DE9306513U1 - Adapter for busbars - Google Patents

Description

Klöckner-Moeller GmbH -1- 0 324 GM

16 March 1993

Adapter for busbars

The invention relates to an adapter according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such adapters are used to attach fuses such as busbar or NH fuses or installation or switching devices such as motor protection switches, contactors or the like to busbars.

These adapters must be designed in such a way that there is both a safe electrical and mechanical connection to the busbars.

In DE-AS 21 51 641 and DE-AS 21 51 642 a busbar fuse base with a screw and a spanning lug for mounting on a busbar is shown. This base is only used to hold one fuse, so that several bases must be used, which is very time-consuming, especially because of the screw connection. This adapter is not intended for adapting switching devices.

Furthermore, an NH busbar fuse has become known from DE-GM 75 10 399, which uses hat-like clamps and screws to securely connect an adapter plate with several fuses to the busbars in an electrical and mechanical manner.

A similar fastening for rider safety devices is known from DE-GM 73 18 707.

DE-GM 73 31 273 shows an NH fuse switch with T-shaped fastening elements that are also screwed together. Here, only two screws need to be tightened.

A fuse base that can also be mounted on busbars using a

Klöckner-Moeller GmbH -2- 0 324 GM

16 March 1993

EP 0 024 594 Al shows how the screw is tightened.

An adapter shown in DE-GM 79 23 422 is clamped in a similar way.

Fastening using composite panels is also known, as shown in DE-OS 27 41 037, whereby several screws must also be tightened.

However, the installation of such adapters can be very complicated and labor-intensive.

For all of these adapters, contact is made on the broad sides of the busbars or on the sides parallel to the wall plane.

DE-OS 26 46 123 discloses a support plate for installation devices in which the busbars are inserted into recesses and can be fastened by clamping claws using screws.

Space-saving clamping claws, known as contact or fastening clamps, are also known as fastening elements, which grip the busbars from behind and are screwed on from the front, as shown in DE-OS 34 09 211, DE-PS 33 09 360 (EP 0 122 422), DE-PS 34 00 805 or the patents DE 36 42 517 (EP 0 270 994), DE 36 42 518, DE 36 42 519 (EP 0 270 996). There is a risk that the contact rails in the clamping section can be deformed when the clamping screw is tightened.

Adapters with clamping claws also offer a solution to this problem, as shown in DE 38 22 625. The clamping claws are however relatively complex. However, as before, tightening several screws is necessary.

Another adapter of this type is shown in DE-PS 38 04 294, DE-

Klöckner-Moeller GmbH -3- ""&Oacgr; 324 GM

16 March 1993

03 260.

When fastening using clamps, as with the first mentioned documents, several screws must be tightened, which is also labor-intensive. There is also the problem that the clamping force depends on the assembly personnel, i.e. it is not constant. Furthermore, it is difficult to fasten or loosen the adapters when they are equipped with devices and cables because the screws are then difficult to access.

In an installation device for busbar systems, as shown and described in DE-OS 34 28 738, assembly is carried out without screws. Here, holding feet grip the busbars on the broad sides, while on the other broad sides, contact is made by contact elements mounted with compression springs. Fastening is carried out by placing them on the busbars and pressing them down, whereby the contact elements are pressed in. In the area of the middle busbar, there is a spring-loaded locking lug that automatically slides under the busbar and can be unlocked again from the front of the device, in the middle, using a screwdriver. Access to the unlocking opening can easily be covered over here, however, if the adapters are to be freely equipped with top hat rails.

Another adapter for fuses is shown in Fig. 4 of DE-PS 33 16 203, in which a spring-loaded contact element is used instead of a compression spring, which contacts the busbars on the front broad side. The locking mechanism is also located in the middle.

Another adapter, in which the contact force is provided by leaf springs as compression springs, is shown in DE-PS 39 22 732. The compression springs are arranged behind the busbar and press the busbars on the broad side against the opposite contact brackets. With these adapters there is a risk that the leaf springs will get caught and bent when they are put on.

