Switch control apparatus for electric plants

Description

Field of the invention

[0001] The present invention generally finds application in the field of electric control devices and particularly relates to a switch control unit for electric plants.

Background art

[0002] Electric switch control apparatus, such as switchboard boxes or control pushbutton stations of electric plants for handling or transportation, generally include a box-like body, which houses one or more electric switch devices designed to be connected to the electric terminals of respective electric circuits.

[0003] Particularly, switch devices include one or more switch contact units, of single- or double-contact type, each having an enclosure that contains pairs of fixed and movable contacts associated with an actuating cursor.

[0004] The latter is designed to interact with an actuator, such as a pushbutton or a selector, which is anchored to the box-like body, generally to a movable or removable part thereof.

[0005] For example, in the case of switchboards, actuators are anchored to a closing panel of the box-like body, whereas in the case of control pushbutton stations, the cover of the box is used for anchoring purposes.

[0006] As a rule, contact units are coupled to the corresponding actuators by snap fit means, allowing anchorage of one or more contact units, with the actuator portion extending from the panel into the box-like body.

[0007] Nevertheless, prior art solutions do not ensure stable anchorage of the contact units with their respective actuators, particularly if control apparatus are subjected to shocks caused by accidental falls or impacts by users.

[0008] In an attempt to at least partially obviate these drawbacks, switch control apparatus, and particularly control pushbutton stations have been proposed, which integrate additional anchor means acting upon the contact units to prevent or limit movements thereof in the box-like body.

[0009] For example, a control pushbutton station is known, which has a cage for absorbing any direct or indirect axial shock upon the contact units, by supporting such units at a bottom wall.

[0010] While a higher stability is imparted to each contact unit in this solution, only axially-directed forces may be counteracted, and no resistance is afforded to lateral stresses, whereby the risk of separation is not totally prevented.

[0011] Furthermore, as the cage is positioned, it may block the passages that are formed in the enclosure on the contact unit to allow access to the terminals of the fixed contacts and introduction of the terminals of the electric circuits, thereby adding complexity to the installation process.

[0012] A further serious drawback is that this particular type of anchor means is not adapted to pushbutton stations that allow coupling of various numbers of contact units to a single contact, which makes the entire apparatus poorly flexible.

[0013] A further prior art pushbutton station uses a protective plate located at the bottom walls of the contact units and anchored to the cover of the push-button station. The plate has such a size as to cover all the contact units at the same time, thereby preventing any separation thereof in the axial direction.

[0014] Nevertheless, once again protection is restricted, as the plate does not ensure any lateral support. Furthermore, like in the previous case, the plate covers the entire passages formed in the enclosure, and cannot accommodate any change in the number, configuration and type of contact units that can be received in the pushbutton station at the same time.

[0015] Document DE1950669 discloses a device according to the preamble of claim 1.

Disclosure of the invention

[0016] The present invention has the object to overcome the above drawbacks, by providing a switch control apparatus for electric plants that achieves high efficiency and relative cost effectiveness.

[0017] A particular object of the present invention is to provide a switch control apparatus for electric plants that ensures positional stability of the contact units installed therein.

[0018] A further object of the present invention is to provide a switch control apparatus for electric plants that allows easy installation and quick wiring of the contact units.

[0019] Furthermore, an object of the present invention is also to provide a switch control apparatus for electric plants that can accommodate changes in the number, configuration and type of contact units associated with each actuator, while always ensuring coupling stability.

[0020] These and other objects, as better explained hereafter, are fulfilled by a switch control apparatus for electric plants as defined in claim 1, comprising a box-like body which is adapted to be anchored to a fixed o movable part of an electric plant and has a closing panel with at least one passage therethrough, at least one contact unit which is accommodated in the box-like body at said passage and is adapted to be electrically connected to at least one respective electric circuit of the plant for selective open/close control thereof, at least one actuator which is adapted to interact with said at least one contact unit for the latter to ensure selective opening/closing of the respective circuits, anchor means for anchoring said at least one contact unit to said actuator.

