Abstract: An electronic thermal relay is disclosed which can be associated with a multiphase electric load for generating a pre-alarm and/or an order for cutting off the power supply to the load in the case of a current overload in at least one phase or an imbalance between phase currents.With each phase is associated a thermal element with a resistive heating element through which the phase current flows, a resistive sensor transmitting to a signal processing circuit a signal representative of the heating and a thermal memory mass. The heating element is thermally coupled to the sensor and to the memory mass by a coupling body whose thermal inertia is less than that of the memory mass.

Abstract: A detector of the two wire type with regulated voltage is disclosed, comprising a sensor and a switching device.The switching device comprises a series voltage regulation circuit, a parallel voltage regulation circuit and switching circuit. The latter receives the output signal from the sensor for alternately activating the series circuit in a first state of the signal and the parallel circuit in a second state of the signal.

Abstract: An input or input-output management circuit for a process control system such as a programmable automation is provided, including a serializing means with parallel inputs connected to input channels by filtering and threshold means, a series output of the serializing means being connected via a series connection equipped with an optocoupler and a filter to an input or input-output management unit.

Abstract: A power distribution device is disclosed for electric apparatus, comprising a set of power bars housed inside an insulating case mounted fixedly in the central cavity of a profiled rail and a removable support element having a flat bottom bordered by two parallel lateral flanges provided with a hooking device for removably fixing the support element on the rail. The bottom of the support plate carries the electric apparatus, as well as a connector pluggable on the set of bars and having guide cheeks permitting plugging/unplugging by a translational movement remaining substantially perpendicular to the plane of the set of bars.

Abstract: A piston operated by a cable stretched out within hand reach along a dangerous zone actuates a tappet whose movements are transmitted to a slider. The slider in turn compresses a spring until in a first phase, before any switch actuation, a pawl engages a groove in the slider. This prevents return of the tappet to its rest position, whereby any attempt to simulate a machine breakdown by fraudulent actuation of the device leaves a trace in the device even before effective switch actuation has occurred. In a second phase the force of the spring exceeds the force necessary to retract locking pins of a striker which is therefore released abruptly to operate the switch. To restore the device to its standby state, a lock plug carrying a cam adapted to release the pawl from the groove in the slider is rotated by means of a key.

Abstract: The appliance according to the invention has a front face with retention means adapted for cooperating with fixing means belonging to a removable label with rank or function identification characters. This label is molded over an electronic circuit comprising at least one visible light-emitting component, this circuit being connectable to terminals provided on the appliance by means of electric conductors.

Abstract: A top hat rail is disclosed for fixing snap-fit apparatus, formed by shaping in the form of an omega a metal strip of predetermined thickness and having a web and two flanges. The flanges of said rail are deformed towards their free ends so that the edge of the flanges has, for the apparatus to be snap-fitted, a useful fictitious thickness, this thickness being determined between two support zones situated on each side of the flange. The fictitious thickness is equal to the thickness of a standardized rail and substantially greater than the real thickness.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cellular power semiconductor device of the type comprising a substrate which comprises on its surface n-type and p-type cells (11, 12) alternating in a regular network. The various cells are connected respectively to two connection areas (90e, 90b) by means of two interconnection levels (100, 200) each comprising a pair of conductive sheets (30, 50; 70, 90) connected to one another in frontier zones (ZF ZF').

Abstract: A composable protection and control apparatus for motors is provided with a power case including semiconductor switches controlling the switching on and off of the power of the phase currents as well as a detector for detecting all or part of these currents and a control module which can be removably fixed to said case and be connected to the switches and to the detector. This module contains a logic circuit for managing the switches which includes a circuit for identifying the size of the power case and a circuit for selecting the working characteristics of the apparatus as a function of this size.

Abstract: A removable modular control device for a contactor apparatus having in a casing, power switches actuated by an electromagnet, the coil of which is connected to two external connecting terminals accessible from the exterior through two respective openings provided on the upper face of the casing, each of these terminals having one clamping screw accessible through one opening formed in the front face of the casing. The control device includes a selector which is lodged in an insulating case provided with two rigid projecting pins adapted to be clamped in the connecting terminals, this selector being connected between the projecting pins and input terminals disposed on the upper face of the insulating case.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an electric installation is obtained by assembling a removable modular control device on a contactor. The lower face of this control device is provided with two rigid projecting pins located so as to be engaged and clamped in two respective control terminals of the contactor. These projecting pins are connected to two respective input terminals provided on the upper face of the control device, by an electric circuit having an elementary function.

Abstract: A locking mechanism for a limiting contact maker is divulged comprising two levers which act respectively on two pusher blocks actuating the switches of a change-over contact maker. Each of these levers, articulated about a fixed shaft, comprises a roller applied to the profile of a rotary cam by a spring. This cam may pass from a locked automatic operational position in which it allows the switches to close by maintaining the levers away from the pusher blocks, to a tripped position in which the lever acts on the pusher blocks for holding the switches in the open position.

Abstract: A protected switch contactor apparatus is disclosed comprising a plurality of parallel sections with respective switches actuated by a common rack. One of these switches consists of a sealed monostable micro-switch with high speed cut-off whose internal terminals are connected to external terminals disposed in two opposite housings of each section. The micro-switch is housed in an insulated cavity situated between the two housings and opening, on the side opposite the rack, through an orifice having provisions for fixing a printed circuit whose conducting zones are connected, in the desired configuration, to said internal and external terminals.With this arrangement it is possible, during assembly in the factory, to assign to the micro-switch different functions, without modifying the structure of the apparatus.

Abstract: A cable-controlled electrical safety switch device comprises a piston 15 tensioning a cable 2 under the action of a spring 23 via a rod 10 and a screw thread 12a for adjusting the tension of the spring and of the cable. A piston groove 25 actuates a push member 28 for the switch 40. The piston is angularly adjustable. The flank 32 of the groove remote from the spring is helicoidal. When the cable is long, a higher tension is selected so that the groove flank 31 moves away from the push member 28. This distancing is desirable in order that any length variations due to heat--which are greater with a long cable--may be prevented from triggering the switch. The clearance between the other flank 32 and the push member 28 is then corrected by rotation of the piston.