Device for secure electrical connection
View Patent ↗The invention relates to an electrical connection device formed of an active base ( 2 ) and a plug ( 1 ), pilot contacts of a pilot circuit being provided for controlling an apparatus by switching the same on or off, respectively, the power contacts of the base by means of an actuator ( 10 ) set up on the base while a device ( 11, 12; 14 ), for locking and unlocking the plug into the base in a connection position, is also provided. The device according to the invention is particularly remarkable in that a means ( 11; 12 ) for locking the base separately from the actuator ( 10 ) is movably mounted, the actuator ( 10 ) of the pilot circuit being set up to secure said base locking means in the locked position thereof when said pilot circuit is closed and release the locking means when the pilot circuit is open, while the base locking means prevents all operations for coupling the plug and the base, or for separating the latter once coupled, when said locking means is secured in the locked position thereof by said actuator ( 10 ).
1. An electrical connection device comprising:
an active base comprising at least one power contact;
a plug comprising at least one power contact;
said at least one contacts being connectable to each other when the plug and the base are coupled in a connection position;
a pilot circuit comprising pilot contacts;
an actuator for switching on or switching off power to the at least one power contact of the base via closure and opening of the pilot circuit;
the actuator being movable between at least one locking position and at least one unlocking position; and
a locking arrangement for locking and unlocking portions of the plug and the base in the connection position,
wherein the electrical connection device comprises the following modes of operation:
the actuator is in a position closing the pilot circuit, while the locking arrangement locks the portions of the plug and the base;
the actuator is in a position opening the pilot circuit, while the locking arrangement unlocks the portions of the plug and the base;
when the locking arrangement is in a locked position, the plug and the base are prevented from being separated; and
when the actuator is in the at least one locking position, the locking arrangement is prevented from unlocking the portions of the plug and the base.
2. The connection device of claim 1 , wherein the locking arrangement is separate from the actuator.
3. The connection device of claim 1 , wherein the pilot circuit is closed when a shunt is rotated into contact with the pilot contacts.
4. The connection device of claim 1 , wherein the locking arrangement comprises a hook and a groove and the hook is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position.
5. The connection device of claim 4 , further comprising an actuating device configured to allow a user to unlock the hook from the groove.
6. The connection device of claim 5 , wherein the actuator comprises a rotary ring having a skirt configured to pass under a portion of the actuating device.
7. The connection device of claim 6 , wherein the skirt comprises a notch which permits movement of the actuating device when positioned under said actuating device and when the rotary ring is in a position in which the pilot circuit is open.
8. The connection device of claim 4 , wherein the hook is elastically engageable with the groove.
9. The connection device of claim 1 , wherein the actuator is lockable in a position wherein the pilot circuit is open.
10. The connection device of claim 1 , further comprising at least one movable rod biased toward a locking position and being configured to lock the actuator by extending into a portion of the actuator so as to prevent rotation.
11. The connection device of claim 10 , wherein the at least one movable rod is movable toward an unlocking position during coupling of the plug with the base.
12. The connection device of claim 10 , wherein the portion of the actuator comprises an arc-shaped opening formed in the actuator.
13. The connection device of claim 1 , wherein separation of the base and the plug requires two successive manual operations.
14. The connection device of claim 1 , wherein separation of the base and plug requires rotation of the actuator and unlocking the locking arrangement.
15. An electrical connection device comprising:
a base comprising at least one power contact;
a plug comprising at least one power contact;
said at least one contacts being connectable to each other when the plug and the base are coupled in a connection position;
a pilot circuit comprising pilot contacts;
an actuator being movable between at least one locking position and at least one unlocking position; and
a locking arrangement for locking and unlocking portions of the plug and the base in the connection position,
wherein the electrical connection device comprises the following modes of operation:
the actuator is in a position closing the pilot circuit, while the locking arrangement locks the portions of the plug and the base;
the actuator is in a position opening the pilot circuit, while the locking arrangement unlocks the portions of the plug and the base;
when the locking arrangement is in a locked position, the plug and the base are prevented from being separated;
when the actuator is in the at least one locking position, the locking arrangement is prevented from unlocking the portions of the plug and the base.
16. The connection device of claim 15 , wherein separation of the base and the plug requires two successive manual operations.
17. The connection device of claim 15 , wherein separation of the base and plug requires rotation of the actuator and unlocking the locking arrangement.
18. An electrical connection device comprising:
a base comprising at least one power contact;
a plug comprising at least one power contact;
a pilot circuit comprising pilot contacts;
an actuator being movable between:
at least one locking position and at least one unlocking position; and
a position closing the pilot circuit and a position opening the pilot circuit;
a locking arrangement for locking and unlocking portions of the plug and the base in the connection position; and
a device for unlocking the locking arrangement,
wherein, when the actuator is in the at least one locking position, the plug and the base are prevented from being separated and the device for unlocking is prevented from unlocking the locking arrangement.
19. The connection device of claim 18 , wherein separation of the base and the plug requires two successive manual operations.
20. The connection device of claim 18 , wherein separation of the base and plug requires rotation of the actuator and unlocking the locking arrangement.