[0021] The apparatus is characterized in that the anchor means comprise a container member which is adapted to envelope and contain said at least one contact unit and to be anchored to said closing panel in the box-like body for stably securing said at least one contact unit on said actuator.

[0022] With these particular features, the apparatus allows stable positioning of the contact units even in case of accidental falls of or shocks to the box/like body or the contact units themselves, as the substantially box-shaped element will absorb both axial and transverse stresses.

[0023] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are obtained in accordance with the dependent claims.

Brief description of the drawings

[0024] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following detailed description of a few preferred non-exclusive embodiments of a switch control apparatus for electric plants, which are described by way of a non-limiting example with the help of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an apparatus of the invention according to a first preferred embodiment;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the apparatus of Fig. 1 with certain elements being omitted;

FIG. 3 is a side view of a detail of the apparatus of Fig. 1 in an assembled state;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the detail of Fig. 3, as taken along a plane IV-IV;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the detail of Fig. 3;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are perspective top and bottom views respectively of a container member that is part of the inventive apparatus, in a first preferred configuration;

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the container member of Fig. 1, in a second configuration;

FIG. 9 is a side view of the element of Fig. 8;

FIG. 10 is a partial exploded perspective view of an apparatus of the invention in a third preferred configuration and having a container member in a second preferred configuration;

FIGS. 11 and 12 are perspective top and bottom views respectively of the container member in the third preferred configuration.

Detailed description of a preferred embodiment

[0025] Referring to the above figures, a switch apparatus is shown, which is designed to control electric plants, namely plants for handling or transportation such as, without limitation, elevators, hoists, escalators, cranes, bridge cranes, and the like.

[0026] Particularly, Fig. 1 shows an apparatus of the control pushbutton station type, generally referenced 1, which has a box-like body 2 adapted for anchorage to a fixed or movable part of an electric plant, not shown and known per se, and having a closing panel 3 with a passage 4 formed therethrough.

[0027] In the illustrated embodiment, the box-like body 2 has a lower container portion 5, which may be anchored in a known manner to a fixed or movable support of the plant or to a suspension cable for the passage of electric cables, and an upper closing cover 6, which is adapted to be stably and removably coupled to the lower portion 5 by first screw means 7 or the like, to define a closed box-like body 2.

[0028] Here, the passage 4 is formed on the upper wall of the cover 6 that comprises said closing panel 3, in a substantially central position.

[0029] The box-like body 2 houses one or more switch contact units 8 arranged at the passage 4 and adapted to be electrically connected to respective electric circuits of the plant, that may be power and/or service circuits, for selective opening/closing thereof.

[0030] The switch units 8 are adapted to interact with a corresponding actuator 9 operating along a longitudinal axis L and partially inserted in the passage 4 to promote the mutual movement of the fixed and movable contacts and cause selective opening/closing of the electric circuit connected to the contact units 8, in a known manner, that will not be described in further detail below.

[0031] The one or more switch units 8 and the respective actuator 9 are joined together by anchor means 10 which, according to a peculiar characteristic of the invention, include a container member 11 that is adapted to be anchored to the closing panel or cover 3 and to envelope and contain the one or more contact units 8 to stably secure them to the actuator 9.

[0032] This will prevent mutual disengagement thereof due to impacts on the box-like body 2 and/or the contact units 8 themselves.

[0033] In a preferred arrangement, the actuator 9 has an outer portion 12 that is designed to be actuated by a user, and an inner portion 13 that is designed to be inserted in the passage 4 for engagement of one or more respective contact units 8.

[0034] Figs. 1 to 5 show a control pushbutton station 1 having a single actuator 9 that consists of a common emergency button, i.e. of the type that can be actuated by a translational motion or by a rotational and translational motion.

[0035] Nevertheless, as more clearly described below, the actuator 9 may be any actuator that is typically used in this kind of apparatus, with no particular limitation, and may be selected, for instance, from the group comprising emergency buttons, selectors, actuator buttons, directional buttons or the like.

