# US 2017/0288319 A1 · Item for tightening to the correct torque, and electrical protection device comprising at least one terminal connected by means of such an item

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- Number: US 2017/0288319 A1
- Document ID: US20170288319A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/426,638
- Filed: 2017-02-07
- Published: 2017-10-05
- Earliest claimed: 2016-03-29
- Assignees: Schneider Electric Industries SAS
- Applicants: Schneider Electric Industries SAS
- Inventors: Daniel VANZETTO
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170288319A1

## CPC

- H01R 4/36: Conductive members located under tip of screw
- B25B 15/001: {characterised by material or shape of the tool bit}
- B25B 23/1415: {Break members; Arrangements specially adapted for break-bolts (break-bolts per se F16B31/00)}
- F16B 31/02: for indicating {the attainment of a particular tensile load} or limiting tensile load {(apparatus for, or method of, determining value of torque or twisting moment for tightening a nut or other member similarly stressed G01L5/24)}
- F16B 31/021: {by means of a frangible part (F16B31/025, F16B31/028 take precedence; break members in torque limiters or torque indicators in wrenches or screwdrivers B25B23/1415)}
- H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- B25B: TOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FOR FASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING, OR HOLDING
- F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D)

## Abstract

An item for tightening including a first part including a first end part forming an end piece to engage with the head of a screw, and a second end part to engage with an actuating member, such that activation of the actuating member causes turning of the screw and the tightening, this first part being able to break into two portions upon reaching the recommended tightening torque, respectively a first portion including the first end part and a second portion including the second end part. A second part is mounted tightly about the first part, a holding device is provided in part on the first part and in part on the second part and being able to retain the second portion of the first part inside the second part of the item in order to prevent this second portion leaving this second part of the item after rupture of the first part.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An item for tightening two elements relative to one another by actuation of a screw, said item comprising a first part, said first part comprising a first end part forming an end piece configured to engage with the head of the screw, and a second end part configured to engage with an actuating member, such that activation of the actuating member causes turning of the screw and the tightening of the two element, said first part being configured to break into two portions upon reaching a recommended tightening torque, respectively a first portion comprising the first end part and a second portion comprising the second end part, wherein a second part is mounted tightly about the first part, a holding mechanism is provided in part on the first part and in part on the second part and being configured to retain the second portion of the first part inside the second part of the item, in order to prevent said second portion from leaving said second part of the item after rupture of the first part.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The item according to claim 1, comprising pre-screwing means provided partly on the first part and partly on the second, said means being configured to allow a pre-screwing of the item by a manual actuation of said this second part.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The item according to claim 1, comprising a gripping collar protruding on the outer surface of said second part and extending substantially at right angles to said surface, said gripping collar enabling to both pre-screw the conductor by hand and to extract the item from the switchgear when the recommended tightening torque is reached.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The item according to claim 3, wherein this collar is made of a single piece with the second part.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The item according to claim 1, wherein the first part of the item is formed of a metal material.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The item according to claim 1, wherein the second part of the item is formed of a plastic material.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The item according to claim 1, wherein this second part comprises a zone on which is etched the value of the tightening torque corresponding to the rupture point of the first part and/or a color representative of said torque is represented.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The item according to claim 1, wherein the value of the tightening torque corresponding to the rupture point is 9 Nm+/−0.5 or 5 Nm+/−0.5.

### Claim 9 (depends on 2)

The item according to claim 2, wherein the value of the pre-tightening torque is approximately 1 Nm.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The item according to claim 1, wherein the holding mechanism comprises at least two hooks provided on the inner surface of the second part respectively the outer surface of the first part, said hooks being capable of co-operating with voids of complementary form provided on the outer surface of the first part respectively on the inner surface of the second part.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The item according to claim 10, wherein there are three of said hooks and the corresponding voids equally distributed around the axis X of the item S.

### Claim 12 (depends on 2)

The item according to claim 2, wherein said pre-screwing means comprise at least two ribs or smooth surface portions provided on the inner surface of the second part, said two ribs or smooth surface portions being configured to co-operate with two smooth surface portions or respectively two ribs situated facing these ribs or smooth surface portions, and belonging to the outer surface of the first part.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The item according to claim 12, wherein three of ribs are equally distributed around the axis X of the item.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The item according to claim 1, wherein the first part comprises a zone z situated between the abovementioned two end parts and comprising an annular groove, said zone being configured to be broken on reaching a tightening torque.

### Claim 15 (depends on 3)

The item according to claim 3, wherein said zone is situated between the second end part and the collar.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The item according to claim 1, wherein the end piece has an outer form comprising six facets capable of co-operating with a complementary hollow form provided in the head of the screw.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The item according to claim 1, wherein the actuating member comprises an end piece having an outer form with six facets capable of co-operating with an orifice of complementary form provided in the second end part of the first part.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

An electrical protection apparatus comprising at least one point of connection of a conductor on the connection area of the apparatus, wherein the connection is made with an item according to claim 1.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said conductor is a flexible cable or a rigid cable or else a terminal lug crimped onto a cable.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the connection area is a connection bar.

### Claim 21 (depends on 18)

The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the screw is a terminal screw.