FR2996353A1 - Fuse box for receiving fuse for circuit breaker of electrical motor of motor car, has electrical connection elements located inside hollow body, and adjusting unit adjusting spacing separating two electrical connection elements of same pair - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a fuse box (10) for receiving at least one fuse (1) comprising two electrical connection terminals (2, 3) located at opposite ends of the fuse (1) along an axis of the fuse, said housing Apparatus (10) comprising a hollow body (12) within which is located at least one pair of electrical connection elements (20, 30) spaced from each other, each electrical connection element (20, 30) ) comprising electrical connection means for the electrical connection to a terminal of a fuse. According to the invention, the fuse box (10) comprises means (40) for adjusting the spacing between two electrical connection elements (20, 30) of the same pair.

Description

The invention relates to a fuse box, in particular intended for electric motors, in particular electric motors of a motor vehicle. A fusible circuit breaker, also called a fuse, is a safety device whose function is to open, by melting a calibrated element, an electrical circuit into which it is introduced when the electric current therein reaches a dangerous intensity value (or more generally a given intensity value) for a given time, thus reducing the intensity of this current to zero. In an electrical circuit, the fuses are usually housed in a housing that serves as a support for these fuses and allows them to be connected to the electrical circuit. Fuses are thus present in a large number of electrical circuits, including electrical motor circuits, in particular motor vehicle electric motor.

Existing housings, however, are designed only to receive one or more fuses of predetermined size. This is particularly the case in the automotive field, where fuses of 30 or 40 amperes are used in the circuits of electric motors. Since fuses of different sizes have different dimensions, an enclosure can not receive a fuse of different size than that for which it was designed, which implies designing new housings as soon as the fuse rating used changes. for a particular use. This is for example the case with each new generation of electric motor, especially in the automotive field. It can thus become expensive and tedious to have to recreate a different fuse box with each new generation of an electric motor. There is therefore a need for fuse boxes that can receive fuses of different sizes.

For this purpose, the invention provides a fuse box for receiving at least one fuse comprising two electrical connection terminals located at opposite ends of the fuse along an axis of the fuse, said housing comprising a hollow body inside which is at least one pair of electrical connection elements spaced apart from one another, each electrical connection element comprising electrical connection means for electrical connection to a terminal of a fuse, characterized in that the housing comprises spacing adjustment means separating two electrical connection elements of the same pair. It is thus possible to choose the distance separating two connection elements according to the dimensions of the fuse to be housed, without having to modify the hollow body of the housing. The casing according to the invention thus makes it possible to change the size of each fuse housed in the casing and / or to house one or more fuses of the same or different caliber, without having to modify the hollow body of the casing. The dimensions of the housing can thus be determined according to the fuse of larger dimensions may be housed in the housing. For example, in the field of motor vehicle electric motors, the housing can be designed to house fuses of 30 to 80 amperes. Advantageously and in a nonlimiting manner, the adjustment means may comprise means for locking the spacing of said electrical connection elements of the same pair. This may make it possible to avoid any disturbance of the relative position of the electrical connection elements. Such locking means may possibly allow locking of the gap before the introduction of the fuse in the housing, or after.

It can be envisaged that these locking means serve as fastening means for the fuse to the housing, although it is possible to envisage means for attaching the fuse to the independent housing. The locking means are, for example, simple screw-nut assemblies for blocking the position of the connection element relative to the hollow body of the housing, or any other suitable means. Advantageously and in a nonlimiting manner, at least one electrical connection element of the same pair can be removable. Such a design may allow greater adaptability of the housing to different types of fuse, especially when electrical connection elements specific to a type of fuse must be used.

Advantageously and in a nonlimiting manner, each electrical connection element may comprise: a longitudinal metal rod arranged perpendicularly to a bottom wall of the hollow body of the housing, a connection portion of which is shaped to be electrically connected to a terminal of a fuse housed in said housing, a spacer surrounding the metal rod over a portion of the length thereof and intended to adjust the spacing between the bottom wall and a fuse housed in said housing and electrically connected to said metal rod, the dimension the spacer along the metal rod being sufficient for a fuse housed in the housing does not touch the bottom wall of the housing body when electrically connected to said metal rod.