[0036] Furthermore, the apparatus 1 of the invention may be a pushbutton station having a plurality of such actuators 9, possibly differing from one another, and designed to be inserted in respective passages in the panel or closing cover 3 to interact with respective one or more contact units 8.

[0037] In this case, a container member 11 may be provided for one or more of such actuators 9, to envelope and contain the corresponding contact units 8.

[0038] Also, in a further configuration, not shown in the annexed figures, the apparatus 1 may be a control switchboard having a box-like body adapted to be anchored to a fixed or movable support of the plant, with the closing panel being hinged thereto.

[0039] The container member 11 is substantially of the box-or cage-like type, and may be made of any polymeric material that can ensure adequate resistance as well as relative light weight and cost-effectiveness, such as glass-filled nylon.

[0040] Particularly, the container member 11 has a substantially flat upper wall 14 which is designed to be placed in facing relationship to the closing panel 3 and a sidewall 15 that is closed at its bottom by a substantially flat bottom wall 16.

[0041] Thus, the container member 11 will define therein one or more housings 17 in side-by-side and transversely juxtaposed relationship, to retain respective contact units 8 and prevent displacement thereof in either longitudinal and transverse directions.

[0042] Furthermore, the side wall 15 of the container member 11 has substantially longitudinal inwardly-extending ribs 18, for separating the various housings 17.

[0043] The bottom wall 16 of the container member 11 is substantially open with substantially transverse abutments surfaces 19, as more clearly shown in Figs. 7, 8, with the contact units 8 being laid thereupon.

[0044] Figs. 6 and 7 show a container member 11 having three substantially similar housings 17, for simultaneously receiving up to three contact units 8, not necessarily of the same type, which are designed to interact with a single actuator 9.

[0045] On the other hand, Figs. 8 and 9 show a container member 11 having four substantially similar housings 17, for simultaneously receiving up to four contact units 8, not necessarily of the same type, which are designed to interact with a single actuator 9.

[0046] Therefore, there is no particular restriction about the number of housings 17, that may change according to functional requirements and to the size of the box-like body 2.

[0047] The contact units 8 are of known type and essentially include an insulating case 20 of such a size as to fit into a respective housing 17 with a substantially tight fit or with a very small clearance.

[0048] The insulating case 20 houses one or more pairs of movable contacts, not shown, which are adapted to interact with the actuator 9. e.g. via a slider 21 that moves longitudinally in the case 20, and to cooperate with respective pairs of fixed contacts, also not shown.

[0049] For example, one or two pairs of fixed contacts may be provided, to define a switch contact unit 8 of single- or double-contact type respectively. The fixed contacts have respective terminals 22 for connection to the terminals of respective electric circuits.

[0050] The case 20 has first openings 23 for access to the terminals 22 and second openings 24 for receiving the terminals of the electric circuits, in view of connecting the contact units 8.

[0051] As is known in the art, the first access openings 23 may be arranged in the bottom wall 25 of the case 20, as shown in Fig. 5, and the terminals 22 are accommodated in respective hollow seats that may possibly contain a lock screw or the like, the latter being adapted to be actuated by an ordinary screwdriver through the partially open bottom wall 16 of the container member 11.

[0052] Alternatively and in a known manner, this terminal 22 may also be a spring terminal, of the type having solder pins and configured according to any other common use in the field.

[0053] Conveniently, the bottom wall 16 of the container member 11 is open at least at said first openings 23 or has first peripheral passages that face corresponding first openings 23 of the case 20.

[0054] Advantageously, the side wall 15 of the container member 11 has a plurality of second peripheral passages 26 that face corresponding second openings 24 of the case 20.

[0055] Thus, the contact units 8 can be also wired while being fitted in stable positions in the container member 11, which will considerably simplify installation, as well as any required maintenance.