Klöckner-Moeller GmbH

-A-

0 324 GM 16 March 1993

Such adapters can be attached quickly, but due to the friction caused by the high spring forces, considerable force must sometimes be applied to attach the adapters fitted with devices. This can not only damage the fastening elements of the switching devices for the top hat rails, because the switching devices are the easiest to grip, but there is also the risk of slipping and injuring yourself.

When unlocking, there is still the problem that only one hand is available because the other hand is needed to hold and operate the screwdriver, which makes disassembly difficult when there are high contact forces.

Furthermore, it is difficult to move the adapter if it is misplaced.

The aforementioned adapters are only suitable for one rail dimension.

An adapter plate for different rail widths is shown and described in DE-GM 89 03 582. The locking is done by a clamping lever with several locking projections.
The unlocking is possible from the front with a screwdriver.

Installation devices shown and described in the patents DE 39 40 153 and 39 40 154 are also suitable for different rail widths. A slide with retaining tabs is used as the locking part. The unlocking is also provided here via the front.

For different busbar thicknesses, an installation device has become known from DE-PS 40 38 348, which is provided with different hook parts that can be separated from the housing and are adapted to the different thicknesses of the busbars or

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Klöckner-Moeller GmbH

*0 324 G*M 16 March 1993

Spacers are used. This allows for the use of power rails with a thickness of 5mm or 10mm, for example. High pushing forces are also required here. There is also the problem that when replacing the hook parts, the screw tightening torque should be as defined as possible, which makes it difficult to change the position on site. The spacers can also easily get lost.

Fig. 7 of DE-OS 38 00 809 shows a mounting hook for different rail thicknesses. The hook is inserted into one of several holes and is therefore also suitable for different rail widths (Fig. 2).
The disadvantage, however, is that this adapter must also be screwed through a hole in the busbar and can be built over by devices. In addition, the mounting hook is initially loose and can therefore be lost.

The object of the invention is therefore to create an adapter according to the preamble of claim 1, which can be mounted and dismantled quickly and safely with little effort and is suitable for different rail thicknesses.

The object of the invention is achieved by the characterizing features of claim 1, while particularly advantageous developments of the invention are characterized in the subclaims.

The invention makes it possible to attach adapters from busbars with little friction and without using screws.

A simple and secure locking is achieved if two locking elements are present that engage behind the busbars.

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Klöckner-Moeller GmbH

-6-

16 March 1993

It is particularly advantageous if there is an upper locking element under spring pressure for gripping behind the uppermost busbar and a lower locking element for gripping behind the lowermost busbar, because by hooking onto the lower locking element, the adapter can be placed in place by means of a lever-like tilting movement, which requires a relatively small amount of force.

It is particularly advantageous if support projections for supporting the current busbars are arranged on the narrow sides of the busbars opposite the contact surface, thus preventing the current busbars from bending or twisting.

It is particularly easy to install if the support projections have slopes that transition into a straight line

A space-saving and cost-effective design is achieved when L-shaped contact rails are provided between ribs formed from the base body, with their legs forming the contact surfaces.

In order to compensate for different rail distances and tolerances, the contact rails are mounted so that they can be moved and the legs of the contact rails are under spring pressure, whereby a favorable sliding bearing is achieved if the contact rails have holes for fastening with screws and there is a clearance between the screws and the holes.

Good guidance is achieved when intermediate rings or intermediate elements made of plastic are present between the screw head and the contact rail.

To enable hooking on the one hand and to ensure a

Klöckner-Moeller GmbH

*' "&thgr; 32*4 16 March 1993

In order to be able to adjust the current busbars of different thicknesses in just a few simple steps, the lower locking element consists of a U-shaped hook part with a roof-shaped protrusion for gripping the lower current busbar and a clamping part that can be locked between its legs, whereby the clamping part lies flush between the legs of the hook part, whereby the legs of the hook part are also designed with grooves that are filled by a wall of the base body in order to fix the hook part to the base body.

