Technical Field

The present invention relates to a device for the electrical interconnection of electrical cables.

Background Art

The fact is known that to connect two electrical cables, two terminals are normally used, one male and one female which are mutually coupleable to one another.

The extremity of each electrical cable, deprived of the relative insulating sheath, is inserted in a special housing of the relative terminal where, by means of a mechanical screw or spring system, the electrical cable is mechanically locked, while at the same time ensuring the closing of the relative electrical circuit. The terminals with screw clamping mechanism are the most common method of connection wherein the electrical cable unsheathed from the insulation is fixed to the terminal by means of a screw.

The terminals equipped with a spring mechanism typically consist of a first portion with spring, for the connection to the electrical cable, and of a second portion with a plug (in case of male terminals) or a socket (in case of female terminals), for connection to the other terminal.

In case the need exists to interconnect several electrical cables at the same time, then the use is known of multi-polar connectors wherein, for example, a first multi-polar connector contains within it a plurality of male terminals and a second multi-polar connector contains within it a plurality of female terminals. Each connector is equipped with a series of hollow portions inside which the terminals are housed and when two connectors are coupled, the hollow portions of one of them are coupled by interlocking with the hollow portions of the other connector so that the male terminals come into contact with the female terminals closing the various electrical circuits corresponding to the relative electrical cables.

For the wiring of the electrical cables and their connection to the terminals contained inside the connectors, traditional multi-polar connectors are provided with special openings wherein the electrical cables are inserted until their extremity is interlocked inside the terminals by means of tightening screws or springs.

Also known is the need to "split" the poles coming out of a connector or of an electrical cable in general.

Commonly, such operation is carried out by means of additional distributor devices suitably connected to the cable and provided with an input, connectable to the electrical cable, and with two or more outputs.

Description of the Invention

The main aim of the present invention is to provide a device for the electrical interconnection of electrical cables that also allows doubling (or halving) the electrical cables at input.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a device for the electrical interconnection of electrical cables that allows overcoming the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art within the scope of a simple, rational, easy, efficient to use and cost-effective solution.

The aforementioned objects are achieved by the present device for the electrical interconnection of electrical cables according to claim 1.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more evident from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive embodiment of a device for the electrical interconnection of electrical cables, illustrated by way of an indicative, but non-limiting example, in the attached drawings in which: Figure 1 is an axonometric view showing a possible embodiment of the device according to the invention, made by means of a plurality of multi-polar connectors, in which a multi-polar connector adapted to split the electrical cables is disconnected from the other connectors;

Figure 2 is an axonometric view of the device according to the invention of Figure 1 in a coupling configuration;

Figure 3 and Figure 4 are axonometric and exploded views of the device according to the invention;

Figure 5 is an axonometric view and in partial section of the device according to the invention connected to first and second electrical cables;

Figure 6 shows a detail of one of the terminals of the device according to the invention connected to a respective pair of electrical cables.

Embodiments of the Invention

With particular reference to these illustrations, reference numeral 1 globally indicates a device for the electrical interconnection of electrical cables, usable in particular to split the electrical cables at input.

The device 1 comprises at least two first terminals 2 made of an electrically conductive material and having first locking means 3 of the first electrical cables 4.

Furthermore, the device 1 comprises at least two second terminals 5 made of an electrically conductive material and having second locking means 6 of the second electrical cables 7.

Each of the first terminals 2 is electrically coupled or coupleable to one of the second terminals 5 for the electrical connection of the first electrical cables 4 to the second electrical cables 7.

Advantageously, each of the first terminals 2 is connectable to one of the first electrical cables 4, whereas each of the second terminals 5 is connectable to two second electrical cables 7.

In particular, the second locking means 6 comprise at least one bending spring 8 for the locking and the electrical connection of the two second electrical cables 7.

The electrically conductive material with which the first terminals 2 and the second terminals 5 are made is, e.g., phosphorous bronze or brass.

With reference to the particular embodiment shown in the illustrations and described below, the device 1 is composed of a plurality of multi-polar connectors 9, 15 and 27 connected together.

