IP Library › Granted Patent US 6,840,819
Granted Patent B2
US 6,840,819 · App. 10/349,963 · Granted Jan 11, 2005

Electrical apparatus to be fitted to a top hat rail

Assignee: Schneider Automation Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,840,819
App. No.
10/349,963
Granted
Jan 11, 2005
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electrical apparatus including a base configured to be fitted to a holding rail with opposing coplanar arms, and configured to accommodate a component member of the apparatus and fitted with a locking device having two opposing catches each intended to hook onto a respective arm of the rail. Further, at least one of the two catches is joined to a slide configured to slide in a direction and can be moved by a manual unlocking member. In addition, he manual unlocking member includes a lever pivoted around at least one bearing pin having an axis perpendicular to the sliding direction of the slide, and the lever cooperates with the slide bar via a cam device guiding through a slide track having an axis parallel to the axis of the bearing pin.

Claims (15)

1. An electrical apparatus comprising:

a base configured to be fitted to a holding rail, with opposing coplanar arms, and configured to accommodate a component member of the apparatus and fitted with a locking device having two opposing catches each intended to hook onto a respective arm of the rail, at least one of the two catches being joined to a slide configured to slide in a direction and which can be moved by a manual unlocking member,

wherein

the manual unlocking member comprises a lever pivoted around at least one bearing pin having an axis perpendicular to the sliding direction of the slide, and

the lever cooperates with the slide bar via a cam device guiding through a slide track having an axis parallel to the axis of the bearing pin.

2. The electrical apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the two catches are movable, and are joined to corresponding slides that are symmetrical in relation to a mid-plane of the base, and the lever cooperates with the corresponding slides via two cams and symmetrical axes.

3. The electrical apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the base comprises a rigid back wall and the corresponding slide is moulded with the back wall, and the slide is separated from rigid partitions of the back wall by slits.

4. The electrical apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the lever is held in its unlocking position and its locking position via a force-threshold securing system.

5. The electrical apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising an electronic module removably fastened to the base, the lever having a manoeuvring arm which is unobtrusive in a locking position and projects forward in an unlocking position, in order to cooperate with a rear side of the electronic module to prevent the electronic module to be mounted on the base in the unlocking position and enabling the module to be mounted in the locking position.

6. The electrical apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the holding rail is a top hat rail.

7. The electrical apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the lever is integrated into a cam sliding track and the corresponding slide comprises the axis guided in the sliding track.

8. The electrical apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the axis of the corresponding slide is guided in a slit or groove in the base, and which extends in the sliding direction of the slide.

9. The electrical apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the bearing pin of the lever is located near a, back wall of the base.

10. The electrical apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein a return pin spring is associated to one of the corresponding slides.

11. The electrical apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the back wall offers two housing spaces configured to accommodate the opposing coplanar arms of the holding rail and the lever provided with the cam slide tracks projects backwards between the two housing spaces.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 25, 2003
From: BET, ROBERT; DELVAUX, FREDERIC; GIRARD, MICHEL; RIX, PHILIPPE
To: SCHNEIDER AUTOMATION INC
Reel/Frame 013885/0684 →
Priority Claims (1)
FR 02 01002 · Jan 25, 2002 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20030143896A1 · Jul 31, 2003