[0056] Furthermore, if the contact units 8 have first openings 23 for access to the terminals 22 arranged on the side wall 27 of their respective case 20, access thereto will be allowed by the second passages 26.

[0057] Preferably, the container member 11 includes a pair of half-shells, i.e. an upper half-shell 28 and a lower half-shell 29, which are removably secured to each other, e.g. without limitation by second screw means 30 or equivalent removable connector means.

[0058] The upper half-shell 28 is adapted to be removably anchored to the inner portion 13 of the actuator 9 and has a substantially central hole 31 that can be longitudinally aligned in substantially coaxial fashion with the passage 4 of the cover 6, for the actuator 9 and the contact units 8 to be coupled together.

[0059] On the other hand, the lower half-shell 29 has both the first passages, or the at least partially open bottom wall 16, and the second peripheral passages 26.

[0060] The anchor means 10 include a locking nut 32, which is adapted to be held within an annular seat 33 that is formed in the upper wall 14 of the container member 11 and is disposed at the periphery of the central hole 31 thereof to be tightened on an externally threaded surface of the inner portion 13 of the actuator 9.

[0061] Furthermore, a connecting plate 34 may be also provided, which is designed for snap connection with the contact units 8 and has a central access 35 for the passage of the actuating sliders 21 that actuate the contact units 8 and for interaction with the actuator 9.

[0062] Fig. 10 shows a detail of a switch apparatus 1 of the invention in a second preferred configuration, also concerning a control pushbutton station. Particularly, the apparatus 1 has a single actuator 9 which is defined, in this case, by a selector.

[0063] Furthermore, the container member 11 includes a central extension portion 36, which has a substantially rectangular tubular shape, and is adapted to be interposed between the two half-shells 28, 29 and to be coupled thereto via third screw means 37 of appropriate size.

[0064] This allows one or more of the housings 17 to accommodate respective pairs of contact units 8, 8', which are mutually joined and longitudinally aligned, as also shown in Fig. 10. The number of housings 17 may be also changed as needed.

[0065] In a particularly advantageous aspect of the invention, as more clearly shown in Figs. 12 and 12, the extension portion 36 has third peripheral passages 38, longitudinally aligned with respective second passages 26 of the second half-shell 29, allowing access to first and/or second openings 23, 24 of corresponding contact units 8.

[0066] This will provide the apparatus 1 with a high functional versatility, due to the typical modularity of switch contact units, and will constantly ensure utmost positional stability.

[0067] The above disclosure clearly shows that the present invention fulfills the intended objects and particularly meets the requirement of providing a switch control device that ensures high positional stability of the switch control units accommodated therein.

[0068] The apparatus of this invention is susceptible of a number of changes and variants, within the inventive principle disclosed in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A switch control apparatus for electric plants, comprising:

- a box-like body (2) adapted to be anchored to a fixed o movable part of an electric plant and having a closing panel (3) provided with at least one passage (4);

- at least one contact unit (8) housed into said box-like body (2) at said passage (4) and adapted to be electrically connected to at least one respective electric circuit of the plant to control the selective opening/closing thereof;

- at least one actuator (9) adapted to interact with said at least one contact unit (8) to promote the selective opening/closing of the respective circuits thereby;

- means (10) for anchoring said at least one contact unit (8) to said actuator (9);

characterized in that said anchoring means (10) comprise a containment member (11) adapted to envelope and contain said at least one contact unit (8) and anchorable to said closing panel (3) into said box-like body (2) for stably securing said at least one contactl unit (8) on said actuator (9).

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said containment member (11) is substantially box-like with an upper wall (14) adapted to face said closing panel (3) and a side wall (15) closed by a substantially planar bottom wall (16) to define one or more adjacent housings (17) adapted to hold respective contact units (8).

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that said at least one contact unit (8) comprises an insulating case (20) adapted to be inserted in a substantially precise manner in a respective housing (17).

