ES2306072T3 - ELECTRICAL EXTREME CONNECTOR FOR A PREFABRICATED DRIVING MEMBER, STAINLESS TO INFILTRATIONS FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY. - Google Patents

Abstract

Leaktight electrical end connector for a prefabricated conduit member having conducting bars (6, 7, 8, 9) housed in slots which are leaktight except at the ends of the conduit, from the sides of which there project a pair of retractable locking teeth (19) for permanent locking of the connector comprising: a pair of shells (23, 24) of plastics material coupled together in a leaktight manner and forming an enclosure with at least one mouth, at least one seal (33) housed in the enclosure close to the mouth for leaktight coupling with the end of a first conduit member inserted therein, means (45, 46, 109, 110) within the enclosure for permanent engagement between the teeth (19) and the end of the conduit, disengaging means (48, 49, 105) to act on the locking teeth (19) or on the engaging means (109, 110) from the exterior of the enclosure to cause their disengagement, and electrical terminals (54, 55, 56, 57) housed in the enclosure for electrical connection of the conduit member to a second conduit member or to a sheathed multipole flexible electrical cable.

Description

Electric end connector for one member of prefabricated duct, leakproof for Electricity distribution

This invention relates to a connector of electric end for a prefabricated, watertight duct member to infiltrations and intended for energy distribution electric

It is known that the duct members prefabricated, which are commonly known as bus bars sheathed or bus conduits, intended for the distribution of electrical energy in buildings, in particular for industrial use or in offices, stores, shopping centers and the like, consist in elements of standard or standard lengths, for example, of 1, 2 and 3 meters, which can be joined by their ends in such so that the length or longitudinal dimension is obtained required for each specific application.

Electrical connections can then be made for feeding user equipment at any point at along its length

These prefabricated members must satisfy Many requirements: in addition to the ability to transport intense currents, of the order of tens of amps (typically, from 25 to 40 A), must ensure maximum safety in the course of any work carried out after they have been installed, and, in many types of installations, such as the underground installation known as "floating" installation, inside false ceilings and in all circumstances in those that exist the risk of a possible water filtration, must ensure that they are impervious to liquids, that is, they must be leakproof.

While the requirement of safe work by part of an operator (or the "finger test requirement" - "finger test requirement") can be satisfied with some means relatively simple and inexpensive, such as, for example, described in European Patent Application No. EP 1049227, by part of this same Applicant, the requirement that the system it must be leak-tight it has been satisfying so far through particularly complex structures and expensive that convert both installation and subsequent system adaptation, such as adding new shots or connections, the suppression of existing shots and the extension of system, in particularly difficult and laborious.

In European Patent Application No. EP-A-1750342 (published on 07.02.07), deposited by this Applicant, has been proposed and described a prefabricated duct member that avoids these disadvantages and provides an extremely simple structure that it can be manufactured economically in large quantities and that satisfies the requirements already indicated.

With this type of prefabricated member it is without However, it is necessary to provide corresponding devices leak-tight, through which they can establish terminal electrical connections between a certain number of duct members, so that the lengths or longitudinal dimensions required, in order to form elbows and connect to a power source so Simple and reliable, without the need for equipment or tools.

Watertight terminal joint joints are known to infiltrations, which connect or rigidly connect with each other two duct members, for example, by EP 0335756, but its installation is particularly laborious and requires that the joint be assembled on the ground, using appropriate tools.

In addition to this, the rigid connection between duct members offers no chance of absorbing duct length variations caused by changes in temperature, and incur the risk that they may sag.

In US 5,614,697 a proposed example of a leak-tight end connector, corresponding to the preamble of claim 1.

Even in this case, the installation is laborious and requires assembly on the ground of the board of union, with the need for tools such as a wrench for the tighten the bolts that couple two outer flanges of each other the joint

Even more complicated is the installation of the end connector explained in EP 0936714, in which screw metal plates at the ends of the conductive bar in order to establish the electrical connection, and The joint is protected by means of an external box formed by plates riveted metal to each other and to the ends of the lines of union of the bus bar.

This invention overcomes these problems and Provides a tight terminal electrical connector at infiltrations, according to claim 1, which is inserted like an ordinary electrical plug inside the end of a duct member, no need for any tools.

         \ newpage
      

At the same time, although a certain amount of axial displacement to absorb any dilation thermal, the connection is permanent.

The connector can, however, be removed. through a simple and deliberate manual operation, without the need for no tool (or, at most, in an embodiment variant, with the help of an ordinary screwdriver), which moves the risk of any accidental disconnection, in circumstances in which that modifications or maintenance are required.