It is also advantageous if there are several locking grooves on the inner surface of the hook part’s legs, into which the locking fingers of the clamping part can engage, so that the clamping part can always lie flush.

It is also advantageous if the upper locking element consists of a spring-loaded slide, an actuating part and a cap part, whereby the slide also consists of an approximately square-shaped block and a U-shaped guide section with guide grooves and locking lugs arranged on the outside, and that the guide grooves correspond to guide webs formed on the base body and at least part of the slide protrudes from the top of the base body, whereby both a secure locking and a sufficient contact force are exerted.

An assembly-friendly design of the slider is achieved if there is a dome arranged centrally and parallel to the legs between the legs of the guide section for the storage of a compression spring that can be inserted from above and is supported on the inner surface of the base body.

It is also particularly advantageous if the slide partially protrudes from the base body at an opening provided for this purpose, whereby the locking lugs that emerge from the base body grip a locking projection of the actuating part, because the

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Klöckner-Moeller GmbH -8- *0 32*4 dft

16 March 1993

Unlocking is not made difficult by the superstructure.

A design that can be operated with a screwdriver and is easy to handle is achieved when the cuboid-shaped actuating part rests firmly on top of the base body in the rest position and the base body is provided with slotted openings and balcony-like lifting attachments on the broad sides.

Installation is easy if the cap part is fitted with two locking bars that engage in the slot openings from the inside.

The slide can advantageously be used for two different busbar thicknesses if a longitudinal pin for gripping behind the top busbar is arranged asymmetrically on the underside of the block.

Furthermore, it is easier to attach the adapter if the block has bevels.

The invention, further refinements and improvements of the invention and further advantages will be described and explained in more detail with reference to the drawing, in which an embodiment is shown.

It shows:

Fig. 1 a view of the adapter from the front,

Fig. 2 a side view of the adapter in section,

Fig. 3 shows the upper locking element 14,
Fig. 4 a side view of the adapter.

Klöckner-Moeller GmbH -9- 0 3i\ &L

16 March 1993

Fig. 5 a view of the adapter from behind,

Fig. 6 a cross-sectional view of the adapter,

Fig. 7 a top view of the adapter,

Fig. 8 a sectional view of an assembled screw,

Fig. 9 another sectional view of an assembled screw,

Fig. 10 a sectional view of the lower locking element,
Fig. 11 a view of the lower locking element from above,

Fig. 12 a detailed view of the cap part of the upper locking element,

Fig. 13 a detailed view of the actuating part of the upper locking element from the front,

Fig. 14 a detailed view of the actuating part of the upper locking element in plan view,

Fig. 15a a detailed view of the actuating part of the upper locking element in section C-D,

Fig. 15b a detailed view of the actuating part of the upper locking element from the side,

Fig. 16 a detailed view of the slider of the upper locking element from the front,

Fig. 17 a detailed view of the slider of the upper locking element from the side,

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Klöckner-Moeller GmbH -10- 0 324 GM

16 March 1993

Fig. 18 a sectional view of the guide section of the upper locking element according to the section line A-B,

Fig. 19 a representation of the adapter when attached,

Fig. 20 another illustration of the adapter when being put on,

Fig. 21 a view of the mounted adapter,

The adapter 1 shown in the figures is used to attach switching devices attached to top hat rails directly to busbars. The adapter 1 consists of a base body 2, which has holes 3 on the front for attaching standard top hat rails, as can be seen in Fig. 1. The adapter 1 also consists of contact and fastening means for the busbars 4a, 4b, 4c arranged on the back.

For electrical contact, three L-shaped contact rails 6a, 6b, 6c are attached between ribs 5 formed from the base body 2 so that they can be moved slightly in the Y direction using screws 7. For this purpose, the contact rails 4a, 4b, 4c, which rest snugly on the base body 2, have holes 8 with a diameter that is slightly larger than the screws 7, as will be explained in more detail later.