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that said insulating case (20) houses fixed contacts provided with connecting terminals (22) for connecting with the electric circuits and movable contacts adapted to interact along a longitudinal axis (L) with said actuator (9) and to cooperate with corresponding fixed contacts, said case (20) having first openings (23) for the access to said terminals (22) and second openings (24) for connecting the ends of the electric circuits with said fixed contacts.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that said bottom wall (17) of said containment member (11) is at least partially open and/or is provided with a plurality of first passages facing corresponding first openings (23) of said case (20).

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that said lateral wall (15) of said containment member (11) comprises a plurality of second peripheral passages (26) facing corresponding second openings (24) of said case (20).

7. Apparatus as claimed in any claim 2 to 6, characterized in that said actuator (9) has an outer portion (12) adapted to be actuated by a user and an inner portion (13) adapted to be inserted into said box-like body (2) through said passage (4) to engage said at least one contact unit (8), said upper wall (14) of said containment member (11) having a substantially central through hole (31) adapted to be longitudinally aligned with said passage (4)

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that said containment member (11) comprises an upper half-shell (28) and a lower half-shell (29) reciprocally and removably anchorable and respectively provided with said central hole (31) and with said first and second peripheral passages (26).

9. Apparatus as claimed in 8, characterized in that said containment member (11) comprises an hollow intermediate extension portion (36) adapted to be interposed between said upper half-shell (28) and said lower half-shell (29) for housing pairs of contact units (8, 8') reciprocally joined and longitudinally aligned, said extension portion (36) having third peripheral passages (38) longitudinally aligned with corresponding second passages (26) of said lower half-shell (29).

10. Apparatus as claimed in any claim 7 to 9, characterized in that said anchoring means (10) comprise a locking nut (32) adapted to be housed in an annular seat (33) located peripherally to said central hole (31) of said containment member (11) to be screwed on a threaded surface of said inner portion (13) of said actuator (9).

Ansprüche

1. Ein Schaltsteuergerät für elektrische Anlagen mit:

- einem kistenartigen Gehäuse (2), das dafür ausgelegt ist, an einem festen oder beweglichen Teil einer elektrischen Anlage verankert zu sein und eine Verschlussblende (3) aufweist, die mit mindestens einem Durchlass (4) versehen ist,

- mindestens einer Kontakteinheit (8), die in dem kistenartigen Gehäuse (2) an dem Durchlass (4) untergebracht ist und für elektrische Verbindung mit mindestens einem jeweils elektrischen Schaltkreis der Anlage ausgelegt ist, um deren wahlweises Öffnen/Schließen zu steuern,

- mindestens einem Aktuator (9), der ausgelegt ist mit der mindestens einen Kontakteinheit (8) zusammen zu wirken, um dadurch das wahlweise Öffnen/Schließen der jeweiligen Schaltkreise zu fördern,

- Einrichtungen (10) zur Verankerung der mindestens einen Kontakteinheit (8) an dem Aktuator (9),

dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Ankereinrichtungen (10) ein Begrenzungselement (11) aufweisen, das ausgelegt ist, die mindestens eine Kontakteinheit (8) zu umhüllen und zu enthalten und verankerbar sind mit der Verschlussblende (3) in dem kistenartigen Gehäuse (2) zur stabilen Sicherung der mindestens einen Kontakteinheit (8) an dem Aktuator (9).

2. Gerät gemäß Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Begrenzungselement (11) im wesentlichen kistenartig ist mit einer oberen Wand (14), die ausgelegt ist, der Verschlussblende (3) gegenüber zu liegen, und einer Seitenwand (15), die geschlossen ist mit einer im wesentlichen ebenen Bodenwand (16) zur Bildung einer oder mehrerer benachbarter Gehäuse (17), die ausgelegt sind, die jeweiligen Kontakteinheiten (8) zu halten.

3. Gerät gemäß Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die mindestens eine Kontakteinheit (8) ein Isolationsgehäuse (20) aufweist, das ausgelegt ist auf eine im Wesentlichen präzise Art in ein jeweiliges Gehäuse (17) eingesetzt zu werden.