The modular structure of the connector makes it is also possible to use most of its components with few specific additional components, well in order to make flat splicing electrical joints to join members of conduit with each other, or to provide connections electrical for connection or connection of conduit members to twisted, sheathed and flexible electric cables, for your connection to the power supply network or to a user equipment, and, using a couple of these, it is also possible to make junction elbows (commonly known as flexible joints) between duct members located at an angle to each other.

According to the invention, these results are they get through a connector structure as defined in the accompanying claims.

The characteristics and advantages of the invention they will become more evident from the following description of two preferred embodiments, respectively a flat splice connector and a connector that provides a connection to a sheathed or sheathed flexible cable, and its possible variants, which are provided with reference to accompanying drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 is a sectional view cross section of a prefabricated duct member to which they are intended to connect the connectors according to this invention,

- Figure 2 is a sectional view transverse of a variant of the prefabricated duct member of Figure 1,

- Figure 3 is a perspective view exploded from a preferred embodiment of a terminal connector for connection of flat splice of two duct members prefabricated,

- Figure 4 is a perspective view of the connector of Figure 3, partially assembled and placed in a certain position relationship with a duct member prefabricated to which it is to be connected,

- Figure 5 is a front view of a preferred embodiment of a sealing element or seal for tight coupling to infiltration of the connector of Figures 3 and 4 with a conduit member whose cross-sectional cut is illustrated in Figure one,

- Figure 6 is a front view of a preferred embodiment of a sealing element for connection tight to the infiltration of the connector of Figures 3 and 4 with a duct member whose cross-sectional cut is the one that It is illustrated in Figure 2,

- Figure 7 is a cross-sectional section along line I-I of Figure 5, of the Sealing elements of Figures 5 and 6,

- Figure 8 is a perspective view exploded and raised from an electrical contact terminal of the connector of Figures 3 and 4,

- Figure 9 is a perspective view exploded from a preferred embodiment of a terminal connector for connection between a prefabricated conduit member and a cable multiple, flexible and sheathed,

- Figure 10 is a front view of a variant embodiment of a locking device for the leak tight connector of Figures 3, 4 and 9 previous

- Figure 11 is a rear view of the locking device of Figure 10;

- Figure 12 is a view of the device of blocking along the cross section A-A of the Figure 10;

- Figure 13 is a view of the device of blocking along the cross section B-B of the Figure 10;

- Figure 14 is a partial detail view of the connector of Figures 3, 4 or 9, along the plane that joins the two half-turns of which it is constituted, showing the locking device of Figures 10-13 in diametral cross section, housed in its seat and located in the lock position,

- Figure 15 is a detailed view similar to that of Figure 14, which shows the device for blocking the Figures 10-13 in the unlocked position.

For a better understanding of the invention, it has if, first, a brief description of the member of prefabricated conduit (referred to hereinafter more simply as "conduit") to which it must be connected or joined The terminal connector.

For more detailed information on the duct and a preferred embodiment thereof, reference should be made to the European Patent Application No. EP 05425579.9, already cited.

Figure 1 shows a sectional cut transverse duct. This one includes a straight extruded body 1 of insulating plastic material (PVC and similar) in which they have been formed four slots 2, 3, 4, 5, in each of which houses a vertical busbar, 6, 7, 8, 9, respectively, co-extruded or extruded together with the body one.

Advantageously, bars 6-9 are obtained by bending a copper or aluminum plate, of such so that a T cross section is formed upside down or inverted, with the branches or lower sections incorporated in the body 1.

At the top, with reference to the view of Figure 1, the slots are enclosed by a sheet of insulating and perforable plastic 10, along the entire length of the duct, in such a way that they are sealed against infiltration, except at the ends of the duct.

While it is not essential, it is possible to provide protection for sheet 10 by means of a plastic cover 11 that joins by elastic jump adjustment to projections 12, 13 existing in the body 1. The plastic cover can be easily removed in order to allow a electrical connection with bars 6-9 through the perforation of the sheet 10 at any point along the duct length

Body 1 is enclosed, below, by a metal enclosure 14 obtained by folding a sheet metal with flanges 15, 16 folded inward, joined, shaped leakproof, to corresponding protrusions of the body 1.

Conveniently, in addition to the functions of protect the body 1 and make it more rigid, the enclosure 14 makes also the times of ground conductor.

Between body 1 and enclosure 14 there is a intermediate space 17, which is tightly closed or sealed along the entire length of the duct, except for the ends, in which, among other things, as illustrated in Figure 4, exists a pair of opposite openings (of which only one is visible, the 18), practiced on the sides of the enclosure.

These openings are used for the passage of a pair of locking teeth (of which only one can be seen, 19) that protrude from the sides of the enclosure.

The locking teeth constitute the ends of elastic arms (of plastic material) that are consisting of a single piece with a support wedge 20 (Figure 4) which closes the end of the intermediate space, but in a way that It is permeable.