Such connection elements may be connected to fuses comprising two electrical connection terminals located at opposite ends of the fuse along an axis of the fuse, in particular fuses with flat electrical connection terminals. Such flat terminals may include a through hole shaped to receive a portion of the metal rod of the connecting element, this orifice may possibly lead to the edge of the flat terminal which then has a hook shape. For fixing this type of fuse, the rods of the connection elements may be threaded, at least in part, in particular on the connection part. Tightening a nut on the threaded part of the rod then makes it possible to lock the flat terminal of the fuse between the nut and the spacer. The connection element may be electrically connected to a cable or also between the nut and the spacer, the cable then also being in contact with the flat terminal of the fuse, or with another part of connection of the metal rod, with the means of another nut if this other fitting part is threaded. Advantageously and in a nonlimiting manner, for a simpler embodiment, the metal rod can be threaded over its entire length, the spacer then being threaded onto the metal rod.

The removable spacer can then be easily replaced if necessary depending on the dimensions of the fuse to be housed in the housing.

Alternatively, the spacer may also be integral with the metal rod, the latter having a thread at one of its ends for attachment to the fuse and a cable or at both ends for attachment to the fuse of a apart and to a cable on the other hand.

When a piece is secured to another, it can be attached thereto by any appropriate means (welding, gluing, or screwing) or be derived from the material of this other room. Advantageously and in a nonlimiting manner, the adjustment means comprise a guide means in translation cooperating with at least one movable electrical connection element of a pair of electrical connection elements in order to allow the displacement of said at least one connection element. mobile electrical a predetermined distance in a direction of translation coincides with the straight line connecting the two electrical connection elements of the same pair. The adjustment of the spacing can thus be achieved in a simple manner. It can be provided that the two electrical connection elements of the same pair are movable. However, only one mobile electrical connection element is sufficient, which can also simplify the realization of the housing relative to two movable electrical connection elements, and facilitate adjustment. According to a particular embodiment, simple to implement and inexpensive, each electrical connection element may comprise a metal rod extending perpendicular to a bottom wall of the hollow body of the housing and the adjustment means may comprise a guide slot through said bottom wall, the length of the guide slot being predetermined and defining a range of movement of at least one movable electrical connection element, the metal rod of the latter being inserted inside the guide slot of so as to be movable along the slot, in the direction of translation. The guide slot may have a width sufficient to receive the metal rod. The latter may be a cylindrical rod threaded over at least a part of its length, particularly at least at one of its ends for attachment of the fuse as already described. Each connection element may further comprise a spacer as described above, integral or not with the metal rod Advantageously and without limitation, the portion of the bottom wall of the body comprising the guide slot may be made of metal, this which can improve the guidance of the metal rod. This part of the bottom wall may be a metal plate fixed to the hollow body of the housing by any suitable means. When the hollow body of the housing is made of polymer, the latter can be overmoulded on the metal plate, for a particularly simple and inexpensive embodiment, and a robust attachment of the plate to the hollow body of the housing. Advantageously and in a nonlimiting manner, said at least one movable electrical connection element of the same pair can be removable and held in the axial direction of the rod by locking means arranged to block a displacement of the mobile connection element. electrical in a direction perpendicular to the bottom wall. These locking means may be a seal disposed between the rod of the connecting element and the guide slot and filling the space between the rod of the connecting element and the guide slot, for example an O-ring. Alternatively, the locking means may comprise a shoulder integral with the metal rod and arranged to abut against a face of the bottom wall of the hollow body of the housing, around the guide slot. This shoulder may optionally have an oblong shape shaped so as to allow the passage of the shoulder through the guide slot, a quarter turn of the rod then ensuring the locking thereof by pressing the oblong shoulder against the bottom wall, around the guide slot. Such a shoulder, of oblong or cylindrical shape, may constitute a spacer as described above. Another shoulder secured to the metal rod may be disposed in abutment against the other side of the bottom wall of the hollow body of the housing, around the guide slot. In this case, the shoulders, for example oblong, may be shaped to have a dimension smaller than the width of the slot in one direction to allow the introduction of the metal rod through the guide slot.

Rotating the metal rod a quarter of a turn then makes it possible to position the shoulders in abutment against the bottom wall, around the guide slot. One of the shoulders can then constitute a spacer as described above.