Alternative embodiments cannot however be ruled out wherein, for example, the device 1 is composed of a different number of connectors or a single terminal board.

More specifically, with reference to the embodiment shown in the illustrations, the device 1 comprises a first multi-polar connector 9. Preferably, the first connector 9 is a three-pole connector.

The first connector 9 comprises a first housing body 10, made of an electrically insulating material, having at least a first housing seat 11 of the first terminals 2. In particular, with reference to the embodiment shown in the illustrations, the first housing body 10 comprises three first housing seats 11 of respective three first terminals 2.

Moreover, the first connector 9 comprises a first closing element 12, made of an electrically insulating material, associated in a removable manner with the first housing body 10 for the closure of the first housing seats 11.

Still with reference to the particular embodiment shown, the first housing body 10 of the first connector 9 has a substantially cylindrical shape. The first closing element 12 is composed of a substantially disc-shaped cover and is associated in a removable way with a rear portion of the first housing body 10, for the closure of the first housing seats 11.

In particular, the first closing element 12 is associated with the first housing body 10 by means of first interlocking coupling means 13. Such first interlocking coupling means 13 can be composed, e.g., of a plurality of teeth protruding from the edge of the first closing element 12 and adapted to couple by interlocking with respective abutment surfaces on the first housing body 10. Furthermore, the first closing element 12 is provided with a plurality of first holes 14 for the passage of the first electrical cables 4. With reference to the particular embodiment shown, the first closing element 12 has three first holes 14 for the passage of the three first electrical cables 4.

The device 1 comprises a second multi-polar connector 15.

Preferably, the second connector 15 is a three-pole connector.

The second connector 15 comprises a second housing body 16, made of an electrically insulating material, and having at least a second housing seat 17 of the second terminals 5.

In particular, with reference to the embodiment shown in the illustrations, the second housing body 16 comprises three second housing seats 17 of respective three second terminals 5.

Furthermore, the second connector 15 comprises a second closing element 18, made of an electrically insulating material, associated in a removable manner with the second housing body 16 for the closure of the second housing seats 17. Still with reference to the particular embodiment shown, the second housing body 16 of the second connector 15 has a substantially cylindrical shape. The second closing element 18 is composed of a substantially disc-shaped cover and is associated in a removable way with a rear portion of the second housing body 16, for the closure of the second housing seats 17.

In particular, the second closing element 18 is associated with the second housing body 16 by means of second interlocking coupling means 19.

Such second interlocking coupling means 19 can be composed, e.g., of a plurality of teeth protruding from the edge of the second closing element 18 and adapted to couple by interlocking with respective abutment surfaces on the second housing body 16.

According to a preferred embodiment, each of the first terminals 2 comprises an end portion having a first electrical coupling cable-head 20, shaped as a pin or bush, and a substantially opposite end portion having the first locking means 3.

Furthermore, each of the second terminals 5 comprises an end portion having a second electrical coupling cable-head 21, shaped as a pin or bush, and a substantially opposite end portion having the second locking means 6.

Advantageously, the second locking means 6 comprise at least an inner housing adapted to accommodate the free extremities of the two second electrical cables

7.

In particular, the second locking means 6 comprise one holding surface 22 of the free extremities of the two second electrical cables 7. The bending spring 8 extends inside the housing towards the holding surface 22 for the locking of the free extremities of the two second electrical cables 7 on the holding surface itself.

Preferably, such a holding surface 22 comprises two elongated seats substantially concave and substantially parallel to one another adapted to accommodate the respective free extremities of the two second electrical cables 7.

Usefully, the second closing element 18 comprises at least one pair of second holes 23 made at each of the housings of the second terminals 5 for the insertion of the extremities of the two second electrical cables 7.

With reference to the particular embodiment shown in the illustrations, the second closing element 18 comprises three pairs of second holes 23, made on the second closing element 18 at the second locking means 6 of three respective second terminals 5.

Moreover, according to a preferred embodiment, the second closing element 18 comprises a plurality of access openings 24, arranged at the bending springs 8 of each of the second terminals 5, adapted to allow the insertion of a tool for the release of the second electrical cables 7.