Separating ribs (21, 22), illustrated clearly in Figure 1, between body 1 and the enclosure of metal 14, extend over the entire length of the duct except from at the ends, from where they withdraw in the course of manufacturing procedure to allow elastic arms that end in the locking teeth, are housed in the space intermediate and that the corresponding support wedge 20 is fixed irreversibly to enclosure 14, as explained in greater detail detail in the cited patent application.

The function of the locking teeth is to ensure permanently end member devices, such as hermetically closed male plugs or plugs or connectors electrical in accordance with this invention, mounted at the ends of the duct, to the ends of the duct.

To conclude with the description of the conduit of Figure 1, it should be appreciated that the sectional section profile transverse is asymmetric with respect to a vertical average plane A-A

In particular, it will be appreciated that the two flanges 15, 16 of the enclosure extend horizontally in different magnitudes, greater in the case of flange 15 and less in the case of flange 16.

This provision acts to "polarize" mechanically the conduit and ensure that the connectors electrical, whether end or intermediate connectors, are fixed to the conduit in a unique or unambiguous way.

As illustrated in the cross section of the Figure 2, which is similar to that of Figure 1, can be achieved same effect with an enclosure 14 in which the flanges 15, 16 are extend horizontally in the same magnitude but are located different heights with respect to the base of the enclosure.

They are clearly possible, and can be convenient, combinations of the two provisions.

Consider now a preferred embodiment of the electrical connector for a flat splice connection between two prefabricated duct members, with reference to Figures 3 and Four.

The connector comprises a pair of half-turns 23, 24 of insulating plastic material (rigid PVC and the like) that are coupled to each other with a seal or seal intermediate that has two members 25, 26 of rubber or other suitable elastomer, which form an enclosure that is open by The two opposite ends.

The width and height dimensions of the openings are substantially equal to the dimensions corresponding duct (for indicative purposes, a width of order between 50 and 60 mm, and a height of the order of 15 to 25 mm), such that the ends of the two ducts that are to be electrically connect with each other, they can be inserted in both openings, referred to also hereinafter, like "mouths", with a minimum magnitude of game.

The coupling between the two half-turns 23, 24 with the consequent tightening of the sealing element intermediate 25, 26, housed in a seat 27, 28 formed at the edge of one of the half-turns (the lower half-turn 24 in the Figure 3), is achieved by means of screws 29, 30, 31, 32 that pass freely through one of the half-turns, the 24, and they fit into corresponding seats existing in the other half wrapped.

Two shutter elements are provided annular 33, 34, which are identical to each other and have a profile generically rectangular external and an internal profile that is identical to the cross section profile of the duct, in order to ensure that the connections between the connector and the ends of the ducts inserted in it, are watertight at infiltrations

The two shutter elements 33, 34 are housed, respectively, in two seats 35, 36 formed in the lower half-turn 24, each one close to one of the two connector mouths, and in corresponding seats, which cannot see in Figure 3, formed in the upper half-turn 23, and corresponding to the bottom part of the ribs protruding 351, 361 existing in the upper half-turn 2. 3.

The two shutter elements 33, 34 are tightly fit the infiltrations with the ends 25A, 26A and 25B, 26B respectively of the two sealing members 25, 26.

Clearly, the two shutter elements 33, 34, which have an internal profile identical to the profile of the cut in cross section of the ducts, carry with them a mechanical polarization of the connector and ensure that it connect to the ends of the ducts in only one way.

In practice, in order to avoid damaging the shutter elements 33, 34 by incorrectly forcing the connector on the ends of the ducts, it is also convenient to polarize the connector body.

For this purpose, two pairs of tabs 37, 38 and 39, 40, which extend from the sides of the half-turns into the cross section cut in the two mouths, of different lengths and / or arranged at different heights in the female plug side (depending on whether the cross section The duct is the one shown in Figure 1 or the one in Figure 2, or is a combination of the two), have been formed for this purpose in the minus one of the half-turns 23, 24 (bottom half-turn 24 in Figure 3, upper half-turn 23 in Figure 4).

The separation surface or interface between these tabs 37, 38, 39, 40 and the flanges 15, 16 of the ducts  prevent incorrect coupling of connector 12 and protect the sealing elements 33, 34 of the risk of damage.

37-40 tabs provide also a sliding guide to adjust the connector on the ducts in the correct axial direction.

Figures 5, 6 show an embodiment preferred of the sealing elements 33, 34, respectively, in more detail, in the situation in which the section profile Transverse duct is shown in Figure 1 or in the Figure 2

This comprises a ledge 41 of a material relatively rigid plastic, which acts as a frame of support for an elastic sealing element 42, which is made of rubber or of another suitable elastomer.

