DE4409781C1 - Cable terminal box for small mast-mounted external lighting systems - Google Patents

Abstract

An electrical cable terminal box for use with external mast mounted lighting units has a moulded housing (2) that has formed profiles (26) to receive circular section cable. A clamping element (4) is shaped to fit over the cable and is secured with screws. Within the housing is a screw terminal block (3). A cover plate (5) encloses the terminal block and is sealed around the edges (21). The cover has a formed access (34) for connection to the lighting stage.

Description

The invention relates to a cable junction box, consisting of a lower housing part, an insert part, a strain relief clamp and a lid attached to one end over a tongue and with its other End with a screw mount with the Lower housing part is detachably connected, the Insert all cable connection terminals, at least a fuse base and at both ends in his lower area fastening openings for reaching through Screws for screwing into fastening knobs on the Has inner bottom of the lower housing part.

A cable junction box of this type after that published patent DE 43 18 315 is for relative large light poles with corresponding Cross-sectional dimensions determined and points in addition to those in Cable feed direction arranged one behind the other Three levels in different levels Clamps separated by partitions several fuses with appropriate thread baskets and an additional protective cover for the cable entry. This consists of a flexible to two bearing journals swiveling plastic bottle with an elastic Tongue under a projection of the lower part of the housing  near his cable entry. The lid is provided at one end with two clamping tongues, each in a recess of a protruding tab of the Grip lower part, which is on the of the Strain relief clamp facing away from the end of the Lower part of the housing is located. At the opposite end the cover is attached to the by means of two screws Screwed lower housing part, which outside the Sealing contour of lower part of housing and cover are arranged. This embodiment of the Cable junction box is for large light poles excellent, but can be installed into small light poles, such as those used for directional lights, Bollard lights, garden and park lights as well Lights designed for pedestrian zones are not use. The reason is, among other things, in the prescribed dimensions of the individual standards and in the other DIN regulations for cable entry and Outgoing terminals and for the fuse base as well as in the contact protection associated with all of these parts.

This also applies to other cable connection boxes, for example according to DE-OS 15 39 592, the CH-PS 508 294 and DE-AS 20 05 953, the cover of which is pivotable, and according to DE-OS 34 26 212. This is among other reasons, that even with small Light masts mandatory assembly door through which through which the cables must be installed, a static one Weakening of the light pole against external forces,  which is to be kept as low as possible. Because the height and The width of such an assembly door is ultimately the size This weak point determines, especially with small ones Light poles the size of this opening within the Light masts are kept as small and small as possible, what a correspondingly compact cable junction box assumes.

Another problem of creating more suitable Cable junction boxes for such small light poles is based on the fact that for them the protection class I and a degree of protection of the IP 42 was attainable. Under one Moisture of protection class I according to number 1.2.22 of the European standard (EN) 60598 one understands such, at which is not the only protection against electric shock based on the basic insulation, but the one contains additional safety precautions such that touchable conductive parts with a network side Protective conductor can be connected so that in Faulty basic insulation of touchable conductive Parts cannot become active. With a lamp that is provided for a flexible connection line, this means that the connecting lead is a protective conductor must lead. If a luminaire with this protection class I with a two-wire, flexible connecting cable with a connector that is not in a Earthing socket can be inserted (earlier Protection class 0I), the lamp also corresponds to the  Protection class 0 if the protective conductor connection of the luminaire meets all requirements of protection class I.

Degree of protection IP 42 means with regard to the first Code number 4 that a straight, stiff steel wire from about 1 mm in diameter with a force of about 1 N. the equipment (housing) may be pressed without that the wire penetrate into the equipment (housing) can. With the word "about" is supposed to be prescribed Tolerance values are pointed out. The second number 2 means that the part is waterproof at a Drip water shower according to DIN 40 053 part 5, d. H. that with a suitable drip water shower Water protection is to be regarded as sufficient if if water has penetrated

• - the amount is insufficient to make one satisfactory operation of the Disrupt equipment;
• - parts that are live during operation or Windings cannot be reached if this not designed for operation when wet are;
• - it is not near the line and Cable ends collecting, or that it is not in the Line or penetrates the cable;
• - it does not accumulate, although drain holes available.

Both protection class I and Protection class IP 42 has, however, been in the past repeatedly proven to be inadequate.

