This application is a U.S. National Phase of International Patent Application No. PCT/EP2004/012516, filed Nov. 2, 2004, which claims priority to German Patent Application No. DE 103 51 123, filed Nov. 3, 2003, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. The International Application was published in German on May 12, 2005 as WO 2005/043685.
The present invention relates to a device combination including at least two electromagnetic switching devices.
Already known are electrical connectors (wiring bridges) between devices that are mounted on a device mounting support (for example, on a mounting rail or on a busbar adapter), the two devices being electrically connected to each other via the electrical connector. Connectors of this type are members holding fixedly disposed pin contacts which cooperate with corresponding contact receptacles on the devices. Electrical connection is achieved by the connector establishing electrical contact between the devices when moving said devices toward each other. In order to bring the devices into contact, at least one device must be slidably mounted on the device mounting support.
Such types of equipment having devices (sliding carriages or the like) that are slidably mounted on a device mounting support are known, for example, from the following publications: DE 100 05 818 A1, ES 2076075 A2 or DE 195 15 923 C2.
The aforementioned devices have the disadvantage that the sliding mechanism constitutes a complex additional part. Secondly, such an arrangement requires at least one switching device to be removed, or at least displaced, in order to separate the switching units from each other.
An object of the present invention is to provide a device combination that does not need a complex sliding mechanism. Preferably, the devices should be mounted on the device mounting support in a fixed position, while still allowing electrical contact between the devices to be established in a simple manner.
According to the present invention the plug-in connection system is designed such that it is fixed on a first lateral side of the connector, and on a second lateral side thereof, it is displaceable within the connector housing toward the lateral side of the adjacent device.
The displaceable device is composed of a slider formed in the upper side of the connector and holding the displaceable plug-in connection system. The slider preferably rides within a tongue and groove guide formed in the connector housing. The guide may, for example, take the form of a dovetail guide. The slider should be operable manually. To this end, it is preferred for the slider to have an operating handle mounted thereon. The displaceability makes it possible to bridge a distance of up to 20 mm.
An advantage of the present invention is that the connector bridges the space between the devices without having to displace or remove the adjacent switching devices for purposes of connection and disconnection. The devices to be connected can each be mounted on one DIN rail, respectively. They can also be mounted on a busbar adapter on separate mounting rails disposed on the adapter. The devices may also be individually or collectively connected to other electronic devices, for example, to a bus connection module, via additional electrical connectors.
Using the connector according to the present invention involves a fixed allocation of contacts between the switching devices, which prevents incorrect assembly resulting from exchanging conductors.
Advantageous embodiments include the following further features, employed either singly or in combination in addition to the basic invention.
The plug-in connection systems on the connector (on the lateral sides of the connector) preferably take the form of male connectors. Accordingly, female connector receptacles are provided on the switching devices. As a rule, the plug-in connection systems should be 3-pole type.
Because of the displaceability of the plug-in connection system, the conductor connection is designed to be able to follow the displacement. To this end, the conductor connection may preferably take the form of a flexible conductor, or else in the form of telescopic rail, or the like. When choosing a flexible conductor, the conductor should take the form of an insulated, highly flexible copper round braid.
At the connector receptacles of the switching devices, there are provided clamping screws for securely locking the plug-in connection systems. Clamping of the pins is particularly important in order to prevent the plug-in connection from loosening due to vibrations during the switching operations in the switching devices.
The device mounting support may preferably be formed by a busbar adapter or by one mounting rail for each unit.
To increase mechanical stability, snap-in locking elements (such as cams) may be provided on the connector housing, said snap-in locking elements lockingly engaging with associated openings on at least one of the switching devices.
The device mounting support is formed by a busbar adapter or by one mounting rail for each unit.
A specific embodiment of the present invention is shown in the figures. Specifically,
In
Switching devices 2, 4 are mounted via their busbar receiving means 16, 18 on two mounting rails (not shown) such that they are spaced apart by a distance D. The switching devices provided may, for example, be a motor starter and a contactor. The switching devices may also be connected to other devices via additional electrical connections 22, 24. The housing of the connector may be provided with openings for receiving the additional electrical connections 22, 24, whereas otherwise the lateral sides (105.2, 105.4) of the connector contact the mutually facing lateral sides (5.2, 5.4) of the adjacent switching devices.
Contained in the terminal compartments of the switching devices are (female) connector receptacles 8.2., 8.4, which are accessible from the lateral sides 5.2, 5.4 of the switching devices. The connector receptacles receive the pins 110, 112 of connector 100. The plug-in connection systems are 3-pole type;
Connector 100 is formed by a housing 102 made of insulating material and holding fixedly disposed connector pins 112 on one lateral side thereof. In upper side 106 of the connector, the displaceable device takes the form of a slider 107. Slider 107 holds the displaceable plug-in connection system and rides in a tongue and groove guide 108. Slider 107 can be operated manually using operating handle 109.
In
The clamping means mentioned earlier can be seen on second switching device 2 in the form of clamping screws 118.2. To allow the clamping screws to be screwed down, the housing 102 of the connector is designed such that the clamping screws on the switching devices remain accessible from above using a screwdriver, independently of the position of slider 107. After completion of the clamping operation on first switching device 4, the slider is moved to the right (see
In addition, insulating partitions may be disposed between the flexible conductors in the housing of the connector.
In order to supplement the description and make it complete, a list of reference numerals is provided below.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
103 51 123 | Nov 2003 | DE | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
PCT/EP2004/012516 | 11/2/2004 | WO | 00 | 5/8/2007 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
WO2005/043685 | 5/12/2005 | WO | A |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
4626052 | Rumble | Dec 1986 | A |
4954798 | Kasahara et al. | Sep 1990 | A |
6233167 | Chen et al. | May 2001 | B1 |
6790058 | Schlieber et al. | Sep 2004 | B2 |
6848951 | Bechaz et al. | Feb 2005 | B1 |
6888077 | Garcia et al. | May 2005 | B2 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
195 15 923 | Nov 1996 | DE |
19515923 | Nov 1996 | DE |
19713857 | Apr 1998 | DE |
10005818 | Aug 2001 | DE |
10023966 | Nov 2001 | DE |
0 918 385 | May 1999 | EP |
0918385 | May 1999 | EP |
2 076 075 | Oct 1995 | ES |
2076075 | Oct 1995 | ES |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20070290778 A1 | Dec 2007 | US |