TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a socket-outlet, particularly, but not only, an end contact socket-outlet.

A socket-outlet forms a female portion that may belong to a power connection (where the socket-outlet is generally secured to a wall, a casing or the equivalent), to an extension cord, or to a connector (where the socket-outlet generally forms part of a socket), while a plug forms a male portion that may belong to a power connection (where the plug generally forms part of the movable connection), to an extension cord, or to a connector (where the plug is generally secured to an appliance or the equivalent).

In general manner, a socket comprises a socket-outlet and a handle or cap secured to said socket-outlet; a movable connection comprises a plug and a handle or cap secured to said plug; an extension cord is an assembly comprising a socket and a movable connection; a power connection is an assembly comprising a socket-outlet and a plug; and a connector is an assembly comprising a socket and a plug. The handle or cap may be incorporated with the socket-outlet or with the plug, in which circumstance said socket-outlet or plug also forms a socket or a movable connection.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

Socket-outlets are known comprising a disc having holes for passing the pins of a plug in order to electrically connect a plug with contacts of the socket-outlet, the disc being rotationally movable about the axial direction with respect to the casing between a protection position wherein the holes are not aligned along the axial direction with the corresponding contacts and a connection position wherein each hole is aligned along the axial direction with a corresponding contact. However, in some configurations, foreign bodies can enter the socket-outlet via the holes of the disc, particularly in the protection position. Such foreign bodies are particularly harmful to the correct operation of the socket-outlet, and can in particular promote the appearance of damaging or uncontrolled electrical arcs upon the connection/disconnection of the socket-outlet to/from the plug. Moreover, in some extreme configurations and malicious uses, tools may be inserted into the socket-outlet, which is of course to be avoided in terms of safety. A need therefore exists in this area.

INTRODUCTION

The present disclosure relates to a socket-outlet.

An embodiment relates to an socket-outlet extending along an axial direction and along a circumferential direction, comprising a fixed element, a disc having through holes for passing the pins of a plug in order to electrically connect a plug to contacts of the socket-outlet, the disc being rotationally movable about the axial direction with respect to the fixed element between a protection position wherein the holes are not aligned along the axial direction with the corresponding contacts and a connection position wherein each hole is aligned along the axial direction with a corresponding contact, and a shutter rotationally movable about the axial direction with respect to the fixed element and with respect to the disc between a closing position wherein the shutter closes at least one hole of the disc when the disc is in the protection position and an open position wherein the shutter opens up the at least one hole when the disc is in the connection position.

Of course, the fixed element is fixed in relation to the disc and the shutter.

It will be understood that the circumferential (or azimuthal) direction is a direction describing a ring about the axial direction. This direction corresponds to the relative direction of rotation of the disc and the shutter with respect to the fixed element.

For example, the socket-outlet (and therefore the complementary plug) is of the “end contact” type. An “end”-type contact is a contact where the electrical connection with a pin is provided by a contact face substantially perpendicular to the axial direction. Such a contact is configured to cooperate in abutment with a complementary face, for example a distal end face of a pin, the contact between these two faces being generally made with a certain pressure to guarantee the passing of current from one contact to the other.

The disc has a plurality of holes for passing the pins of a plug complementary to the socket-outlet. For example, to electrically connect the socket-outlet and the plug, the pins of the socket-outlet are at least partly inserted into the holes of the disc, the disc being in the protection position, the disc is pivoted via the pins by relatively turning the socket-outlet with respect to the plug about the axial direction in such a way as to bring the disc into the connection position from the protection position, and the pins are then inserted all the way into the holes of the disc, in such a way as to make an electrical connection between the pins of the plug and the contacts of the socket-outlet. In general, it will be understood that the disc is in the protection position when the socket-outlet is not in engagement with the plug whereas the disc is in the connection position when the socket-outlet is electrically connected to the plug.

The disc is movable between the protection position and the connection position. The shutter is movable between the closing position and the open position. The shutter takes the closing position at least when the disc is in the protection position and the open position at least when the disc is in the connection position. In other words, the shutter can take one or the other of these two positions, or an intermediate position between these two positions when the disc is in an intermediate position between the protection position and the connection position.

The shutter is configured to close at least one hole of the disc in the closing position. For example, the disc has a plurality of holes distributed along the circumferential direction (i.e. peripheral holes), the shutter being configured to close all the peripheral holes. For example, the disc can have a central hole, this central hole remaining open whatever the position of the shutter (in other words, the shutter is not configured to close the central hole).

Owing to the shutter, a certain number of the holes of the disc are closed in the protection position, such that any foreign bodies are blocked outside the socket-outlet. In other words the risks of intrusion of a foreign body into the socket-outlet are minimized. This reduces the risk of damaging or uncontrolled electrical arcs appearing upon the connection/disconnection of the socket-outlet to/from a plug. Such a shutter also makes it possible to block any deliberate attempt to insert a tool or other outside element into the socket-outlet.

