 and 8, the upper coupling device 50 comprises an actuation element or manoeuvring slider 80 and a coupling element 90.

[0020] In accordance with a currently preferred embodiment, the slider 80 is mounted so as to be able to slide at one end of the cased body of the actuator. More specifically, the slider may slide along an actuation direction M1, M2 (figures 6 and 7) between a blocking operating position (figures 4, 5 and 7) and a releasing operating position (figures 1, 2, 3 and 6) of the electrical apparatuses 10, 70 to be coupled. With reference to the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the slider may slide along the upper wall 24 of the cased body in the direction substantially orthogonal to the rear wall 22.

[0021] The coupling element 90 may slide along a coupling direction A1, A2 (figures 6 and 7) between an operative coupling position (figures 5 and 7) and an operative uncoupling position (figures 2 and 6) to respectively connect and disconnect the actuator 10 and the switch 70 with each other.

[0022] The coupling direction A1, A2 is transversal to the actuation direction M1, M2 and, in the described example, in particular it is substantially orthogonal to such a direction.

[0023] With reference to figures 5, 6 and 8, it can be seen that the coupling element 90 comprises an arm or protrusion 90A arranged inside the cased body 20 of the actuator and a hook portion 90B protruding from the lateral wall 28 outside of the cased body. In particular, the hook portion 90B may slide along a part of the lateral wall 28 that is located between the pair of upper and lower walls 24, 26 when the coupling element moves from the coupling position to the uncoupling position and vice versa.

[0024] Again with reference to figures 6 and 8, the slider 80 includes guiding means 92, 94 comprising at least one first guiding plane, or upper plane 92, which is inclined with respect to the actuation direction M1, M2 and coupling direction A1, A2. The upper plane 92 is suitable for interaction with the coupling element 90 in order to cause said element to slide along the coupling direction A1, A2.

[0025] In accordance with a currently preferred embodiment, the guide means comprise a second guiding plane, or lower plane 94, arranged parallel to the upper plane 92. Advantageously, the arrangement of the lower plane 94 allows the coupling element 90 to slide in the two opposite directions along the coupling direction A1, A2.

[0026] Such sliding is in particular made possible by the protrusion 90A that is suitable for being slidingly guided by the upper and lower guide planes 92, 94 to allow the coupling element 90 to slide in the two opposite directions along the coupling direction A1, A2.

[0027] With reference to figure 6, the slider 80 includes stopping abutting means 96 which may interact with the coupling element 90 in order to hold said element in the coupling position when the slider reaches the blocking position.

[0028] In accordance with an embodiment the stopping abutting means include an abutting plane 96 against which the protrusion 90A is suitable for going into abutment. Advantageously, in the embodiment given as an example, the abutting plane is contiguous to the upper guiding plane 92 and is arranged parallel to the actuation direction M1, M2.

[0029] In accordance with an embodiment, the slider 80 includes a moving portion that in the present example is substantially aligned with the upper wall 24 of the cased body. The moving portion comprises a grip region 98 or increased adherence region preferably made through a plurality of rectilinear ribs that are spaced apart.

[0030] The slider 80 includes a guide portion, in the example represented by a substantially plate-shaped guiding tongue 100. The tongue 100 is partially engaged in a respective guiding groove 102 foreseen inside the cased body of the actuator to allow the slider to slide along the actuation direction M1, M2.

[0031] The tongue 100 and the grip region 98 are mutually arranged so as to define an abutment step 104 that is suitable for going into abutment with a portion of the upper wall 24 of the cased body when the slider reaches the blocking position.

[0032] In accordance with an embodiment, the actuator 10 includes snap blocking means to removably block the slider 80 in the blocking position. For example, snap blocking means can be foreseen comprising a blocking tooth suitable for interacting with a matching fastening step, respectively foreseen on the slider 80 and on the cased body 20 or vice versa. In the attached figures, the blocking tooth and the fastening step have been represented schematically and they have been respectively indicated with reference numerals 106 and 108.

