IP Library Granted Patent US 7,961,480
Granted Patent B2
US 7,961,480 · App. 11/913,851 · Granted Jun 14, 2011

Device for housing and connection of accessories for switches

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,961,480
App. No.
11/913,851
Granted
Jun 14, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for housing and connection of accessories, particularly for low-voltage automatic switches, comprising an integrated wiring support. In particular, the housing and connection device ( 1 ) has a shaped structure ( 10 ) comprising an integrated wiring bus for electrical connection of the accessories. The shaped structure ( 10 ) moreover comprises one or more seats ( 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 ) for housing the accessories.

Claims (49)

1. A device for housing and connection of accessories of low-voltage switches, said device comprising:

a shaped structure comprising an integrated wiring bus for electrical connection of said accessories; and

one or more seats for housing said accessories being provided on said shaped structure,

wherein said shaped structure comprises a first half-shell and a second half-shell, said first half-shell having a first surface and a second surface comprising one or more seats for housing said accessories, said second half-shell having a third surface for coupling to the first surface of said first half-shell, and a fourth surface for coupling with a low-voltage automatic switch,

wherein said first and third surfaces when coupled keep in position printed connection paths of said wiring bus, said printed connection paths extending between said first and second half-shells, along said first and third surfaces when coupled, and

said first and second half-shells being coupled together through geometrically mated coupling surfaces,

wherein said wiring bus is set between said first and second half-shell, and said wiring bus is positioned along said geometrically mated coupling surfaces.

2. The housing and connection device according to claim 1 , wherein said integrated wiring bus comprises one or more connection paths and one or more terminal boards or terminals for connection to said accessories or to other devices.

3. The housing and connection device according to claim 1 , wherein one or more seats for housing said accessories are obtained by coupling between said first and second half-shells.

4. The housing and connection device according to claim 1 , wherein said first half-shell has, in a position corresponding to said one or more housing seats, one or more holes for the passage of said one or more connection terminal boards or terminals.

5. The housing and connection device according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first half-shell or said second half-shell have means for holding said integrated wiring bus in position.

6. The housing and connection device according to claim 1 , further comprising means for mechanical interface with one or more kinematic means of a low-voltage switch.

7. The housing and connection device according to claim 1 , further comprising means for fixing said accessories.

8. A low-voltage switch, comprising:

a housing and connection device for housing and connection of accessories of low-voltage switches, said device including a shaped structure including an integrated wiring bus for electrical connection of said accessories; and one or more seats for housing said accessories being provided on said shaped structure,

wherein said shaped structure comprises a first half-shell and a second half-shell, said first half-shell having a first surface and a second surface comprising one or more seats for housing said accessories, said second half-shell having a third surface for coupling to the first surface of said first half-shell, and a fourth surface for coupling with a low-voltage automatic switch,

wherein said first and third surfaces when coupled keep in position printed connection paths of said wiring bus, said printed connection paths extending between said first and second half-shells, along said first and third surfaces when coupled, and

said first and second half-shells being coupled together through geometrically mated coupling surfaces,

wherein said wiring bus is set between said first and second half-shell, and said wiring bus is positioned along said geometrically mated coupling surfaces.

9. The low-voltage switch according to claim 8 , wherein one or more accessory devices are chosen from among auxiliary contacts for signaling the state, servo-assisted actuators for opening, closing and resetting, minimum voltage or maximum voltage relay, and temperature sensors.