Based on this state of the art, the Invention, the object of a cable junction box for small outdoor lights, like masts from Directional lights, bollard lights, garden and To create parking lights as well as pedestrian lighting, which is not only characterized by an extremely compact and therefore only a relatively slight weakening of the light mast conditional construction, but also a higher Protection class, e.g. B. II, and a higher degree of protection of IP guaranteed.

This task is in conjunction with the beginning mentioned feature of the preamble according to the invention solved the following features:

• a) The strain relief clamp is with a integrally molded bracket with through opening provided for the clamping tongue of the lid,
• b) the lid has on its the Strain relief clamp facing end of a clamping tongue on,
• c) there is one at the other end of the lid outside the sealing contour of the lower part of the housing and Through hole for a lid Fastening screw,  
• d) the lid is in a manner known per se a circumferential groove facing the lower part of the housing provided with a rubber ring seal into which a appropriately configured, circumferential edge of the Lower part of the housing and the strain relief clamp intervenes and seals
• e) all cable connection terminals for the Phase, neutral and protective conductors as well as the Fuse bases are of this type within the insert set back from the surface area that in assembled position of this conductor in the event of a fault Basic insulation touchable, conductive parts not active can be.

Such a cable junction box not only fulfills the requirements of protection class II, but also a Degree of protection of the IP 54.

Characteristic a) allows the length of the lower box be shortened accordingly, since now the anyway required strain relief clamp with the Through opening for this clamping tongue is provided and the state of the art according to the German Patent 43 18 015 at the other end with the required tab the two access openings become unnecessary. As a result, the lid will also be on its the Strain relief clamp facing end according to the Feature b) provided with a clamping tongue.  

According to feature c) is at the other end of the cover one outside of the sealing contour of Bottom part of the housing and cover through opening for a fastening screw. As a result, jumps on this end the seal contour accordingly, which the shortened length of the housing can be maintained.

According to feature d) the lid is in relation to that The lower part of the housing is splash-proof. In connection with the relatively rigid cover after use the tongue into the through hole of the molded Strap of the strain relief clamp and after tightening the fastening screw at the other end of the circumferential Edge of the lower housing part and the Strain relief clamp evenly against the elastic Rubber ring seal pressed in the groove of the cover.

This feature d) is based on the DE-AS 11 26 470 (see column 4, lines 39 to 45) and was therefore called "known per se".

Since according to feature e) all Cable connection terminals and the fuse base within the insert part accordingly narrowly configured returns and high standing Partitions opposite the surface area can be set back in the assembled position Conductor even if the cover is missing in the event of a fault Basic insulation touchable, conductive parts not active  with which the required protection against accidental contact without additional parts, e.g. B. in the form of an additional cover, is satisfied.

In connection with the cover according to the features a) to d) and feature e) is therefore a Cable junction box of protection class II created because protection against electric shock not only on the formed by the lid and the lower housing part Basic insulation is based, but additional Precautions by the appropriate Returns are created in the insert part.

In a further development of the invention Ensuring a compact and relatively short Overall length of the cable outlet hole Longitudinal axis of symmetry of the lower housing part after a Page offset. It is for the same reason located in the vicinity of this cable outlet hole Through hole for the fastening screw of the Lid outside of its longitudinal axis of symmetry.

For the same reason a compact design has the fastening eyelet on the lower part of the housing nearby a keyhole shape, the Wide opening part in the direction of the lower housing part is offset inwards via its outer contour.  

The most at the level of the cable junction box protruding part is the fuse base. To despite This fuse base is also compact in height To reach the cable junction box, the cover is in the Area of the fuse base with a bulge Mistake.

Otherwise, except for this bulge, it is his Lid equipped with a cuboid shape. These Cuboid shape has a length of about 160 mm, a width of about 60 mm and a height without the bulge of the Lid of 45 mm and with a bulge of 67 mm.

To achieve this low overall height without Bulging of the lid jumps off the edge of the Lower part of the housing and the circumferential groove in the cover in close to the cable outlet hole via a beveled Range at the level of the fuse base in Direction to the bottom of the lower part of the housing. Thereby is the seal between the lid and Lower housing part is not in one level, but is spatially offset in several levels, creating a extremely low overall height can be achieved. The Lower housing part, the insert part, the Strain relief clamp and the cover are in themselves known manner from an impact-resistant GRP plastic.