Advantageously, in order to guarantee a better coupling between cornice 41 and elastic portion 42, the ledge 41 has a T-shaped cross section, with a section 43 that extends internally, in this case, in length variable, corresponding to the internal profile of the element of elastic sealing, and embedded in it, as shown in the Figure 7

The internal surface of the sealing element it has, therefore, an outstanding contact flange 44 which is designed to provide a tight coupling to infiltrations with the end of the duct and, in particular, with the various components of which it is constituted, in such a way that the insulating sheet 10 closes or covers the grooves of the conduit, the exposed sides of the insulating body 1 and the metal enclosure 14.

Another aspect with reference will now be considered to Figure 3.

In order to guarantee a connection or union permanent between the connector and the ends of the conduits, it they have formed four stops, of which only three, 45, 46, 47, are visible, at half-turn 24, on the opposite sides of the half wrapped, and in an internal position to the enclosure, with respect to seats 35, 36 for sealing elements 33, 34, respectively.

When the end of a duct is inserted into the enclosure formed by semi-turns 23, 24, for example, to through the mouth located on the left side of the connector, according to it is seen in Figure 3, or again in Figure 4, the teeth of locking such as 19 (figure 4), provided with a plane of inclined entry 14, slide flexibly or deformably over the sides of the half-turn 24 and the stops 45, 46, and, once exceeded these, reopened by elastic jump, to lean against the stops and ensure a permanent connection by means of an interference or interposition adjustment with them.

The coupling that occurs when inserted the end of a duct inside the enclosure through the female plug located on the right side of the connector, as per see in Figures 3 and 4, it is completely similar; The pair of stops, of which only one, 47, is visible, are coupled with corresponding locking teeth of the duct.

If the connector is to be removed from the end of one or the other of the ducts, it is necessary to act on the teeth, such as 19, pressing them in from the closing and overcoming, therefore, the interference or interposition.

For this purpose, two pairs of push buttons 48, 49 and 50, 51, housed so that a peripheral portion thereof acts as a sealing element in a suitable seat formed in semi-turns 23 and 24, of a single piece with sealing members 25, 26.

Push buttons 48-51 they have essentially the shape of small cups with a diameter of the order of between 10 and 15 mm, which open towards the inside of the enclosure and extend something out of the two half-turns 23, 24, so they are accessible to be easily pressed from jointly, as pairs of push buttons, between the finger forefinger and thumb of an operator's hand grabbing the connector in order to disconnect or detach it from the end of a conduit.

Within each of the cups there is a core central 52 that exerts a pushing action on the tooth of corresponding blockage of the duct, decoupling it from the stop.

It can be conveniently provided within of the core 52 a rigid insert of plastic or metal.

The need to act together in both push buttons of a pair, in order to decouple the blocking devices, avoids the risk of disconnection Accidental locking devices.

The connector of Figures 3 and 4 from a strictly point of view electric.

They have formed partitions vertical, indicated in conjunction with reference 53, in the part center of the half-turn 24 when the half-turn has been molded, forming a plurality of accommodation and placement channels for a plurality of electrical contact terminals 54, 55, 56, 57, one for each of the busbars 6-9 of the duct member, and for a pair of contact bars 58, 59 electric ground (or also for only one of these bars).

Electric contact bars 58, 59, of copper alloy (bronze or brass) coated with tin plate or silver, they are housed internally in a half-turn 24 adjacent to its sides, and, as can be seen more clearly in Figure 4, have slightly curved ends 60, 61 that they come into elastic electrical contact with the sides of the enclosure metal 14 of a pair of conduits inserted in the connector, exerting in them an adequate contact pressure.

In this way, a continuity is obtained electrical between the ground conductors that comprise the two enclosures 14 connected in flat junction.

Figure 8 shows a preferred structure of contact terminals 54-57 in a view in broken and expanded perspective.

Each of them comprises a conductive member of silver plated copper 62, which has an H-shaped profile initially flat, obtained by stamping, whose sides or sections verticals are then folded back, side by side, in order to form a pair of opposite contact terminals 65, 66, destined, each of them, to receive the end of a bar conductive of two conduits inserted in the connector, along of the axial direction of the ducts identified by the arrows 651 and 652 of Figure 4.

         \ newpage
      

In order to guarantee a contact pressure suitable for terminals 65, 66, has been externally superimposed,  on the contact member 62, a spring or spring member of steel 67, which also initially has an H-shaped profile, whose sides or vertical sections 68, 69, when bending towards back, side by side, form a pair of clamping terminals elastic 70, 72.

Posts of plastic material, formed in the half round 24 (of which only one has been identified, in for simplicity and clarity, with reference number 72), which, together with partition walls 53, guarantee that the contact terminals are placed correctly, which are not they can be seen and are formed inside the upper half-turn 23, are inserted in the free space between the sides 63, 64 and 68, 69 of the two members, as illustrated in Figure Four.