In some embodiments, the angular stroke of the disc between the protection position and the connection position is different from the angular stroke of the shutter between the closing position and the open position.

Such a configuration makes it possible to provide a different amplitude of rotation between the disc and the shutter, owing to which covers or passages of the shutter may easily be positioned in front of the holes of the disc as a function of the angular position of the disc and the shutter. For example, provision can be made for a sequencing of the movements between the disc and the shutter. It is possible to avoid mechanical contacts and friction between the shutter and the pins of the plug and avoid the creation of foreign bodies within the socket-outlet. Owing to this configuration, the closing of the holes is thereby made easier, which further reduces the risk of intrusion of foreign bodies and of formation of damaging or uncontrolled electrical arcs.

In some embodiments, the angular stroke of the shutter between the closing position and the open position is less than the angular stroke of the disc between the protection position and the connection position.

Such a configuration makes it possible to easily make the shutter pass from the closing position to the open position, and conversely, when the disc passes from the protection position to the connection position, and conversely. The closing of the holes is thereby made easier, which further reduces the risk of intrusion of foreign bodies and formation of damaging or uncontrolled electrical arcs. Moreover, such a configuration makes it possible to reduce the total bulk of the shutter to pass from the closing position to the open position.

In some embodiments, the disc is rotationally coupled with the shutter over a predetermined angular stroke less than the total angular stroke of the disc between the protection position and the connection position.

This makes it possible to automatically drive the shutter from the closing position to the open position, and conversely, when the disc passes from the protection position to the connection position, and conversely. The closing of the holes is thereby made easier, which further reduces the risk of intrusion of foreign bodies and formation of damaging or uncontrolled electrical arcs.

In some embodiments, one element from among the shutter and the disc has a first lug configured to abut along the circumferential direction in a first direction against a first shoulder of the other element from among the shutter and the disc and in a second direction, opposite the first direction, against a second shoulder of the other element from among the shutter and the disc (the first shoulder and the second shoulder being face-to-face along the circumferential direction), the difference between the total angular stroke of the disc between the protection position and the connection position and the predetermined angular stroke being equal to the maximum angular stroke of the first lug between the first shoulder and the second shoulder.

It will be understood that if the shutter has the first lug, then the disc has the first and second shoulders, and that conversely if the shutter has the first and second shoulders, then the disc has the first lug.

The circumferential stroke of the first lug is therefore limited by the first shoulder and by the second shoulder. In other words, the circumferential stroke of the first lug is limited in the first direction by the first shoulder whereas the circumferential stroke of the first lug in the second direction is limited by the second shoulder.

Such a configuration allows a certain freedom of rotation of the shutter with respect to the disc (and conversely). For example, this angular stroke allows the shutter to pass from the closing position to the open position and conversely. It will be understood that the sum of the free angular stroke between the disc and the shutter and of the predetermined angular stroke is equal to the angular stroke of the disc between the protection position and the connection position.

Such a coupling structure is simple and reliable, and allows the easy assembly of these elements while providing certain robustness in use, which makes it possible to provide in the long term a reduced risk of intrusion of foreign bodies into the socket-outlet and formation of damaging or uncontrolled electrical arcs.

In some embodiments, an element from among the shutter and the fixed element has a second lug configured to abut along the circumferential direction in a first direction against a third shoulder of the other element from among the shutter and the fixed element and in a second direction, opposite the first direction, against a fourth shoulder of the other element from among the shutter and the fixed element (the third shoulder and the fourth shoulder being face-to-face along the circumferential direction), the predetermined angular stroke being equal to the maximum angular stroke of the second lug between the third shoulder and the fourth shoulder.

It will be understood that if the shutter has the second lug, then the fixed element has the third and fourth shoulders, and that conversely if the shutter has the third and fourth shoulders, then the fixed element has the second lug.

The circumferential stroke of the second lug is therefore limited by the third shoulder and by the fourth shoulder. In other words, the circumferential stroke of the second lug is limited in the first direction by the third shoulder whereas the circumferential stroke of the second lug in the second direction is limited by the fourth shoulder.

Such a configuration allows a certain freedom of rotation of the shutter with respect to the fixed element. For example, this angular stroke allows the disc to reach, when the disc is rotationally coupled with the shutter in one direction or the other along the circumferential direction, the protection position or the connection position. It will therefore be understood that this angular stroke between the shutter and the free element corresponds to the predetermined angular stroke.

Such a coupling structure is simple and reliable, and allows the easy assembly of these elements while providing certain robustness in use, which makes it possible to provide in the long term a reduced risk of intrusion of foreign bodies into the socket-outlet and formation of damaging or uncontrolled electrical arcs.

In some embodiments, the shutter is rotationally blocked between the fixed element and the disc when the disc is in the protection position.