An embodiment of the invention is in the Drawing shown. Show:  

Fig. 1 is a perspective exploded view of the lower housing part, the insert part, and strain relief cover,

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the lower housing portion of Fig. 1,

Fig. 2a shows the bottom view of the lower housing part of Fig. 2,

Fig. 3 is a view of the lower housing part in the direction of arrow III of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is the view of the lower housing part in the direction of arrow IV of Fig. 2,

Fig. 5 is a top view and

Fig. 6 is a bottom view of the insert part with inserted terminals and connecting rails,

Fig. 7 shows the view of the insert part in the direction of arrow VII of Fig. 5 without terminals,

Fig. 8 shows the view of the insert part in the direction of arrow VIII of Fig. 5 without terminals,

Fig. 9 shows the view of the insert part in the direction of arrow IX of FIG. 5 without terminals,

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the strain relief of FIG. 1 in a to offset by 90 ° position,

Fig. 11 shows the view of the strain relief clamp in the direction of arrow XI of FIG. 10,

Fig. 12 is a sectional view of the strain relief clamp according to the line XII-XII of Fig. 11,

Fig. 13 is a top view of the lid.

Fig. 14 is a sectional view of the lid in the direction of arrows XIV-XIV of Fig. 13 and

Fig. 15 shows the end view of the lid in the direction of arrow XV of FIG. 13.

The cable connection box 1 is shown in FIG. 1 from a lower housing part 2, an insert part 3, a strain relief clamp 4 and a cover 5. The cover 5 is detachably connected at one end 5 a via a clamping tongue 6 and at its other end 5 b via a screw fastening 7 to the lower housing part 2 and the mounted strain relief clamp 4 .

The insert 3 has at least one fuse base 8 and at its both ends 3 a, 3 b in its lower region in eyelets 9 provided attachment apertures 10 for the passage of screws for screwing in fastening studs 11, 12 on the inner bottom 2a of the lower housing part 2.

This lower housing part 2 is shown in FIGS. 2 to 4. It is provided at its end 2 b with a fork-shaped fastening eyelet 13 and at its other end 2 c with a fastening eyelet 14 with a recess 15 in the shape of a keyhole, the wider opening part 15 a of which in the direction of arrow 16 on the lower housing part 2 via its outer contour 17 is offset inside.

As can also be seen from FIG. 2 in connection with FIG. 4, the cable outlet bore 18 is located laterally next to the longitudinal axis of symmetry 19 of the cable connection box 1 . The through hole 20 (see FIG. 2) for the fastening screw (not shown) of the cover 5, which is arranged directly next to it, is also located outside this longitudinal axis 19 of symmetry. Within the longitudinal axis of symmetry 19 are only the fork-shaped opening 13 a at the end 2 b and the fastening eyelet 14 with the recess in keyhole shape 15 at the other end 2 c. As a result, at the end 2 c, the circumferential edge web 21 jumps towards the interior of the lower housing part 2 , as a result of which the overall length of this lower housing part 2, including the eyes 13 and 14 , can be kept relatively short, namely to 160 mm.

The fuse base 8 of the insert part 3 is located near the end 2 c of the lower box 2 . Since this fuse base 8 protrudes from the insert part 3 in this area, whereas the adjacent surface areas 22 , 23 (see FIG. 1) are set back relative to this 8 , both the lower housing part 2 and the cover 5 are provided with a to achieve a compact overall height special room shape. This is due to the fact that the edge web 21 of the lower housing part 2 and the circumferential groove 24 in the cover 5 (see FIG. 14) near the cable outlet bore 18 in the lower housing part 2 via a chamfered area 25 at the level of the securing base 8 in the downward direction jump the bottom 2 a of the lower housing part 2 . This beveled area 25 can be seen particularly well in FIGS. 1, 3 and 14.

As can be seen from FIG. 4 in connection with FIG. 2, the housing lower part 2 has at its fastening end 2 b for the strain relief clamp 4 two adjoining, semicircular openings 26 , which correspond to semicircular openings 27 of the strain relief clamp 4 (see FIG. 1 and 11) form circular through openings for the cable feed.