According to another variant, the locking means may be one or more metal washers serrated on their inner edge. A washer of this type, for example a quickiet washer, is fixed to the metal rod by clamping causing crushing of the teeth on the metal rod.

Advantageously and in a nonlimiting manner, each electrical connection element may comprise a threaded metal rod and the adjustment means may comprise means for locking the spacing of said electrical connection elements, said locking means comprising at least one nut cooperating with the thread of the metal rod of said movable connecting element. Such a nut can also be used for fixing a terminal of a fuse to be housed in the housing, and / or a cable, as described above. When a nut is used, for locking the gap and / or for fixing the fuse, the housing according to the invention may comprise means for locking in rotation of said movable connecting element to facilitate the clamping of the nut. Such locking means may comprise a shoulder secured to the rod of the movable electrical connection element, this shoulder comprising a flat in a plane parallel to the axis of the rod, this flat part resting on a rib of the hollow body of the case. This arrangement can be made simply and inexpensively. The invention is now described with reference to the accompanying non-limiting drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a representation in partial section of a fuse box according to the invention, in which a fuse is housed; Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the fuse and the connection elements of the housing shown in Figure 1; FIG. 3 is a view from below of a portion of the housing shown in FIG. 1. By substantially horizontal, longitudinal or vertical means a direction / a plane forming an angle of at most ± 20 °, or even at most ± 10 ° with a direction / a horizontal, longitudinal or vertical plane. Figure 1 shows a fuse box 10 for receiving at least one fuse 1. Only a fuse 1 is shown in the figures, but a housing of this type may include more fuses depending on the application.

The fuse 1 comprises two electrical connection terminals 2, 3 located at opposite ends of the fuse 1 along an axis of the fuse, here the longitudinal axis of the fuse. These terminals 2, 3 are flat terminals, in the form of lamellae extending in the same plane and pierced with an orifice 4, 5 respectively, as visible in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The housing 10 comprises a hollow body 12 defining a housing for housing the fuse 1 (or fuses). This hollow body 12 is tray-shaped and comprises a bottom wall 14 surrounded by a side wall 16 substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall 14. The opening of the hollow body 12 can generally be closed by a cover (not shown) removable member resting on the free edge of the side wall 16 and fixed to the hollow body 12, for example by screws (not shown). A seal placed between the hollow body 12 and the cover can make it possible to seal the housing. The hollow body 12 is for example of polymer material, as is the lid.

Inside the hollow body 12 is located at least one pair of electrical connection elements 20, 30 distant from each other. Each pair of electrical connection elements 20, 30 serves for fixing and electrical connection of a fuse 1. A single pair of these electrical connection elements 20, 30 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Each connection element electrical 20, 30 comprises a longitudinal threaded metal rod 21, 31 arranged perpendicularly to the bottom wall 14 of the hollow body 12, a connecting portion 22, 32 is shaped to be electrically connected to a terminal 2, 3 fuse 1 housed in housing 10, a spacer 23, 33 surrounding the metal rod 21, 31 over a portion of the length thereof and for adjusting the spacing between the bottom wall 14 and the fuse 1 housed in the housing 10 and connected electrically to said metal rod 21, 31. fastening means 24, 24 '; 34, 34 'for fixing the fuse 1 and an electric cable (not shown).

In the example, these fixing means 24, 24 '; 34, 34 'are nuts cooperating with threaded rod portions 21, 31 forming connection portions. The spacers 23, 33 are of the same dimension along the axis of the metal rods 21, 31. Their dimension along the metal rod is sufficient for a fuse 1 housed in the housing 10 does not touch the bottom wall 14 of the hollow body 12 when this fuse 1 is electrically connected to the metal rods 21, 31, as visible in Figure 1. These spacers 23, 33, for example of cylindrical shape, as shown, may be secured to the metal rods 21, 31 These spacers 23, 33 can also be removable, thus enabling them to be replaced if a change in fuse type 1 requires a change in the height of the spacers 23, 33. In the example shown, one of the electrical connection elements 20 is movable and removable, the other electrical connection element 30 being fixed, integral with the hollow body 12. This fastening can be obtained in a simple manner by overmolding the hollow body of polymer material. The robustness of the fastening by overmolding can in particular be improved by the presence of a cylindrical shoulder 35 located under the spacer 33, at a distance from the latter, the polymer material constituting the hollow body then penetrating into the space separating the spacer 33 of the cylindrical shoulder 35. Insofar as the electrical connection element 30 is fixed and integral with the housing, the spacer 33 and the cylindrical shoulder 35 can be made in one piece with the metal rod 31, only the ends 32 and 36 thereof being threaded, for tightening the nuts 34, 34 'respectively. In variant not shown, the spacer 33 could be removable. The spacer 33, the threaded connection parts 32, 36 and the nuts 34, 34 'form the electrical connection means of the electrical connection element 30.

