DE29813415U1 - Distribution box for electric current - Google Patents

Description

Dipl.-Ing. Georg Hofmann, Dr.-Ambundistr. 18

97437 Hassfurt

Distribution box for electrical current

The invention relates to a distribution box for electrical current, with a preferably pot-shaped housing, preferably installed in a recess of a room-delimiting element such as a ceiling or wall, into which wires of a supply path for electrical current are guided and which has fastening means for these, wherein the housing is provided with distribution means for the electrical current to wires of at least one discharge path and fastening means for these.

Such a distribution box is a generic product of DE-OS 197 01 529. On the one hand, this can be used solely for the distribution of electrical current in the room-delimiting element. However, it is also intended to be used alone or in combination with the above as a consumer for electrical current, for example on a light. The electrical contacts of the distribution box in question are a disadvantage. These have a relatively high contact resistance and are difficult to assemble or manufacture. At the same time, it should be noted that assembly and allocation of the discharge paths on the distribution box is also relatively complicated and difficult for laypeople to manage.

The invention is therefore based on the object of creating a distribution box of the above-mentioned type, in which the listed

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Disadvantages are eliminated, which in particular has only low electrical contact resistance, in which at the same time the electrical connections can be made very easily and safely and which can be installed with little expenditure of time.
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According to the invention, this object is achieved by

that the housing has a concentric inner ring which is spaced apart from its inner casing and which is connected to the housing on its side facing away from the recess via a web;

that the distribution means are made as rings in the number of wires of the supply path, which extend in a sandwich-like manner separated by electrically insulating spacer rings in an annular space formed radially between the housing and the inner ring;

that the housing has a first row of openings for the wires of the supply path, radially and axially aligned with the rings, which preferably run parallel to the axis;

that a further row of openings is arranged radially and axially aligned with the rings in the housing for each set of wires of a discharge path, which openings preferably run parallel to the axis and

that the fastening means for the supply and discharge paths are part of the distribution means manufactured as rings.

This creates a so-called flush-mounted distribution box for

electric current, whose electrical contacts only
have a low contact resistance and their electrical

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see connections, i.e. the connections of the supply path with the distribution means and the connections of the discharge path with the distribution means, are very simple to construct and manufacture. At the same time, it is theoretically possible to couple any number of discharge paths in the room boundary element with the distribution box. Preferably, however, a maximum of three discharge paths and one supply path are provided.

At the same time, it is proposed to design the distribution box as a fastening unit for at least one light or a similar consumer. The connection piece in the housing can optionally be designed as an integral part of the light or the other consumer. This creates an extremely simple and quickly executable option for fastening the light or the consumer to the distribution box by any layperson.

Preferably, the distribution box should run inside the room-delimiting element, but it is also conceivable to attach it to the mentioned element. A particular advantage of the distribution box according to the invention is that it can be cast in or integrated during, for example, industrial production of the ceiling or wall element.

The housing has suitable recesses on the ceiling side for fastening devices on, for example, formwork. After the ceiling or wall element has been shaped, the formwork is removed with the fastening device, whereby a predetermined breaking point is advantageously provided in the housing on the ceiling side.

According to a preferred embodiment, the wires of the supply and discharge paths in the ceiling or wall element can be

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be enclosed in a separate housing. This protects the wires and ensures easy installation.

Because the distribution means are designed as rings, the distribution of the electrical current in the distribution box mentioned is extremely simple. The rings have tongues pointing radially outwards in the number of rows of discharge paths provided. Twisting of the rings with tongues is advantageously prevented by recesses in the housing.

At the same time, it is intended to insulate the electrically conductive rings from one another using simply constructed spacer rings positioned between them in a sandwich-like manner. These spacer rings can be made of plastic or ceramic, for example. Due to this sandwich-like construction, the aforementioned distribution box with its electrical connections can be very easily assembled and disassembled.

Furthermore, the invention provides for the wires of the supply and discharge paths to be attached to the rings using spring-loaded clamp connections. Each clamp connection consists of a bent edge of the respective ring in the area of the tongue.

Because one of the rings is positioned directly on the web remote from the recess, a spacer ring is not necessary.

In a further development of the invention, it is intended to limit at least the annular space of the housing, i.e. the rings, on the recess side by a closure element. This is advantageous, for example, for transporting the distribution box, but this closure element also enables the aforementioned fastening in the ceiling or wall element. It is intended to attach the closure element, for example, to the

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Housing. The first two types of connection in particular can be produced relatively inexpensively.