It is worth noting that the role of partition walls 53 is not only to guarantee the correct placement of contact terminals; to be formed of insulating material, also provide better insulation electrical between the various conductors, both in terms of the dielectric strength of the intermediate material as per what It refers to the surface resistance of the insulating material.

They also constitute a detachment stop or end stop for the conduit inserted in the connector.

In this regard, it should be noted that the distance between this butt shoulder and the stops 45, 46, 47 is, conveniently, greater (by way of indication, 1 mm) than the distance between the locking teeth 19 and the plane of the end of the ducts

In this way, the ducts inserted in the connector, in addition to being locked securely, present a certain amount of play or axial tolerance with respect to connector

This allows them to fully recover changes in duct lengths due to changes in temperature.

Finally, the perfect one has to be appreciated mirror image symmetry of the connector with respect to its middle section, identified as section II-II in Figure 4.

This enables appreciable simplifications in the making.

For example, electric contact bars 58, 59, shutter elements 33 and 34, and members of shutter 25, 26 are identical to each other.

It can be considered now, with reference to the Figure 9, a preferred embodiment of the end connection leakproof to connect or join a member of prefabricated conduit to a multiple, flexible and sheathed

This connector also uses them inventive concepts already described and, to a large extent, also of the same components.

Like the connector in Figures 3 and 4, the connector of Figure 9 comprises a pair of semi-turns of plastic material 73, 74, which form an elongated case body (half-turn 74), closed by a cover (73) with an element of hermetic seal or intermediate seal 75 of rubber or other appropriate elastomer, which generally has the form of a horseshoe.

The coupling of the two half-turns 73, 74 and the tightening of the sealing element 75 is ensured by means of screws 76, 77, 78, 79 that pass freely through some seats formed in one of the half-turns (the half-turn bottom 74 in Figure 9) and are assembled into seats corresponding existing in the other half-turn.

In the event that screws 79, 79 go to inside the frame, the screw heads guarantee that the penetration through is leakproof. May also provide a small sealing element in case necessary.

The enclosure formed by the two semi-turns it has, at one of its ends, a mouth 80 that is identical to that of the connector of Figures 3, 4, for insertion of the end of a prefabricated duct member.

The tight connection to infiltrations between the end of the conduit and the connector is guaranteed by a annular sealing element 81, identical to the elements of seal 33, 34 of the connector of Figure 3 and that, like these, is preferably made with an external frame of rigid plastic material, as already described with reference to Figures 5, 6, 7.

The sealing element 81 is housed in a seat 82 formed in the lower half-turn 74, and in a seat corresponding that cannot be seen in Figure 9, formed in the upper half-turn.

         \ newpage
      

Once the sealing element 81 is arranged as illustrated in the Figure, rotated 180º with respect to an axis vertical, the connector to engage with one or the other end of the duct is polarized.

Again in this case, it is convenient, without However, provide polarization means formed intrinsically in at least one of the half-turns and that they comprise, for example, polarization tabs and guides 83, 84 in the upper half turn female socket.

In this regard, it will also be noted that the tabs 83, 84 can be replaced by a template of rigid plastic material that has a profile identical to that of sealing element 81 and which is, like this one, oriented in one or another direction, located in a seat similar to seat 82, and formed in close proximity with the female plug 80. The template can be provided with guide tabs on both sides.

This alternative offers the advantage of avoiding formation of limbs cut or lowered within of the half-turns (and in the connector of Figure 3), with their inherent manufacturing complications.

In the specific case of the connector of the Figure 9, this has the additional advantage of avoiding having to mold semi-turns, such as 73, 74 or both, of different ways to attach to one or the other end of a duct.

Also the connector of Figure 9 is provided with a lower half-turn 74 with a pair of stops (of which only one, 85, is visible in the Figure) that act in conjunction with immobilizing teeth (such as 19 Figure 4) of the duct member in order to perform a secure coupling with the connector.

Again, in the case of the connector of the Figure 9, there are a couple of rubber push buttons 86, 87, preferably formed in one piece with the element of shutter 75, and housed with its peripheral portion acting as a sealing element in an appropriate seat 88, 89, 90, formed in semi-turns 73, 74.

Outside the enclosure formed by the two half-turns 73, 74, the push buttons can be used to disconnect or detach locking devices and remove the connector from the end of the duct on it inserted.

There are also numerous identical aspects since The electrical point of view.

They have also formed within the half-turn 74, at the time of molding the half-turn, some partition walls vertical, indicated as a whole by reference 91, which they form a plurality of accommodation and placement channels for a plurality of electrical contact terminals 92, one for each one of the busbars 6-9 of the member of conduit, and for an electric ground contact rod 96 (in this case, just one).