The electrical connection element 20 shown has a cylindrical shoulder 25 on which is formed a flat portion 27 forming a surface extending in a plane parallel to the axis of the metal rod 21. This flat part 27 bears against a rib 18 hollow body 12 protruding from the bottom wall 14 of the housing, outside the housing 10, as visible in FIGS. 1 and 3. The connection parts 22 and 26 of the metal rod 21 are threaded for clamping nuts 24, 24 ', the spacer 23 being removable.

The spacer 23, the threaded connection parts 22, 26 and the nuts 24, 24 'form the electrical connection means of the electrical connection element 20. According to the invention, the housing 10 comprises adjustment means 40 of the the spacing separating two electrical connection elements 20, 30 of the same pair. In the example shown, the adjustment means 40 comprise a guide means in translation cooperating with the movable electrical connection element 20 of the pair of electrical connection elements 20, 30, to allow the displacement of the element. electrical connection 20 of a predetermined distance along a direction of translation coincides with the straight line connecting the two electrical connection elements 20, 30. In particular, in the figures, the adjustment means 40 comprise a guiding slot 42 passing completely through the bottom wall 14. The portion of the bottom wall 14 of the hollow body 12 comprising the guide slot 42 is a metal plate 44 secured to the bottom wall 14. This fastening can be obtained by overmoulding the hollow body 12. metal rod 21 of the movable electrical connection element 20 is inserted inside the guide slot 42 so as to be movable along the slot e guide 42, in a direction of translation. This translational direction is coincident with a line connecting the two electrical connection elements 20, 30. The length of the guide slot 42 is predetermined and thus defines a range of movement of the movable electrical connection element 20.

The guide slot 42 advantageously has a width sufficient to receive the metal rod 21. For example, this width is sufficient to avoid friction of the metal rod 21 against the edges of the guide slot 42, but limits a significant displacement of the metal rod 21 perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the guide slot 42, in the plane thereof. In order to maintain the metal rod 21 and facilitate assembly, locking means may be provided to block a displacement of the movable electrical connection member 20 in a direction perpendicular to the bottom wall 14. In the example shown, these locking means are an O-ring 28 (shown only in FIG. 2) disposed between the metal rod 21 and the guide slot 42, this seal 28 filling the free space between the metal rod 20 and the guide slot 42.

The fuse box 10 described with reference to the drawings is constructed as follows. The hollow body 12 is first made of polymer material by molding, the electrical connection element 30 and the metal plate 44 being positioned to be integrated with the material forming the hollow body 12.