In a concrete implementation of the invention, it is intended to provide an outer casing of the housing with recesses. These recesses are limited in the circumferential direction only by webs, which have the openings for the wires. The material of the, for example, cast ceiling or wall element extends into these openings. This means that the housing is excellently attached to the ceiling or wall element.

An important sub-claim relates to the fact that the distribution box is simultaneously designed as a direct or indirect fastening unit for at least one light or a similar consumer or that the distribution box is simultaneously provided with at least one socket, such as a protective contact socket, preferably on the side facing away from the recess. It is also conceivable to design the distribution box, starting from the supply path, only as a fastening unit for the light or the aforementioned similar consumer. This distribution box is ideal for use in office or industrial buildings, for example, but also in private housing. The user only needs to insert the connector with the optionally attached light or other consumer into a hole in the housing and lock it in place.

The connection piece is secured on a side of the housing that is away from the recess using a bayonet connection. The latter is designed in such a way that the connection to the housing can only be established if a predetermined circumferential section is aligned.

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At the same time, it is part of the invention that the connecting piece is provided with wires of the discharge path to the lamp or the other consumer, which run in longitudinal slots distributed around the circumference. These wires should have tongues that protrude radially outwards at different heights. These tongues can in turn be pushed into gaps by means of the inner jacket of the inner ring and assigned insertion paths. These gaps are formed by an edge of the ring that is bent in a U-shape on one end of the respective ring and the end of the ring.

When the connector is correctly rotated, the insertion paths are designed so that they run as an axial path for the respective tongue, which optionally ends in a smaller circumferential section. When the bayonet connection is finally made, an excellent electrical connection of the respective discharge path to the lamp with the relevant ring as a distribution means is created.

An additional way to secure the bayonet connection of the connector with the housing is to apply a compression spring such as a disc spring axially between them. For example, this compression spring can run between a radial extension of the connector, which also has the fastening means, and the ring of the housing.

A further sub-claim relates to the fact that means are provided for fastening wires that extend directly from the light or socket or similar consumer. These means consist, for example, of discrete screw clamp connections for each wire in the area of the radial extension of the connector. The wires of the discharge paths protrude into openings in the area of these, on the one hand, and the wires of the light or socket can be guided and fastened on the other.

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It is advantageous if the connector, as mentioned, is, for example, an integral part of the light or other consumer. If no light is to be installed in this area, the connector can also be an integral part of a protective contact socket or similar.

A special contribution to lightweight construction is made by the fact that at least one of the components housing, closure element, spacer disc or connector piece is made of an electrically insulating lightweight material such as plastic, ceramic or a similarly suitable material.

Preferably, the webs are arranged lengthways on the outer casing of the housing, but they can also run transversely or diagonally. The openings do not necessarily have to lead through the webs. Alternatively, it is also conceivable to arrange them to the side of the webs or to form them in the area of the recesses.

In the event that the distribution box is not provided with the means according to claim 13 or 14, a simple cover for its recess is proposed.

It is also advantageous to provide the connector with another recess or similar on the side facing away from the recess. Separate consumers can be attached to this.

The invention is expediently described in more detail with reference to the drawing.

Figure 1 shows an exploded view of the housing with

Wrestling and distance wrestling;

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Figure 2 the housing in the installed state;

Figure 3 the connector with wires of the discharge path in

an exploded view;
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Figure 4 the connector in side view;

Figure 5 the connector in section and
Figure 6 the junction box in assembly.

Figures 1 and 2 disclose a distribution box 1 for electrical current. This is installed in a recess 2 of a room-delimiting element 3 such as a ceiling or wall. It consists of a pot-like housing 4, the outer casing 33 of which runs directly in the recess 2. An end face 51 of the housing 4, which is remote from the recess, ends flush with the element 3.
The housing 4 has a web 14 remote from the recess, which radially inwardly merges into a concentric inner ring 12. An annular space 16 is formed between the inner ring 12 and the actual housing 4. Electrically conductive distribution means 8 are sandwiched in this annular space 16. These distribution means 8 are manufactured here as rings 14a. A first of these rings 14a lies directly on the web 14. The rings 14a are electrically insulated from one another by spacer rings 15 with axial projections 26.

On the recess side, the housing 4 is limited by an annular closure element 29. This is coupled to the housing 4 via a connection 30, which is made in the edge area and can be made as a snap connection, for example. The closure element 29 has a central recess 31, via which it can be attached to a formwork element by means of a

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screw or similar fastening means. When the formwork element is removed, which takes place after the room-delimiting element 3 has been cast, the screw is removed along with a small part of the closure element 29. The closure element 29 has a predetermined breaking point (not shown) for this purpose. Optionally, the inner ring 12 can also be provided with a similar recess 32 in the area of its edge. The housing can also be surface-mounted via the recess 31 or 32.