When the adapter 1 is attached, the legs 9a, 9b, 9c, which are perpendicular to the base body 2, are arranged below the busbars 4a, 4b, 4c and lie flat against them on the narrow side, as can be clearly seen in particular in Fig. 5.
On the opposite narrow sides of the busbars 9a, 9b, 9c, support projections 10b, 10c formed on the edge of the base body 2 are arranged, as can be seen in Figures 4 and 5.

Klöckner-Moeller GmbH -11- 0 324 GM

16 March 1993

The legs 9a, 9b, 9c of the contact rails 6a, 6b, 6c are under spring pressure, whereby for this purpose contact springs 12 or compression or spiral springs are embedded in pockets 11 formed in the base body 2, whereby the contact force is always the same. The legs 9a, 9b, 9c thus press against the current busbars 4a, 4b, 4c and the support projections 10, which generate the counterforce, whereby the adapter 1 is supported essentially in the Y direction on the support projections 10b, 10c and the legs 9a, 9b, 9c.

Furthermore, the legs 9a, 9b, 9c are bevelled downwards at the ends to facilitate assembly.

On the top of the base body 2 there are openings 13 for connecting the switching devices to the contact rails using cables. The cables can be led directly from the openings 13 upwards and in a U-shape to the switching devices.

The adapter 1 has locking elements 14 and 15 at the top and bottom for locking, which only engage behind the first and third or uppermost and lowermost busbars 4a, 4c, such that the adapter 1 cannot be easily detached from the busbars 4a, 4b, 4c.

In this way, adapter 1 is secured against displacement in the X-direction.

The lower locking element 15, which is shown enlarged in Figures 10 and 11, consists of a U-shaped hook part 16 with a roof-shaped elevation 18 for engaging behind the lower busbar 4c and a clamping part 17 that can be locked between its legs. The clamping part 17 lies flush between the legs of the hook part 16 so that these legs cannot be pressed together.
In order to fix the hook part 16 to the base body 2, the legs of the hook part 16 are formed with grooves 19 which are filled by a wall 20 of the base body 2.

Klöckner-Moeller GmbH -12- 0 324 GM

16 March 1993

If the clamping part 17 is removed, the legs of the hook part 16 can be pressed together and the hook part 16 can be moved vertically to the base body 2 until the wall 20 engages in another groove 19 and fixes the hook part 16 again. So that the clamping part 17 can again lie flush against a surface 21 of the base body 2, there are several locking grooves 22 on the inner surfaces of the legs of the hook part 16, into which locking fingers 23 of the clamping part (17) can engage.

The current busbar 4c, which is inserted between the elevation 18 and the ribs 5, is shown in Fig. 10.
By moving the hook part 16, busbars of different thicknesses can be hooked in at the bottom. The hook part 16 is supported at the bottom on webs of the base body 2 (not shown).

The upper locking element 14, which is shown in the assembled state in Figures 1 to 3 and in the expanded state in Figures 12 to 18, consists of a spring-loaded slider 24, an actuating part 25 and a cap part 26.

The slider 24 consists of an approximately guide-shaped block 27 and a U-shaped guide section 28 with guide grooves 28 and locking lugs 30 arranged on the outside, as can be seen in Figures 16 to 18. Between the legs of the guide section 28 there is a dome 31 arranged centrally and parallel to the legs for supporting a compression spring 32 that can be inserted from above and is supported on the inner surface 33 of the base body 2.

The slider 24 is guided by guide webs 34 formed from the base body 2, which are shown in Fig. 6. The slider 24 partially protrudes from the base body 2 at an opening provided for this purpose, with the locking lugs 30, which emerge from the base body 2, gripping a locking projection 35 of the actuating part 25.

