EP0788192A2

EP0788192A2 - Pre-wired electric outlet

Info

Publication number: EP0788192A2
Application number: EP97830024A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Bruno Levi
Original assignee: Palazzoli SpA
Current assignee: Palazzoli SpA
Priority date: 1996-02-02
Filing date: 1997-01-28
Publication date: 1997-08-06
Also published as: EP0788192A3; IT241118Y1; TR199700066A2; ITBS960010U1; ITBS960010V0

Abstract

This is an electric outlet with rear casing designed to present a peripheral continuous band (10a) which hides the anchoring fixtures (14) of the cables to the cavities of the connection terminal denying access to said fixtures from outside the casing.

Furthermore the electric outlet is factory pre-wired.

Description

The present utility model concerns electric outlets for use in the industrial and/or service sectors, which can be used both on switchboards or in power points.
These electric outlets are made up principally of a casing, a connection terminal placed inside the casing with cavities to receive a plug, and a cover which closes the front of the casing protecting the connection terminal when the outlet is disconnected. Clamps, normally screws, positioned radially to the cavities, are provided in the rear section of the connection terminal to anchor the wiring cables used in the electric outlets of a switchboard or power point.
In present production the casing of electric outlets is open at the rear or anyway there are openings to access all the anchoring components for the cables, components which are consequently accessible even after having been wired up, creating problems as to safety caused by accidental contacts should the outlet need to be opened for maintenance, replacement, etc.
Furthermore, said electric outlets are usually prepared at the source and marketed without preliminary wiring. Wiring is in fact left to the installer, who must be equipped with appropriate tools, acquire cable having the correct cross-section and colour, cut lengths off each cable and remove the covering from the ends of the lengths to connect one end to the outlet and the other to the power supply. In this way, the work of installing an electric outlet becomes laborious and expensive and it cannot be excluded that installers, because of negligence or because they do not have the correct cable with them at the time, wire up using cable with incorrect characteristics as to safety and quality.
The present invention is devoted to avoiding the inconveniences and disadvantages outlined above, by denying access from the rear of the outlet to at least a part of the cavities which make up the connection terminal, in particular to the cable anchoring fixtures and by having the manufacturer pre-wire the outlet.
Considerable advantages from the technical-installation point of view are achieved. Denial of access to the cavities, with the exception of the ground, adds increased safety to the outlet once in function and eliminates accidental contacts during maintenance operations.
Pre-wiring gives the outlet increased quality value, simplifies enormously the work of the installer, increases efficiency and reduces connecting up time. The factory can control that the correct cable cross-section is used, that colour is appropriate and identification is clear lengths are right and best quality operating in assembling is practised.
The electric outlet proposed and suitable for achieving these objectives and advantages is substantially in conformity with claim 1. It will however be described in more detail making reference to the enclosed drawings in which:

Fig.1 shows a view in prospective of the separated casing and connection terminal of the outlet;
Fig.2 shows a view in prospective of the rear of the outlet assembled and pre-wired;
Fig.3 shows a cross section of the outlet in Fig.2; and
Fig.4 shows a cross section obtained along the line IV-IV in Fig.3

The outlet includes a casing 10, a connection terminal 11 housed in the casing 10 and a cover 12 hinged to said casing which lowers to cover the front thus closing it and protecting the connection terminal when no plug is inserted.
The connection terminal has cavities (13) for connection to an electric plug; near the rear end, in line with the cavities (13), there are fixtures, usually screws (14), for anchoring the electric phase (15), neutral (16) when present and ground cables 17. The connection terminal 11 has a flange 18 at the rear fastened to it by a screw 18'.
The casing (10) is structured at the rear to present a continuous peripheral band (10a), except possibly in one section, and an end ring flange (10b). The connection terminal is housed in the casing (10) and is fastened to it by screws (19) which pass through longitudinal holes made in the connection terminal and which screw into holes made in the rear flange (10b) of the casing.
On completion of assembly, the casing covers all the cable anchoring fixtures so denying access, except usually for the ground cable anchoring fixture (17) as shown in the drawings. This with the aim of giving the outlet maximum protection and added safety. Of benefit, the described electric outlet can be wired up at the source, that is directly in the factory, with the advantages reported above. Wiring up is carried out by anchoring the phase cables (15), neutral (16), when present, and also the ground cable (17), to the connection terminal before it is housed and fastened to the casing. The cables will be the appropriate colour, cross section and length with a section bared (20) at the free end, and the phase cables will be marked (21) for correct identification, as detailed in Fig.2 of the drawing.

Claims

Electric outlet including:
- a casing (10);

- a connection terminal (11) housed and fastened to the casing, with cavities (13) for connection to a plug and, in line with said cavities, anchoring fixtures (14) for phase cables, neutral, when present, and ground of the outlet; and

- a cover (12) which covers the housing at the front protecting the connection terminal when there is no plug inserted,
characterised by the fact that said casing (10) is structured at the rear to present a continuous peripheral band (10a) which hides the anchoring fixtures (14) of the cables to the cavities denying access to said fixtures from outside the casing.
Electric output according to claim 1, where the angular position of the phase, neutral, when present, and ground cavities may vary in conformity with reference standards.
Electric output according to claims 1 or 2, where said peripheral band (10a) may have an interruption on level with the anchoring fixtures usually of the ground cable.
Electric output according to claims 1 or 3, where the wiring cables (15,16,17) are fastened to the connection terminal before said terminal is housed in the casing.
Electric output according to claim 4, where the wiring cables (15,16,17) are factory prearranged according to cross section, colour and length and fastened to the outlet.
Electric output according to claims 4 or 5, where said cables (15,16,17) are prepared with bared sections at the free ends, and the phase cables are numbered and/or marked for identification.