4. Gerät gemäß Anspruch 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Isolationsgehäuse (20) feste Kontakte enthält, die mit Anschlussenden (22) versehen sind zur Verbindung mit den elektrischen Schaltkreisen und bewegliche Kontakte, die ausgelegt sind entlang einer longitudinalen Achse (L) mit dem Aktuator (9) zusammen zu wirken und um mit entsprechenden festen Kontakten zu kooperieren, wobei das Gehäuse (20) erste Öffnungen (23) für Zugang zu den Enden (22) aufweist und zweite Öffnungen (24) zum Verbinden der Enden der elektrischen Schaltkreise mit den festen Kontakten.

5. Gerät gemäß Anspruch 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Bodenwand (17) des Begrenzungselements (11) zumindest teilweise offen ist und/oder versehen ist mit einer Vielzahl von ersten Durchgängen, die entsprechenden ersten Öffnungen (23) des Gehäuses (20) gegenüber liegen.

6. Gerät gemäß Anspruch 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die seitliche Wand (15) des Begrenzungselements (11) eine Vielzahl von zweiten äußeren Durchgängen (26) aufweist, die entsprechenden zweiten Öffnungen (24) des Gehäuses (20) gegenüber liegen.

7. Gerät gemäß einem der Ansprüche2 bis 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Aktuator (9) einen äußeren Abschnitt (12) aufweist, der ausgelegt ist für Betätigung durch einen Nutzer und einen inneren Abschnitt (13), der ausgelegt ist zum Einsatz in das kistenartige Gehäuse (2) durch den Durchgang (4), um die mindestens eine Kontakt-einheit (8) zu erfassen, wobei die obere Wand (14) des Begrenzungselements (11) eine im Wesentlichen zentrale Durchgangsöffnung (31) aufweist, die ausgelegt ist, longitudinal zu dem Durchlass (4) ausgerichtet zu sein.

8. Gerät gemäß Anspruch 7, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass dasBegrenzungselement (11) eine obere Halbschale (28) und eine untere Halbschale (29) aufweist, die reziprok und lösbar verankert sind und jeweils mit der zentralen Öffnung (31) versehen sind und mit den ersten und zweiten äußeren Durchgängen (26).

9. Gerät gemäß Anspruch 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass dasBegrenzungselement (11) einen hohlen, mittleren Verlängerungsabschnitt (36) aufweist, der ausgelegt ist zwischendie obere Halbschale (28) und die untere Halbschale (29) eingesetzt zu werden zur Aufnahme von Paaren von Kontakteinheiten (8, 8'), die reziprok verbunden und longitudinal ausgerichtet sind, wobei derVerlängerungsabschnitt (36) dritteäußere Durchlässe (38) aufweist, die longitudinal ausgerichtet sind mit entsprechenden zweiten Durchgängen (26) der unteren Halbschale (29).

10. Gerät gemäß einem der Ansprüche7 bis 9, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Ankereinrichtungen (10) eine Verriegelungsmutter (32) aufweisen, die ausgelegt ist zur Aufnahme in einem ringförmigen Sitz (33), der am Umfang der zentralen Öffnung (31) des Begrenzungselements (11) angeordnet ist zum Schrauben auf eine Gewindefläche des inneren Abschnitts (13) des Aktuators (9).

Revendications

1. Dispositif commutateur de commande pour des installations électriques, comprenant:

- un corps en forme de boîte (2) apte à être ancré à une partie fixe ou mobile d'une installation électrique et ayant un panneau de fermeture (3) pourvu d'au moins un passage (4);

- au moins une unité de contact (8) logée dans ledit corps en forme de boîte (2) au niveau dudit passage (4) et apte à être électriquement reliée à au moins un circuit électrique respectif de l'installation pour en commander l'ouverture/la fermeture sélectives;

- au moins un actionneur (9) apte à entrer en interaction avec ladite au moins une unité de contact (8) pour favoriser l'ouverture/la fermeture sélectives des circuits respectifs par celle-ci;

- des moyens d'ancrage (10) de ladite au moins une unité de contact (8) audit actionneur (9);

caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens d'ancrage (10) comprennent un élément de confinement (11) apte à envelopper et contenir ladite au moins une unité de contact (8) et pouvant être ancré audit panneau de fermeture (3) dans ledit corps en forme de boîte (2) pour fixer stablement ladite au moins une unité de contact (8) sur ledit actionneur (9).