The electrical contact terminals 92 are identical to those used in the connector of Figure 3 and, at Like these, they are made, preferably, as already described with reference to Figure 8. Any explanation additional is therefore superfluous.

The vertical partition walls 91 are extend toward the end of the connector opposite mouth 80 with the purpose of forming a plurality of housings for a plurality of electric contact sheets 93 (one for each of the contact terminals 92) and for a corresponding plurality of electrical terminals 94 of the well-known type with the name of "sleeve connectors", plus an additional terminal 95 of the same type, into which an end tab of ground contact bar 96.

Contact sheets 93, which are obtained by stamping and bending of a copper or brass plate, it conform properly to be inserted from one side inside one of the contact terminals 92, and from the other side inside the terminals 94, with a tongue terminal.

Contact sheets 93, the terminal tab 97, terminals 95 and contact terminals 92 are maintained in their seats by means of a cover 98 of an insulating material properly formed and provided with openings 99 for Tighten terminals 94, 95 with a common screwdriver.

The cover can be adjusted by jump elastic in place, force-fitted or thermally welded on partition walls 91.

The connector structure is completed with members that are, in themselves, conventional: on the wall of end 100 of half turn 74 opposite female socket 80, there is an opening 101 for the passage of a multiple cable sheathed, which is not illustrated, with a watertight cuff at corresponding infiltrations, which is also not illustrated, which tighten on the connector by means of a ring nut 102 threaded on the sleeve and located inside the connector.

The ends of the various conductive braids of the cable are tightened inside terminals 94, 95, together  with the terminal tabs of the contact sheets and the bar Ground contact

Finally, there is a support 103 for a cable clamp, not illustrated, within half-turn 74, the which is secured to the support, with the cable in between, by means of screws that are assembled in seats such as 104, formed on the stand

It is clear that, in general, it will be possible preassemble the connection between the flexible sheathed cable and the connector in the workshop or manufacturing center, and check its functions as regards both isolation and electrical conductivity and leak tightness.

In particular, it is possible to pre-assemble and provide users with "flexible joints", that is, flexible multiple cable lengths (which can be different lengths) that end, at the ends, in a couple of connectors of the type described, as well as making connection elbows with this component on the ground, or, in In any case, flexible connections between a couple of members of prefabricated duct, located in any position one with with respect to the other, without the help of any tool.

The above description refers only to two preferred embodiments, if it is clear that they can be applied many variants, in addition to those already mentioned.

For example, in the case of the connector of the Figure 9, the conductive member 62 (Figure 8) of the terminals of contact 92 and contact sheet 93 that has been inserted in your inside, can be manufactured in one piece by stamping and bending.

Again, in the case of the connector of the Figure 9, the different sheets of the multiple cable can be soldered directly and permanently (electric spot welding) to the various terminal tabs 97A and 97 of contact sheets 93 and the ground contact bar 96.

The ends of the leaves can also anchor by stapling, or by stapling and welding in combination.

This makes the use of terminals 94 and 95 (and of cover 98).

Another possible variant is to provide elastic push buttons 48, 49, 50, 51 (Figure 3), and 86, 87 (Figure 9), formed separately from the sealing elements 25, 26 (Figure 3) and 75 (Figure 9), and adjust them as caps closure over the openings formed on the sides of one of the semi-turns (24 in Figure 3 and 74 in Figure 9).

In this case, the sealing elements 25, 26, 75 and the tightening screws 29-32, 76-79 can be superfluous and the coupling leakproof between the two half-turns 23, 24, or 73, 74, can be obtained by thermal ligation of the edges in Contact.

Other variants are possible and preferable Additional for large-scale manufacturing.

Manufacturing in large quantities makes it is economically advantageous to use composite molds to the formation of the ledge 41 of the sealing elements 33, 34 (Figures 3 and 4) or 81 (Figure 9) in one piece with one or with the two half-turns 23, 24, or 73, 74, and the formation of one's own elastic sealing element 42, through a method of immediately subsequent molding.

Reference is usually made to the procedure Double molding as co-molding.

The tight coupling to the infiltrations of the two half-turns 23, 24 (or 73, 74 in Figure 9) are taken to out, in this case, preferably by thermal ligation.

In order to make even more secure the permanent coupling between the connector and the end of the duct (or ducts), and to ensure that the decoupling takes place through the effect of deliberate action by of the operator, decoupling may be subject to the use of a tool, such as an ordinary screwdriver.

In this case, the push buttons for locking 8-51 (Figure 3), or 86, 87 (Figure 9) have been, each one of them, conveniently replaced by a device Rotary bolt lock / unlock, just like the one illustrated in Figures 10 to 13.