As can be seen from FIG. 1 in connection with FIGS. 10 to 12, the strain relief clamp 4 is fastened via two through bores 28 (see FIG. 11) by means of screws (not shown) with corresponding engagement openings 29 in the lower housing part 2 (see FIG. 2). screwed to this 2 . On its upper side 30 , the strain relief clamp 4 is provided with a bracket 31 integrally formed with a material fit, which has a passage opening 32 for the tongue 6 of the cover 5 . In addition, the strain relief clamp 4 is provided on its longitudinal side facing the interior of the lower housing part 2 with an edge web 21 which corresponds exactly in width and height to the edge web 21 of the housing lower part 2 and is seamless with its ends 33 a at the ends 33 of the edge web 21 of the housing lower part 2 connects (see Fig. 1 and 10). This creates a circumferential edge web 21 of the lower housing part 2 and strain relief clamp 4 , which engages in the corresponding circumferential groove 24 (see FIG. 14) with its rubber seal, not shown, in the cover 5 in a splash-proof manner.

This lid 5 is shown in FIGS. 13 to 15. The lid 5 has at its end of the strain relief clamp 4 a 5 a clamping tongue 6 , while at its other end 5 b an outside of its sealing contour 21 a, which corresponds to the sealing contour 21 a of the lower housing part 2 , the through opening 7 for a not shown Fastening screw is located. This cover 5 is provided in its circumferential groove 24 facing the lower housing part 2 (see FIG. 14) with a rubber ring seal inserted therein, in which the appropriately configured circumferential edge webs 21 of the lower housing part 2 and the strain relief clamp ( 4 ) engage in a splash-proof manner.

In addition, the cover 5 at the level of the fuse base 8 of the insert part 3 has a cup-shaped bulge 34 , which not only has a circular cylinder shape, as shown in FIGS. 13 to 15, but also an oval shape extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis of symmetry 19 of the cable connection box 1 can have. The oval regions 34 a, which extend transversely to the longitudinal axis of symmetry 19 according to FIG. 13, identify fields in the plane of the cover 5 for attaching the names of the manufacturers, article number, protection class and type of protection.

The height of the pot-like bulge 34 depends on the one hand on the total height of the fuse to be inserted into the securing base 8 and on the other hand on the pivoting angle of the cover 5 after inserting its clamping tongue 6 into the through opening 32 of the bracket 31 . Then, when swiveling down the end 5 b of the cover 5 in the direction of arrow 43 of FIG. 1, the cup-shaped bulge 34 of the cover 5 must be able to overlap the fuse with its screw cap in the fuse base 8 .

The insert part 3 is shown in FIGS. 5 to 9 except in FIG. 1. As can be seen in particular from FIG. 1 in connection with FIG. 5, all the cable connection terminals 35 , 36 for the phase, neutral and protective conductors as well as the fuse base 8 within the insert part 3 are set back in relation to the surface regions 22 , 23 in such a way that in the assembled position this conductor cannot be activated in the case of a fault in the basic insulation. The conductor rails 37 , 38 visible in the bottom view of FIG. 6 are located on a surface 40 which is set back correspondingly with respect to a circumferential bottom edge 41 . The mounting screws are labeled 39 . As soon as the insert part 3 abuts or is clamped to this bottom edge 41 on the bottom 2 a of the lower housing part 2 by screwing the retaining eyelets 9 with the retaining knobs 11 , 12 , all the conductor rails 37 , 38 and the fastening screws 39 lie in a closed space which is not accessible even when the cover 5 is destroyed. Since the surface areas 22 , 23 protrude relative to the inner spaces 42 of the cable connection clamps 35 , 36 in such a way that the cable connection clamps 35 , 36 cannot be touched by a finger and thus the insert part 3 in the assembled position already has the touch protection described several times Allocate cable junction box 1 together with cover 5 to protection class II. The recesses 42 and the cable connection terminals 35 , 36 are such that, on the one hand, a test finger according to DIN 57 470 Part 1 / VDE 0470 Part 1 has no access to them, ie that a test finger with a spherical end with a radius R of 4 mm , a maximum diameter of 12 mm and a length of 80 mm with a test force of 10 N the cable connecting terminals 35 , 36 cannot reach.

On the other hand, foreign body protection is ensured, ie that a hard ball of approximately 12 mm in diameter cannot be pressed into the openings 42 with a force of 30 N.

FIGS. 7 to 9 show the insert 3 without the cable connecting terminals 35 and 36 without the bus bars 37, 38 and fixing screws 39 as a pure plastic part. Corresponding parts of FIGS. 1, 5 and 6 are provided with the same reference numbers.