[0033] In order to stop the stroke of the actuation slider when it reaches the release position (figure 6), the slider includes an abutment portion, in the example comprising an abutment plane 110 contiguous to the lower guiding plane 94, which is suitable for going into abutment with a wall of the cased body of the actuator.

[0034] Again with reference to figure 6, it can also be observed that the slider 80 includes a portion 112 which is complementarily shaped with respect to a portion of the protrusion 90A of the coupling element. In the present example, such a complementarily shaped portion is a joining portion of the upper and lower guiding planes that is suitable for defining, together with such planes, a recess inside which the protrusion 90A may slide.

[0035] Now with reference to figure 9, in which the switch 70 is represented, it can also be observed that such a switch includes a substantially cased apparatus body. The cased body of the switch includes, in particular:

• a rear wall 120 to be removably fixed to a supporting device (not represented in the figures), such as an electrical apparatuses mounting rail, to support the switch;
• an opposite front wall 130 including an actuation lever 132 of the switch; and
• a lateral wall 140, joined to the rear and front walls, including coupling means, in the example comprising two slits 142, which may interact with the coupling devices 50, 60 to allow the switch to be coupled with the actuator.

[0036] With reference mainly to figures 6 and 7, a method of coupling the switch 70 and the actuator 10 is described hereafter.

[0037] Before carrying out the coupling, the sliders 80 of the coupling devices 50, 60 are in the release position whereas the coupling elements are in the uncoupling position.

[0038] Henceforth, for the sake of being brief, referring to just the upper coupling device 50, in such a configuration (figure 6) the slider 80 partially protrudes from the cased body. Moreover, the abutment plane 110 is in abutment against a wall of the cased body and the protrusion 90A is substantially trapped between the complementarily shaped portion 112 and the wall against which the plane 110 is in abutment.

[0039] Still before carrying out the coupling, the lateral wall 28 of the actuator is made to face the lateral wall 140 of the switch so that the hook portion 90B is aligned with the respective slit 142 of the switch.

[0040] At this point the lateral wall 28 of the actuator is brought closer to the lateral wall 140 of the switch, through a translation movement, until the hook portion almost completely passes through the slit. In this way, the electrical apparatuses are adjacent and in contact with one another along the aforementioned lateral walls.

[0041] Once the two apparatuses are adjacent, the slider 80 is made to slide in the direction indicated by the arrow M1, for example by acting with a finger on the grip region 98, until the slider reaches the blocking position and the coupling element reaches the coupling position.

[0042] More specifically, during such a coupling step the following takes place:

• the protrusion 90A is moved and guided by the guiding planes 92, 94 so as to make the coupling element slide in the direction indicated by the arrow A1, until the protrusion faces the abutting plane 96 (figure 7);
• the tongue 100 slides on the inner side of the cased body along the upper wall 24 until the abutment step 104 is substantially in abutment with a portion of such a wall and the tongue 100 is almost completely contained inside the cased body;
• the hook portion 90B translates through the slit 142 until it hooks, when the coupling element reaches the coupling position, into corresponding fastening means (not visible in the figures), such as a fastening crosspiece, foreseen in the switch;
• the blocking tooth 106 translates until it fastens to the fastening step 108, advantageously emitting an acoustic signal or "click" suitable for indicating that the coupling position has been reached by the coupling element.

[0043] At the end of the coupling step (figure 7), the actuator and the switch are firmly fixed or fastened together. In particular, in such a configuration the abutting plane 96 advantageously ensures that the coupling element is held in the coupling position to avoid the apparatuses being able to unfasten. The translation of the coupling element in the direction of the arrow A2 is indeed prevented by the abutment of the protrusion 90A against the abutting plane 96.

[0044] In order to uncouple or release the actuator from the switch it is sufficient to act upon the grip region 98, for example with a finger, so as to cause the slider 80 to slide in the direction of the arrow M2 until it is taken back into the initial configuration (figure 6). In this way the protrusion 90A is forced to slide between the lower and upper guiding planes causing the coupling element and the hook portion 90B to translate in the direction of the arrow A2 until the uncoupling position has been reached.