Referring jointly to these figures, the device comprises a small cylindrical cup 105, preferably, but not necessarily, of plastic material rigid, with a lip that extends outward forming a flange of placement 106 that is inserted into an appropriate seat formed in the two half-turns of the connector, and that axially ensures the cup, allowing only axial rotation.

An elastic ring 107 or O-ring, which acts as a leak-tight sealing element, it is located on the periphery of cup 105, adjacent to the flange 106.

In case the elements are present shutter 25, 26 (Figure 3) or shutter element 75 (Figure 9), the elastic ring 107 may be formed in one piece with said sealing elements.

The variant described is indeed adequate for use both in the case where the two half-turns of the connector are coupled with one another with a shutter intermediate, as in the case of coupling with each other directly by thermal ligation.

There is a groove 108 formed at the base of cup 15, corresponding to the part of the device exposed to outside of the half-turns that form the connector, for the insertion of the end of a screwdriver.

Two teeth 109, 110, which are radially opposite and symmetrically opposed with respect to the direction of the groove 108, extend in the axial direction of the cup from flange 106.

With the cup in which the groove 108 is located perpendicular to the direction of insertion /
extracting the end of the conduit in / from the connector, in an angled position, one of the teeth constitutes a bolt having a function equivalent to that of the stops 45, 46, 47 (Figure 3) and 85 (Figure 9).

With the cup in an angled position where the groove 108 extends in the direction in which the end the teeth are inserted / removed into / from the connector, the teeth 109, 110 are located laterally with respect to the tooth of lock, on the sides of it, and allow the end of the conduit is slipped out from the connector.

Figures 14 and 15 clearly show this appearance.

In the detailed partial view of Figure 14, the locking / unlocking device 105 is housed in the seat formed in half-turn 24, in the locked position, of so that the groove 108 is located perpendicular to the plane of the Figure and the teeth 109, 110 are aligned in the insertion / removal direction.

When the end of the duct is inserted into the connector, in the direction indicated by arrow 111, tooth 19 (Figure 4) moves flexibly or deformably within the side of the half-turn 24 and, after exceeding tooth 110, is adjusted by elastic jump until adopting the detention position no distorted.

In Figure 14, tooth 19 is shown in this position by means of a dashed line, as a result of which prevents movement of tooth 19 in the opposite direction to of arrow 111, through interference or interposition between it and the tooth / bolt 110 of the locking device.

In order to overcome this interference and allow the end of the conduit to be removed from the connector, just rotate the locking device 90º (either in the direction clockwise, or clockwise, either clockwise anti-time) so that channel 108 is aligned with the direction of extraction.

In Figure 15, the locking device is illustrated in this position, with the bolt teeth, of which only one, 110, is visible, located laterally, in the sides of the locking tooth 19.

In this situation, tooth 19 can move freely on the flange 106 according to the direction of extraction indicated by arrow 112, and may continue to scroll deformably on an inclined guide plane 113 formed internally on the side of the half-turn 24.

It should be appreciated, in fact, that, unlike the embodiment illustrated in Figures 3, 4 and 9, in which the pressure exerted by the push buttons on the locking tooth 19 causes it to retract elastically, in this case the tooth 19 is not forced to adopt the retracted position by the locking / unlocking device 105, but by the inner wall of half-turn 24, which has been conveniently shaped (plane of guide 113) to achieve the same effect and prevent the tooth 19 interfere with the sealing element 21 and damage it.

As already mentioned above, the Locking device 105 can be used both in the situation  in which the semi-turns are coupled to each other with an element of intermediate shutter, or in that in which the half-turns are flirt with each other.

Figure 15 indicates the preferred area in which thermal ligation can be carried out by means of the line discontinuous 115.

Finally, it should be appreciated that a additional variant: although blocking can take place through of interference or interposition between tooth 19 and stops 45, 46 (Figure 3), device 105 may have only one unlock function.

For this purpose, it is sufficient to provide two protrusions cam-shaped, with an input plane inclined as a replacement element for teeth 109, 110, which press the tooth 10 in when the cup 105 is in an angled position and leave it in its resting position, in a second position turned 90º.

Claims (10)