10. A low-voltage switch, comprising a body including one or more fixed contacts and corresponding mobile contacts and one or more kinematic chains, the switch comprising:

a seat for housing a shaped structure of a housing and connection device, the device being for housing and connection of accessories of low-voltage switches, said device comprising a shaped structure comprising an integrated wiring bus for electrical connection of said accessories and one or more seats for housing said accessories being provided on said shaped structure,

wherein said shaped structure comprises a first half-shell and a second half-shell, said first half-shell having a first surface and a second surface comprising one or more seats for housing said accessories, said second half-shell having a third surface for coupling to the first surface of said first half-shell, and a fourth surface for coupling with a low-voltage automatic switch,

wherein said first and third surfaces when coupled keep in position printed connection paths of said wiring bus, said printed connection paths extending between said first and second half-shells, along said first and third surfaces when coupled, and

said first and second half-shells being coupled together through geometrically mated coupling surfaces,

wherein said wiring bus is set between said first and second half-shell, and said wiring bus is positioned along said geometrically mated coupling surfaces.

11. The low-voltage switch according to claim 10 ,

wherein said first half-shell has a first surface for positioning said integrated wiring bus and a second surface comprising one or more seats for housing said accessories, said second half-shell having a third surface for coupling to the first surface of said first half-shell, and a fourth surface for coupling with a low-voltage automatic switch, and

wherein said seat has a conformation geometrically mated with said fourth surface of said second half-shell of the housing and connection device.

12. The low-voltage switch according to claim 10 , wherein said one or more kinematic chains are connected to means of mechanical interface of the housing and connection device.

13. A method for assembly of a low-voltage switch with one or more accessories, comprising:

providing a switch comprising a body including one or more fixed contacts and corresponding mobile contacts and one or more kinematic chains, wherein the switch includes a seat for housing a shaped structure;

providing a housing and connection device which comprises the shaped structure, the shaped structure comprising an integrated wiring bus for electrical connection of said accessories, one or more seats for housing said accessories being provided on said shaped structure;

inserting said housing and connection device into the seat of said switch; and

inserting one or more accessories into corresponding seats of said housing and connection device,

wherein said shaped structure comprises a first half-shell and a second half-shell, said first half-shell having a first surface and a second surface comprising one or more seats for housing said accessories, said second half-shell having a third surface for coupling to the first surface of said first half-shell, and a fourth surface for coupling with a low-voltage automatic switch,

wherein said first and third surfaces when coupled keep in position printed connection paths of said wiring bus, said printed connection paths extending between said first and second half-shells, along said first and third surfaces when coupled, and

said first and second half-shells being coupled together through geometrically mated coupling surfaces,

wherein said wiring bus is set between said first and second half-shell, and said wiring bus is positioned along said geometrically mated coupling surfaces.

14. A low-voltage switch obtained by a procedure according to claim 13 .

15. A method for the assembly of a low-voltage switch with one or more accessories, comprising:

providing a switch comprising a body including one or more fixed contacts and corresponding mobile contacts and one or more kinematic chains, wherein the switch includes a seat for housing a shaped structure;

providing a housing and connection device which includes the shaped structure, the shaped structure comprising an integrated wiring bus for electrical connection of said accessories, one or more seats for housing said accessories being provided on said shaped structure;

inserting one or more accessories into corresponding seats of said housing and connection device; and

inserting the ensemble thus obtained into the seat of said switch,

wherein said shaped structure comprises a first half-shell and a second half-shell, said first half-shell having a first surface and a second surface comprising one or more seats for housing said accessories, said second half-shell having a third surface for coupling to the first surface of said first half-shell, and a fourth surface for coupling with a low-voltage automatic switch,

wherein said first and third surfaces when coupled keep in position printed connection paths of said wiring bus, said printed connection paths extending between said first and second half-shells, along said first and third surfaces when coupled, and

said first and second half-shells being coupled together through geometrically mated coupling surfaces,

wherein said wiring bus is set between said first and second half-shell, and said wiring bus is positioned along said geometrically mated coupling surfaces.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 28, 2008
From: ABB SERVICE S.R.L.
To: ABB S.P.A.
Reel/Frame 020859/0687 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 6, 2007
From: BESANA, STEFANO; ANTONIAZZI, ANTONELLO
To: ABB SERVICE S.R.L.
Reel/Frame 020203/0973 →