An outer casing 33 of the housing 4 is provided with window-like recesses 34. These recesses 34 are formed outside of webs 35, in the area of which webs 35 openings 17 are provided in the housing 4 for each wire 5 of a supply path 6 for electrical current. Due to these recesses 34, the housing 4 is excellently fixed in the element 3.

For example, the outer jacket 33 has four evenly distributed and axially extending webs 35. One of the webs 35 mentioned then has, for example, three openings 17 for the wires 5 of the supply path 6. The other webs 35 have, for example, three height-distributed openings 18 for wires 9 of discharge paths 10. These discharge paths 10 are intended to lead to the forwarding of the electrical current to consumers or other distribution boxes. In doing so, they should, just like the wires 9 of the supply path 10, preferably extend within the space-delimiting element 3. However, it can also be provided that at least parts of these run on or outside the element 3.

In the area of the openings 17, 18, 4 longitudinal recesses 19 extend from the annular space 16 of the housing. Fasteners 7, 10a protrude into these longitudinal recesses 19. These are designed here as tongues 21

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The tongues 21 are in turn part of the rings 14a and extend radially outwards from them in the peripheral section of the openings 17, 18, in the area of an edge 20. The tongues 21 have recesses 23 into which the wires 5, 9 can be inserted. Because the edge 20 on the tongues is bent by 180° onto an end face 22 of the respective ring 14a, the wires 5, 9 are held there excellently by a clamping effect.

It can also be seen in Figure 1 that the spacer rings 15 run in a rotationally secure manner over axial projections 26 in recesses 27 created by the tongues 21 on the rings 14a. An area of the edge 20 of the rings 14a located outside the tongues 21 is also bent in a U-shape in the direction of the end face 22.

As the expert can also see from Figure 2, it is indicated there that a housing 50 is provided in the area of the supply path 6. This housing 50 can be connected to the housing 4, protects the wires 5 and 9 and enables them to be easily installed. As can be seen, the fastening means 7, 10a for the supply and discharge paths 6, 10 are simultaneously part of the distribution means 8 manufactured as rings 14a.

The other figures 3 to 6 mainly relate to a connecting piece 37 that can be installed in a bore 36 of the inner ring 12. In particular, this connecting piece 37 is to be applied when the distribution box 1 is to be provided with at least one light or, for example, a socket on its front side 51 facing away from the recess 2.

Figure 3 shows that the connecting piece 37 consists of a radial extension 45 and an actual cylindrical extension 52. This extension 52 is inserted into the aforementioned bore 36.

·

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The connector 37 is attached via bayonet-like fastening means 44, which correlate with corresponding complementary fastening means within the housing 4.

It can be seen in Figure 3 that the connecting piece 37 has longitudinal slots 41 distributed around the circumference. Tongue-like wires 38 of a further discharge path 39, for example to the light, can be inserted into these longitudinal slots 41. These wires 38 each project radially beyond the extension 52 with a tongue 40. They are positioned in the extension 52 at a height and circumference. Each tongue 40 communicates with one of the rings 14a. The inner ring 12 of the housing 4 has for this purpose insertion paths 42 for the tongues 40 (see in particular Figures 6, 2). These insertion paths 42 consist of one axial path per tongue 40, with a small peripheral piece adjoining this.

From Figure 6, the expert can see the connector 37 in the assembled state. It can be seen that a wire 38 of the discharge path 39 is clamped with its tongue 40 in a circumferential slot 41a of the respective ring 14a, outside the area of the tongues 21. This creates an electrical contact with a simple structure and a low electrical contact resistance.

In the radial extension 45 (see Figure 6), the connector 37 has an opening 49 for each wire 38. Radially, this opening 49 is cut by a means 47 for fastening, such as a screw. In this way, wires of the lamp or a similar consumer (not shown) can easily be electrically connected to the wires 38 of the discharge path 39.

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An additional positional fixation of the connecting piece 37 relative to the housing 4 is proposed in that an upper side of the radial extension 45 of the connecting piece 37 is provided with a compression spring means 46 such as a disc spring (see Figure 6). When the bayonet connection of the connecting piece 37 to the housing 4 is made, this compression spring means 46 is pre-tensioned in such a way that the connecting piece 37 runs firmly in the housing 4.