1. A tight end connector at infiltrations, for at least one prefabricated duct member, of the type in which an insulating body (1) houses a plurality of conductors (6, 7, 8, 9) in hermetically sealed grooves by a sheet of insulating material (10), along its entire length, with the except for its ends, and the insulating body is partially enclosed in its entire length by a metal enclosure (14), from whose sides extend retractable locking teeth (19) close to the ends, which includes: - a pair of semi-turns (23, 24, 73, 74) of insulating plastic material, coupled with each other in one way leakproof and forming an insulating enclosure with at least one first mouth (80), - a plurality of contact terminals electric (54, 55, 56, 57, 92) housed in said enclosure, in each of which can be inserted the end of one of the conductive bars of said first conduit member prefabricated, characterized in that it additionally comprises: - at least a first closing element hermetic or sealing (33, 34, 81), housed in said enclosure, near said first mouth (80), for the watertight coupling to the infiltrations with the end of a first duct member prefabricated, inserted into said enclosure through said mouth, - coupling means (45, 46, 47, 85, 109, 110) disposed within said insulating half-turn, in a position in which they are more internal in relation to said first sealing element and act together with said tooth of lock (19) to provide a permanent coupling between said connector and said end of the conduit member prefabricated, - decoupling means (48, 49, 50, 51, 86, 87, 105), which can be operated from the outside of said insulating enclosure, in order to decouple said tooth of blocking (19) of said coupling means (45, 46, 47, 85, 109, 110), and - at least one contact bar (58, 59, 96) electric ground, housed in said enclosure, which enters contact with the metal enclosure (14) of said first member of prefabricated duct. 2. A connector according to the claim 1, wherein said coupling means they include stops (45, 46, 47, 85) formed inside the sides of one of the half-turns, and said means of decoupling comprise at least one pair of push buttons elastics (48, 49, 50, 51, 86, 87) located opposite each other, on the opposite sides of said insulating enclosure, to press said locking tooth (19) to a retracted position. 3. A connector according to the claim 2, wherein said half-turns are joined together by tightening screws (29-32, 76-79) with an intermediate sealing element (25, 26, 75), and said elastic push buttons are formed of a single piece with said sealing element. 4. A connector according to the claim 1, wherein said coupling means and said decoupling means comprise at least one pair of cups (105) housed in rotation and tightly to infiltrations in the opposite sides of said enclosure, and provided with teeth (109, 110) that, when said cups are in a position in angle, act as bolts in said locking teeth (19). 5. A connector according to the claim 1, wherein said coupling means they include stops (45, 46, 47, 85) formed internally in the sides of one of the half-turns, and said means of decoupling comprise at least one pair of cups (105), housed rotationally and tightly to side infiltrations opposite of said enclosure, and provided with cams that extend internally within said enclosure, which, when said cups are in an angled position, press said locking teeth (19) to a retracted position, decoupling them from these stops. 6. A connector according to the claims 1, 2, 4 or 5, wherein said half-turns are bind tightly to weld infiltrations thermal 7. A connector according to any one of the preceding claims, for the flat splice connection of two prefabricated conduit members, characterized in that said connector has a perfectly symmetrical structure with respect to a mid-sectional cross-sectional cut (II-II) , and includes: - a second sealing element (34), identical to the first sealing element (33), housed in said enclosure, in the vicinity of a second mouth opposite said first mouth, in order to fit tightly to the infiltrations with the end of a second duct member prefabricated, inserted into said enclosure through said second mouth - coupling means (47, 109, 110) located within said insulating enclosure, in a more internal position with respect to said second sealing element (34), and that they act together with the locking teeth of the end of said second prefabricated duct member in order to provide a permanent coupling between said connector and the end of said second prefabricated duct member, - decoupling means (50, 51, 105), which they can be operated from the outside of said enclosure insulator to decouple the locking teeth located in the end of said second prefabricated duct member, of the cited coupling members (47, 109, 110), - so that the contact terminals electrical of said plurality of terminals (54, 55, 56, 57) they comprise, each of them, a conduit member (62) that forms a pair of opposite contact terminals (65, 66) and a elastically loaded member (67), which tightens said terminals, - in such a way that said bar (58, 59) of electrical ground contact extends in contact with the metal enclosure (14) of said first and second members of prefabricated duct. 8. A connector according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 6, for the connection of a prefabricated conduit member to a flexible cable with multiple braids and sheathing, characterized in that it further comprises: - an opening (101), formed in a wall (100) of one of said half-turns (74), opposite said first mouth (80), for inserting the end of a cable sheathed into said enclosure with a corresponding sleeve sealed at infiltrations, - a plurality of contact sheets (93), housed in said enclosure and connected, each of them, electrically to one of said contact terminals (92) and at end of one of the braids of the mentioned cable. 9. A connector according to the claim 8, wherein said contact terminals (92) they comprise, each of them, a conductive member (62) that forms a pair of opposite contact terminals (65, 66), and a member elastically charged (67), which tightens said terminals, such so that the end of one of the conductive bars of said first prefabricated duct member is inserted into one of said terminals, and one of the sheets of said plurality of sheets of Contact (93) is inserted into the other of said terminals. 10. A connector according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said first sealing element (33, 81) and, when present, said second sealing element (34), incorporating an external cornice (41) of rigid plastic material, which provides a support for a elastic sealing element (42), such that said cornice (41) and said elastic sealing element (42) are molded in a totally joint way with one of said semi-turns.