Reference list

1 cable connection box
2 lower housing part
2 a inner bottom of the lower housing part 2
2 b, 2 c ends of the lower housing part 2
3 insert
3 a, 3 b ends of the insert
4 strain relief clamps
5 lids
5 a, 5 b ends of the cover 5
6 clamping tongue
7 screw fastening
8 fuse bases
9 eyelets
10 mounting holes
11 , 12 mounting knobs
13 , 14 eyelets
15 recess
15 a opening part of the recess 15
16 , 43 arrows
17 outer contour
18 cable outlet hole
19 symmetry longitudinal axis
20 , 28 through holes
21 edge web
21 a sealing contour of the edge web 21 and the cover 5
22 , 23 surface areas of the insert 3
24 groove in the cover 5
25 chamfered area of the lower housing part 2 and the cover 5
26 , 27 semicircular openings
29 engagement openings
30 Top of the strain relief clamp 4
31 bracket
32 access opening
33 , 33 a ends of the edge web 21st
34 cup-shaped bulge
35 , 36 cable connection terminals
37 , 38 conductor rails
39 fastening screws
40 area at the bottom of the insert 3
41 bottom edge
42 recesses

Claims (9)

1.Cable connection box, consisting of a lower housing part, an insert part, a strain relief clamp and a cover which is detachably connected at one end via a clamping tongue and at the other end via a screw fastening to the lower housing part, the insert part including all cable connection terminals, at least one fuse base and has fastening openings at both ends in its lower area for the passage of screws for screwing into fastening knobs on the inner bottom of the lower housing part and some cable connection terminals within the insert part are set back from the surface area, characterized by the following features:

• a) the strain relief clamp ( 4 ) is provided with a integrally molded bracket ( 31 ) with a through opening ( 32 ) for the clamping tongue ( 6 ) of the cover ( 5 ),
• b) the lid (5) has at its the strain relief clamp (4) facing the end (5 a) is a clamping tongue (6),
• c) at the other end ( 5 b) of the cover ( 5 ) there is a through-opening ( 7 ) for a fastening screw outside the sealing contour ( 21 a) of the lower housing part ( 2 ) and cover ( 5 ),
• d) the cover ( 5 ) is provided in a conventional manner in a circumferential groove ( 24 ) facing the lower housing part ( 2 ) with a rubber ring seal into which a correspondingly configured circumferential edge web ( 21 ) of the lower housing part ( 2 ) and Strain relief clamp ( 4 ) engages splash-proof,
• e) all cable connection terminals ( 35 , 36 ) for the phase, neutral and protective conductors as well as the fuse base ( 8 ) are set back in the insert part ( 3 ) in relation to the surface area ( 22 , 23 ) in such a way that this conductor is in the assembled position in the event of a fault touchable conductive parts of the basic insulation cannot become active.

2. Cable junction box according to claim 1, characterized in that the cable outlet bore ( 18 ) is offset to one side to the longitudinal axis of symmetry ( 19 ) of the lower housing part ( 2 ). 3. Cable junction box according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the through hole ( 20 ) arranged in the vicinity of the cable outlet bore ( 18 ) for the fastening screw of the cover ( 5 ) is located outside of its longitudinal axis of symmetry ( 19 ). 4. Cable connection box according to claim 3, characterized in that the fastening eyelet ( 14 ) has a keyhole shape ( 15 ), the wide opening part ( 15 a) in the direction (arrow 16) of the lower housing part ( 2 ) over the outer contour ( 17 ) inwards is offset. 5. Cable junction box according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the edge web ( 21 ) of the lower housing part ( 2 ) and the circumferential groove ( 24 ) in the cover ( 5 ) in the vicinity of the cable outlet bore ( 18 ) in the lower housing part ( 2 ) Jump over a chamfered area ( 25 ) at the level of the fuse base ( 8 ) down towards the bottom ( 2 a) of the lower housing part ( 2 ). 6. Cable junction box according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the cover ( 5 ) in the area of the fuse base ( 8 ) is provided with a bulge ( 34 ). 7. Cable junction box according to claim 6, characterized in that it ( 1 ) except for the bulge ( 34 ) of its cover ( 5 ) is provided with a cuboid shape. 8. Cable junction box according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it ( 1 ) a length of about 160 mm, a width of about 60 mm and a height without bulge ( 34 ) of the cover ( 5 ) of 45 mm and with Has bulge ( 34 ) of 67 mm. 9. Cable junction box according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the lower housing part ( 2 ), the insert part ( 3 ), the strain relief clamp ( 4 ) and the cover ( 5 ) consist of a GRP plastic.