If the distribution box 1 is not provided with the additional discharge path 39 and thus the connection piece 37, it can be closed, for example, flush with the room boundary element 3 by a simple cover.

Finally, it is emphasized that the connector 37 with its wires 38 as electrical contacts can be installed in the simplest way by any layperson into the industrially pre-assembled housing 4, for example. The necessary manual or overhead work is limited to a minimum. When using the distribution box 1 in office or industrial buildings, for example, a significant reduction in assembly times can be expected.

·* · *
. « t · · · Distribution box 26 • * » »·
« · »*» &bgr; ·
• ·» ♦ 13 Recess 27 G. Hofmann Reference numbers Room delimitation elements 28 ment 29 Axial approach 1 Housing 30 Recess 2 Wire supply path 31 Page 3 Supply path 32 Closure element Fasteners for 33 Connection 4 Supply path 34 Recess 5 Distribution medium 35 Recess 6 Wire discharge path 36 Outer jacket 7 Discharge path 37 deepening Fasteners for 38 web 8th Discharge path 39 drilling 9 Inner jacket 40 Connector 10 Inner ring 41 Veins further discharge path 10a Page 41a further derivation path web 42 Tongue 11 ring 43 Longitudinal slot 12 Spacer ring 44 Circumferential slot 13 Annular space 45 Insertion track 14 opening 46 Page 14a opening 47 Fasteners 15 Longitudinal recess 48 radial expansion 16 edge 49 Compression spring means 17 Tongue 50 Medium 18 Front side 51 Outer jacket 19 Recess 52 opening 20 End 53 Housing 21 Front side Front side 22 Approach 23 Recess 24 25

Claims (26)