[0045] Based on what has been described above, it is therefore possible to understand how a modular electrical apparatus according to the present invention is able to solve the drawbacks aforementioned with reference to the

prior art.

[0046] Without affecting the principle of the invention, the embodiments and the details can be widely varied with respect to what has been described and illustrated purely as a non-limiting example, without for this reason departing from the scope of protection of the invention as defined in the attached claims.

Claims

1. Modular electrical apparatus (10) comprising at least a coupling device (50, 60) for the connection with a further (70) modular electrical apparatus, the electrical apparatus (10) including a cased apparatus body (20) and being characterized in that said coupling device (50, 60) comprises:

- an actuation element (80), which may slide along an actuation direction (M1, M2) between a blocking operating position and a releasing operating position of said electrical apparatuses; and

- a coupling element (90), which may slide along a coupling direction (A1, A2) between a coupling operating position and an uncoupling operating position, respectively, for connecting and disconnecting between each other said electrical apparatuses (10, 70), the coupling direction (A1, A2) being a transversal direction with respect to said actuation direction (M1, M2); the coupling device (50, 60) further comprising guiding means (92, 94) comprising at least a first (92) guiding plane suitable for interaction with the coupling element (90), in order to cause said element to slide along the coupling direction (A1, A2), the first (92) guiding plane being an inclined plane with respect to said actuation direction (M1, M2) and coupling direction (A1, A2).

2. Modular electrical apparatus (10) according to claim 1, wherein said guiding means (92, 94) comprise a second (94) guiding plane, which is parallel to said first (92) guiding plane.

3. Modular electrical apparatus (10) according to claims 1 or 2, wherein said coupling element (90) comprises a protrusion (90A) which is provided inside said cased body (20), the protrusion (90A) being such as to be slidingly guided by said first (92) and second (94) guiding plane, in order to allow the coupling element (90) to slide along the coupling direction (A1, A2).

4. Modular electrical apparatus (10) according to claim 3, wherein said actuation element (80) comprises a portion (112), which is complementarily shaped with respect to said protrusion (90A) of coupling element (90).

5. Modular electrical apparatus (10) according to any of preceding claims, wherein the actuation element (80) comprises stopping abutting means (96) which may interact with said coupling element (90) in order to hold said element in the coupling position, when said actuation element (80) reaches the blocking position.

6. Modular electrical apparatus (10) according to claim 5, wherein said stopping abutting means comprise an abutting plane (96), which is parallel to said actuation direction (M1, M2).

7. Modular electrical apparatus (10) according to claim 6, wherein the abutting plane (96) is contiguous to said first (92) guiding plane.

8. Modular electrical apparatus (10) according to any of preceding claims, wherein said cased body (20) comprises:

- a rear wall (22) to be removably fixed to a supporting device of modular apparatus (10);

- a pair (24, 26) of opposed upper (24) and lower (26) walls, respectively, which are joined to the rear wall (22) and are transversely arranged with respect to such wall, wherein the actuation element (80) may slide along one wall of said pair (24, 26) of walls; and

- a lateral wall (28), which is joined to and transversely positioned with respect to rear wall (22) and to said pair (24, 26) of upper and lower walls; the coupling element (90) comprising a hook portion (90B) protruding from said lateral wall (28), on the outside of said cased body (20), wherein the hook portion (90B) may slide along a segment of lateral wall (28) which is positioned between the pair (24, 26) of upper and lower walls, when the coupling element (90) moves from coupling position to uncoupling position and vice versa.

9. Modular electrical apparatus (10) according to any of preceding claims, wherein the actuation element (80) is slidingly mounted at one end of said cased body.

10. Component assembly (10, 70) comprising a first (10) modular electrical apparatus, according to any of preceding claims, and a second (70) modular electrical apparatus, which is coupled to first apparatus.

Drawing