The electrical connection element 20 is then put in place from below the housing. The end 22 of its metal rod 21 is introduced into the guide slot 42 through the outer face of the bottom wall 14 of the housing, until the cylindrical shoulder 25 abuts against the outer face of the wall bottom 14, more precisely in abutment against the metal plate 44 (Figures 1 and 3), the flat 27 being in abutment against the rib 18 of the hollow body 12. The establishment of the O-ring 28 on the metal rod 21 to the level of the guide slot 42 prevents the metal rod 21 from falling and leaves the guide slot 42. The spacer 23 is then threaded onto the metal rod 21, the side of its end 22, until it rests on the bottom wall 14 of the hollow body. The fuse 1 can then be fixed, its flat terminals 2, 3 being threaded onto the connecting portions 22, 32 of the metal rods 21, 31 and resting on the spacers 23, 33. If necessary, the movable electrical connection element 20 is spaced apart or brought closer to the electrical connection element 30 by translation in the guiding slot 42, so that the spacing between the two electrical connection elements 20, 30 corresponds to the spacing between the flat terminals 2, 3 of the fuse 1. The tightening of the nuts 24, 34 on the metal rods 21, 31, above the flat terminals 2, 3, then makes it possible to fix the fuse 1 to the electrical connection elements 20, 30, while locking the position of the electrical connection element 20. A possible cover can then be fixed to the hollow body 12. In the example shown, the nut 24 of the movable electrical connection element 20 thus ensures both the attachment of the one of the terminals of the fusi and the electrical connection of this terminal and a lock of the position of the movable electrical connection element 20. The number of parts can be reduced, the realization being simple and inexpensive, for mounting (and disassembly) ) easy and fast. Alternatively or in combination, a spacer 23 having an internal thread could allow to lock the position of the movable electrical connection element 20. A cable connected to an external circuit can be electrically connected to another connection part 26, 36 of a metal rod 21, 31, by tightening a nut 24 ', 34'. The disassembly of the fuse 1 can be done very easily by removing the nuts 24, 34.

Claims (10)

REVENDICATIONS1. A fuse box (10) for receiving at least one fuse (1) comprising two electrical connection terminals (2, 3) located at opposite ends of the fuse (1) along an axis of the fuse, said housing (10) comprising a hollow body (12) within which is located at least one pair of electrical connection elements (20, 30) spaced apart from one another, each electrical connection element (20, 30) comprising electrical connection for the electrical connection to a terminal of a fuse, characterized in that the housing (10) comprises adjustment means (40) for separating two electrical connection elements (20, 30) from a single pair. 2. fuse box (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the adjusting means (40) comprise means for locking (24) the spacing of said electrical connection elements (20, 30) of the same pair. 3. Fuse box (10) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one electrical connection element (20) of the same pair is removable. 4. Fuse box (10) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each electrical connection element (20, 30) comprises: a longitudinal metal rod (21, 31) arranged perpendicularly to a bottom wall (14) of the hollow body (12) of the housing (10), a connection portion (22, 32) of which is shaped to be electrically connected to a terminal (2, 3) of a fuse (1) housed in said housing (10), a spacer (23, 33) surrounding the metal rod (21, 31) over a portion of the length thereof and for adjusting the spacing between the bottom wall (14) and a fuse (1). ) housed in said housing (10) and electrically connected to said metal rod (21, 31), the dimension of the spacer (23, 33) along the metal rod (21, 31) being sufficient for a fuse (1) housed in the housing (10) does not touch the bottom wall (14) of the hollow body (12) of the housing (10) when electrically connected to the housing e metal rod (21, 31). 5. Fuse box (10) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the adjusting means (40) comprise a translational guide means cooperating with at least one movable electrical connection element (20) d a pair of electrical connection elements to allow said at least one movable electrical connection element (20) to move by a predetermined distance in a direction of translation coincident with the straight line connecting the two electrical connection elements (20, 30) of the same pair. Fuse box (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that each electrical connection element (20, 30) comprises a metal rod (21, 31) extending perpendicularly to a bottom wall (14) of the body hollow (12) of the housing (10) and in that the adjusting means (40) comprise a guide slot (42) completely passing through said bottom wall (14), the length of the guide slot (42) being predetermined and defining a range of movement of at least one movable electrical connection member (20), the metal rod (21) thereof being inserted into the guide slot (42) so as to be movable along of the slot (42), in the direction of translation. 7. A fuse box (10) according to claim 6, characterized in that the portion of the bottom wall (14) of the body comprising the guide slot (42) is metal. 8. fuse box (10) according to one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that said at least one movable electrical connection member (20) of the same pair is removable and held in the axial direction of the rod metal (21) by locking means arranged to block a displacement of said movable electrical connection member (20) in a direction perpendicular to the bottom wall (14). Fuse box (10) according to one of Claims 6 to 8, characterized in that each electrical connection element (20, 30) comprises a threaded metal rod (21, 31) and that the adjusting means (40) comprise means for locking the spacing of said electrical connection elements, said locking means comprising at least one nut (24) cooperating with the thread of the metal rod (21) of said movable connecting element (20). 10. Fuse box (10) according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises locking means (27, 18) in rotation of said movable connecting member (20).