Dipl.-Ing. Georg Hofmann, Dr.-Ambundistr. 18 97437 Haßfurt Claims 1. Distribution box for electrical current, with a preferably pot-shaped housing, preferably built into a recess of a room-delimiting element such as a ceiling or wall, into which wires of a supply path for electrical current are guided and which has fastening means for these, the housing being provided with distribution means for the electrical current to wires of at least one discharge path and fastening means for these, characterized by the following features : - the housing (4) has a concentric inner ring (12) which is spaced apart from its inner casing (11) and which is connected to the housing (4) on its side (13) facing away from the recess (2) via a web (14); - the distribution means (8) are made as rings (14a) in the number of wires (5) of the supply path (6), which extend in a sandwich-like manner separated by electrically insulating spacer rings (15) in an annular space (16) formed radially between the housing (4) and the inner ring (12); G. Hofmann 2 - radially and axially aligned with the rings (14a), the housing (4) has a first row of openings (17) for the wires (5) of the supply path (6), which preferably run parallel to the axis; - radially and axially aligned with the rings (14a), a further row of openings (18) is arranged in the housing (4) for each set of wires (9) of a discharge path (10), which preferably run parallel to the axis and - the fastening means (7, 10a) for the supply and discharge paths (6, 10) are part of the distribution means (8) manufactured as rings (14a). 2. Distribution box according to claim 1, characterized in that in addition to the row of openings (17) for the wires (5) of the supply path (6), a plurality such as a total of two or three rows of openings (18) for wires (9) of discharge paths (10) are provided in the housing (4), which preferably run evenly distributed around the circumference. 3. Distribution box according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing (4) has a longitudinal recess (19) on its inner casing (11) in the region of each row of openings (17, 18), the rings (14a) in the peripheral section of the openings (17, 18) being provided with tongues (21) projecting radially outward from their edge (20), which run in the longitudinal recesses (19) and have the fastening means (7, 10a) for the wires (5, 9). G. Hofmann 3 4. Distribution box according to claim 3, characterized in that the fastening means (7, 10a) for the wires (6, 9) are made from the edge (20) of the ring (14a) bent by 180° onto a front side (22) of the respective ring (14a), which edge (20) has a recess (23) facing each opening (17, 18) through which the respective wire (5, 9) can be inserted, wherein the respective wire (5, 9) can be clamped between the front side (22) of the ring (14a) and one end (24) of the bent edge (20). 5. Distribution box according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the edge (20) of each ring (14a) is bent in a U-shape outside the tongues (21) in the circumferential direction in the direction of one of its end faces (22 or 25), the spacer rings (15) are provided with axial projections (26) in the region of the tongues (21), which are supported in recesses (27) of the U-shaped edge (20) formed by the tongues (21). 6. Distribution box according to claim 1, characterized in that one of the rings (14a) is arranged directly on the web (14). 7. Distribution box according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing (4) or at least its annular space (16) is delimited on its side (28) facing the recess (2) by a closure element (29) such as a disk-like cover. 8. Distribution box according to claim 7, characterized in that the closure element (29) is connected to the housing (4) at the edge by a snap, clip or screw connection (30). G. Hofmann 4 9. Distribution box according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the closure element (29) has a recess (31) for a machine element such as a screw and, in the surrounding area thereof, optionally a predetermined breaking point. 10. Distribution box according to claim 1 or 9, characterized net that the housing (4) has on its side (28) facing the recess (2) a recess (32) for a machine element such as a screw and in the surrounding area optionally a predetermined breaking point. 11. Distribution box according to claim 1, characterized in that an outer shell (33) of the housing (4) is provided with recesses (34). 12. Distribution box according to claim 11, characterized in the rows of openings (17, 18) in the housing (4) form webs (35) which are interrupted in the circumferential direction by the window-like recesses (34).
25 13. Distribution box according to claim 1, characterized in that the distribution box (1) is simultaneously designed as a direct or indirect fastening unit for at least one lamp or a similar consumer or that the distribution box (1) is simultaneously preferably at its side facing away from the recess (2) ·** * I . · ····
••••!ti ·· G. Hofmann 5 Side (13) is provided with at least one socket such as a safety socket. 14. Distribution box according to claim 13, characterized in that a connecting piece (37) with preferably a set of wires (38) of a further discharge path (39) or of the discharge path (39) in the number of wires (5) of the supply path (6) runs in a bore (36) of the inner ring (12), which discharge path (39) leads to the lamp or socket, each individual wire (38) having a radially outward-pointing tongue (40) at the level of a ring (14a), which can be clamped or pushed into a circumferential slot (41a) which is formed by an edge (20) of the ring (14a) and the end face (22) of the ring (14a) bent in a U-shape onto an end face (22) of the ring (14a). 15. Distribution box according to claim 14, characterized in that the wires (38) of the discharge path (39) are distributed circumferentially and are radially and axially fixed into longitudinal slots (41) of the connecting piece (37) or are clamped in these longitudinal slots, wherein insertion paths (42) for the tongues (40) are arranged in the bore (36) of the inner ring (12). 16. Distribution box according to claim 14, characterized in that the connecting piece (37) is provided on its side (43) facing away from the recess (2) with detachable fastening means (44) to the housing (4).
30 · G. Hofmann 6 17. Distribution box according to claim 16, characterized in that the fastening means (44) are designed as a bayonet, screw, clip or similar connection, wherein the connecting piece (37) is preferably provided with a radial extension (45) in the region of the fastening means (44). 18. Distribution box according to one of claims 14 to 17, characterized in that a compression spring means (46) such as a disc spring is applied axially between the connecting piece (37) and the housing (4). 19. Distribution box according to claim 14 or 17, characterized in that on a side (13) facing away from the recess (2), for each wire (38) of the discharge path (39), means (47) for fastening wires which extend directly from the light or socket are arranged. 20. Distribution box according to claim 19, characterized in that the means (47) for fastening consist of discrete screw clamp connections, which can preferably be actuated radially from the outer casing (48) of the connecting piece (37), which run perpendicular to openings (49) remote from the recess, into which the wires (38) of the discharge path (39) on the one hand and those of the lamp or socket on the other hand protrude at the end. 21. Distribution box according to claim 14, characterized in that the lamp or socket is an integral part of the connecting piece (37). ··* · • ·· t ••••• G. Hofmann 22. Distribution box according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the components housing (4), closure element (29), spacer ring (15) or connection piece (37) is made of a lightweight material such as plastic or ceramic. 23. Distribution box according to claim 1, characterized in that the wires (5) of the supply path (6) and/or the wires (9) of the respective discharge path (10) are enclosed by a separate housing (50) on the outer casing (33) of the housing (4). 24. Distribution box according to claim 11, characterized in that the recesses (34) are interrupted by webs (35) which preferably extend in the longitudinal direction, the openings (17, 18) opening into the housing (4) laterally of the recesses (34). 25. Distribution box according to claim 1, characterized in that a bore (36) of the inner ring (12) is delimited on its side (13) facing away from the recess (2) by a closure plug, the outer side of which preferably runs flush with the space-delimiting element (3). 26. Distribution box according to claim 14, characterized in that the connecting piece (37) has a recess (53), a thread or a G. Hofmann 8 Hole for a bolt, screw or similar fastening device for the lamp, socket or similar consumer.