For example, the first lug is blocked in the first circumferential direction by the first shoulder whereas the second lug is blocked in the second circumferential direction by the fourth shoulder, or conversely the first lug is blocked in the second circumferential direction by the second shoulder whereas the second lug is blocked in the first circumferential direction by the third shoulder.

Such a configuration makes it possible to ensure that the shutter stays in the closing position when the disc is in the protection position. The closing of the holes is thereby made easier, which further reduces the risk of intrusion of foreign bodies and formation of damaging or uncontrolled electrical arcs.

In some embodiments, the shutter is rotationally blocked between the fixed element and the disc when the disc is in the connection position.

For example, the first lug is blocked in the second circumferential direction by the second shoulder whereas the second lug is blocked in the first circumferential direction by the third shoulder, or conversely the first lug is blocked in the first circumferential direction by the first shoulder whereas the second lug is blocked in the second circumferential direction by the fourth shoulder.

Such a configuration makes it possible to ensure that the shutter stays in the open position when the disc is in the connection position. This makes it possible to reduce the risk of mechanical interference between the shutter and the socket-outlets of the connector when the plug is electrically connected to the socket-outlet, interference which could degrade the shutter and over time disrupt the electrical connection with the debris of the shutter. This improves the reliability of the shutter, and thus reduces over the long term the risk of intrusion of foreign bodies and formation of damaging and uncontrolled electrical arcs.

In some embodiments, the disc and the shutter are adjacent, the disc having an outer face, oriented toward the outside of the socket-outlet, and an inner face, oriented toward the inside of the socket-outlet and opposite along the axial direction to the outer face, the shutter being disposed on the side of the inner face of the disc with respect to the disc.

In other words, the shutter is inside the socket-outlet whereas the disc forms an outer face of the socket-outlet. In other words, considered along the axial direction, the disc is disposed on the side of the socket-outlet intended to cooperate with the plug with respect to the shutter.

In such a configuration, the disc protects all the elements disposed inside the socket-outlet, including the shutter, whereas the shutter closes the holes of the disc from inside the socket-outlet. This makes it possible to improve the robustness and the reliability of the shutter in the long term, the latter being protected by the disc, whereas the disc is configured, in general, to protect the inside of the socket-outlet from outside aggressions. This improves the reliability of the shutter, and thus reduces over the long term the risk of intrusion of foreign bodies and formation of damaging and uncontrolled electrical arcs.

In some embodiments, the shutter has a general star shape comprising a central part and a plurality of branches extending radially from the central part, at least one branch of the star being configured to close at least one hole of the disc when the shutter is in the closing position and when the disc is in the protection position.

For example, each branch of the shutter is configured to close one hole of the disc when the shutter is in the closing position and when the disc is in the protection position. For example the disc has a plurality of holes distributed along the circumferential direction (i.e. peripheral holes), the shutter being configured to close all the peripheral holes, each branch closing one peripheral hole of the disc.

Such a configuration of the shutter makes it possible to easily close/open up the holes of the disc owing to the branches, and to do so in a particularly reliable and repeatable way. This improves the reliability of the shutter, and thus reduces over the long term the risk of intrusion of foreign bodies and formation of damaging and uncontrolled electrical arcs.

In some embodiments, the socket comprises a movable element bearing several contacts, the movable element being movable axially between a first position and a second position, the movable element being nearer to the disc along the axial direction in the first position than in the second position.

For example, the first position is a contact position wherein the movable element is configured to come into contact (i.e. the contacts borne by the movable element come into contact) with the pins of a plug whereas the second position is configured to be remote (i.e. the contacts borne by the movable element are remote) from the pins of the plug.

The disc and shutter structure according to the present disclosure is particularly well-suited to socket-outlets comprising such a movable element. Specifically, sockets comprising such a movable element generally have a main recess receiving the movable element. Thus, whatever the position of the disc, the holes of the disc open freely into the main recess wherein are housed the movable element and the contacts borne by the movable element. It is therefore particularly advantageous to close the holes of the disc in such a context.

In some embodiments, the contacts borne by the movable element are spaced apart along the circumferential direction and, considered along the circumferential direction, when the movable element is in the first position, each contact is disposed between two adjacent branches of the star shape of the shutter.

In other words, in the first position the contacts of the movable element and the branches of the shutter are not aligned along the axial direction. This ensures that in the first position of the movable element the shutter is prevented from accessing the contact, owing to which one is sure not to alter the shutter with the pins of the plug when the connection is made between the contacts of the socket-outlet and the pins of the plug. This improves the reliability of the shutter, and thus reduces over the long term the risk of intrusion of foreign bodies and formation of damaging and uncontrolled electrical arcs.

The present disclosure also relates to an assembly comprising a socket-outlet as claimed in any one of the embodiments described in the present disclosure and a plug.