2. Dispositif selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que ledit élément de confinement (11) est sensiblement en forme de boîte, avec une paroi supérieure (14) apte à faire face audit panneau de fermeture (3) et une paroi latérale (15) fermée par une paroi inférieure sensiblement plate (16) pour définir un ou plusieurs logements contigus (17) aptes à contenir des unités de contact respectives (8).

3. Dispositif selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que ladite au moins une unité de contact (8) comprend un boîtier isolant (20) apte à être inséré de manière sensiblement précise dans un logement respectif (17).

4. Dispositif selon la revendication 3, caractérisé en ce que ledit boîtier isolant (20) loge des contacts fixes pourvus de bornes de connexion (22), pour la connexion avec les circuits électriques et des contacts mobiles aptes à entrer en interaction avec ledit actionneur le long d'un axe longitudinal (L), et à coopérer avec des contacts fixes (9) correspondants, ledit boîtier (20) ayant des premières ouvertures (23) d'accès auxdites bornes (22) et des secondes ouvertures (24) de connexion des extrémités des circuits électriques avec lesdits contacts fixes.

5. Dispositif selon la revendication 4, caractérisé en ce que ladite paroi inférieure (17) dudit élément de confinement (11) est au moins en partie ouverte et/ou pourvue d'une pluralité de premiers passages faisant face à des premières ouvertures correspondantes (23) dudit boîtier (20).

6. Dispositif selon la revendication 5, caractérisé en ce que ladite paroi latérale (15) dudit élément de confinement (11) comprend une pluralité de deuxièmes passages périphériques (26) faisant face à des secondes ouvertures correspondantes (24) dudit boîtier (20).

7. Dispositif selon n'importe laquelle des revendications 2 à 6, caractérisé en ce que ledit actionneur (9) a une partie extérieure (12) apte à être actionnée par un utilisateur et une partie intérieure (13) apte à être insérée dans ledit corps en forme de boîte (2) à travers ledit passage (4) pour engager ladite au moins une unité de contact (8), ladite paroi supérieure (14) dudit élément de confinement (11) ayant un trou traversant sensiblement central (31) apte à être aligné longitudinalement avec ledit passage (4).

8. Dispositif selon la revendication 7, caractérisé en ce que ledit élément de confinement (11) comprend une demi-coque supérieure (28) et une demi-coque inférieure (29), pouvant être ancrées l'une à l'autre de façon amovible, et pourvues chacune dudit trou central (31) et desdits premiers et deuxièmes passages périphériques (26).

9. Dispositif selon la revendication 8, caractérisé en ce que ledit élément de confinement (11) comprend une partie de rallonge intermédiaire creuse (36) apte à être interposée entre ladite demi-coque supérieure (28) et ladite demi-coque inférieure (29) pour loger des paires d'unités de contact (8, 8') qui sont jointes l'une à l'autre et alignées longitudinalement, ladite partie de rallonge (36) ayant des troisièmes passages périphériques (38) alignés longitudinalement avec des deuxièmes passages correspondants (26) de ladite demi-coque inférieure (29).

10. Dispositif selon n'importe laquelle des revendications 7 à 9, caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens d'ancrage (10) comprennent un écrou de blocage (32) apte à être logé dans un logement annulaire (33) situé à la périphérie dudit trou central (31) dudit élément de confinement (11) pour être vissé à la surface filetée de ladite partie intérieure (13) dudit actionneur (9).

Drawing