For example, the extremity of a screwdriver can be inserted inside such access openings 24 to apply a pressure on the respective bending springs 8, so as to release the extremities of the second electrical cables 7 locked on the holding surfaces 22.

The first housing body 10 of the first connector 9 and the second housing body 16 of the second connector 15 are associable with one another in a coupling configuration, in which the first terminals 2 and the second terminals 5 are connected to one another for the electrical connection of the first electrical cables 4 to the second electrical cables 7.

In particular, with reference to the particular embodiment shown in the illustrations, the first housing body 10 comprises first mechanical coupling means 25. The first cable-heads 20 of the first terminals 2 are arranged at the first mechanical coupling means 25.

For example, as shown in the illustrations, the first mechanical coupling means 25 can be composed of three connection elements, substantially tubular and protruding from a front portion of the first housing body 10. The first cable- heads 20 of the three corresponding first terminals 2 are housed inside respective first connection elements 25.

The second housing body 16 comprises second mechanical coupling means 26. The second cable-heads 21 of the second terminals 5 are arranged at the second mechanical coupling means 26.

For example, as shown in the illustrations, the second mechanical coupling means 26 are composed of three connection elements, substantially tubular and protruding from a front portion of the second housing body 16. The second cable-heads 21 of the three corresponding second terminals 5 are housed inside respective second connection elements 26.

With reference to the embodiment shown in the illustrations, the device 1 comprises a third multi-polar connector 27 for the interconnection of the first connector 9 to the second connector 15.

The third connector 27 comprises at least two electrical connection elements 28 made of an electrically conductive material, and at least a third housing body 29 made of an electrically insulating material and having at least a third housing seat 30 of the electrical connection elements 28.

Furthermore, the third connector 27 comprises third mechanical coupling means 31 associable with the first mechanical coupling means 25 of the first connector 9. A first extremity of the electrical connection elements 28 is arranged at the third mechanical coupling means 31 for the electrical connection to the first cable-heads 20 of the first terminals 2.

With reference to the particular embodiment shown, the third connector is of the type of a three-polar connector and has three electrical connection elements 28. Each of the electrical connection elements 28 is composed of an element made of an electrically conductive material with a substantially elongated shape.

The third mechanical coupling means 31 are composed of three connection elements, substantially tubular and protruding from a rear portion of the third housing body 29, inside which are housed first extremities of three respective electrical connection elements 28.

Furthermore, the third connector 27 comprises fourth mechanical coupling means 32 associable with the second mechanical coupling means 26 of the second connector 15. A second extremity of the electrical connection elements 28 is arranged at the fourth mechanical coupling means 32 for the electrical connection to the second cable-heads 21 of the second terminals 5.

With reference to the particular embodiment shown, the fourth mechanical coupling means 32 are composed of three connection elements, substantially tubular and associated with a front portion of the third housing body 29, inside which are housed second extremities of the three electrical connection elements 28.

Usefully, the third connector 27 may be provided with fixing means 33, 34 to at least one bracket 35.

In particular, such fixing means 33, 34 can comprise a first ring nut 33 screwable onto a corresponding threaded portion of the third housing body 29 for fixing the third connector 27 to the bracket 35.

Furthermore, the fixing means 33, 34 can comprise a second ring nut 34 screwable onto the threaded portion of the third housing body 29 and provided with attachment means which are coupleable to the second housing body 16 of the second connector 15.

As shown above, with reference to the particular embodiment shown in the illustrations, the device 1 is composed of the multi-polar connectors 9, 15 and 27 connected together.

Alternative embodiments cannot however be ruled out in which, for example, the device 1 is composed of a different number of connectors or of a single terminal board.

The device 1 can comprise e.g. a single terminal board having the first terminals 2 for the connection of the first cables 4 and having the second terminals 5 for the connection of the second electrical cables 7. In this case, each of the first terminals 2 is electrically coupled to a corresponding second terminal 5 for the electrical connection of the first electrical cables 4 to the second electrical cables 7.

It has in practice been found that the described invention achieves the intended objects.

In particular, the fact is underlined that the device for the electrical interconnection of electrical cables according to the invention makes it possible to split (or halve) the electrical cables at input.