Klöckner-Moeller GmbH

-13-

O" 324 GM 16 March 1993

The cuboid-shaped actuating part 25, which in the rest position rests snugly on top of the base body 2, as shown in Fig. 3, is provided on the broad sides with slotted openings 36 and balcony-like lifting projections 37 above them, so that this and the slider 24 underneath can be lifted like a lever against the spring force with a screwdriver or the like, as shown in Fig. 2.

The actuating part 25, which is open at the top, is
Cap part 26 is covered. To lock both parts together, the cap part 26 is provided with two locking webs 38 which engage in the slot openings 36 from the inside, as shown in Fig. 2.
Both parts can be easily dismantled again through a recess 39 in the actuating part 25.

On the underside of the block 27, a longitudinal pin 40 for engaging behind the uppermost busbar 4a is arranged asymmetrically, whereby the same locking element 14 can be used for two different thicknesses of busbars, for example 5 and 10 mm, by turning the slide 24.

The actuating part 25 and the slide 24 can be easily dismantled by pressing the legs of the guide section 28 together from above using pliers or the like.

To facilitate the assembly of the adapter 1, the block 27 is further provided with bevels 41.

The L-shaped contact rails 6a, 6b, 6c are each attached to the base body with screws 7, as can be seen in Fig. 5. So that the contact rails 6 can adjust in such a way that the tolerance-related rail spacing can be compensated, the busbars are mounted so that they can be moved or floated. For this purpose, the holes 8 in the contact rails 6a, 6b, 6c are slightly larger in diameter than the screw diameter, as can be seen in Fig. 9.

Klöckner-Moeller GmbH

0**324* GM

16 March 1993

There may be a gap between the screw head and the contact rail 6a,6b,6c (Fig. 9).

Furthermore, the legs 9a, 9b, 9c of the contact rails 6a, 6b, 6c, which are under spring pressure, generate a constant contact force, whereby the spring force of the compression spring 32 counteracts the spring force of the contact springs 12.

In order that the contact rails 6a, 6b, 6c can slide under the screws 7 with as little friction as possible, the accommodation of an intermediate ring 42, as shown in Fig. 8, is advantageous.

In this embodiment, only the second and third busbars 4b, 4c have support projections 10b, 10c on the outer ribs 5, while the first busbar 4a is supported on the block 27 of the locking element 14.

It is also conceivable to attach a further support projection to the top busbar, whereby all busbars 10a, 10b, 10c are supported against a support projection and the contact force becomes independent of the clamping force.

The support projections 10b, 10c are bevelled at the front by approximately 45 degrees to the busbar plane in order to facilitate the installation of the adapter 1. For the same reason, the legs 9a, 9b, 9c are also bevelled at the front.

The adapter 1 can be clipped onto the busbars 4a, 4b, 4c in a simple manner, as shown in Figures 19 to 21. To do this, the adapter 1 is first held at an angle and the lower busbar 4c is hooked into place with the lower locking element 15, as shown in Figure 19, with the raised portion 18 of the hook part 16 engaging behind the busbar 4c. The roof-shaped slope of the raised portion 18 makes hooking easier.

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Klöckner-Moeller GmbH

-15-

0 324 GM 16 March 1993

The edge of the busbar 4c diagonally opposite to the edge touching the elevation 18 slides during the further movement into the vertical position of the adapter 1 along the lowest support projection 10c on its slope 43 until the edge changes into a straight area 44.

It can be clearly seen from Fig. 19 that initially only the lowest contact spring 12 is effective, which means that a considerably lower force is required for assembly. Furthermore, the tilting or lever movement of the adapter 1 will result in a reduction in the force required for assembly in this area.

In Fig. 20, the middle busbar 4b essentially slides into the area between the support projection 10b and the contact bar 6b, with even the lowest contact spring 12 slightly supporting the tilting movement.

To lock and finally assemble the adapter 1, the upper locking element 14 is lifted against its spring force with a screwdriver or the like, as shown in Fig. 2, and the adapter 1 is pushed backwards until the longitudinal pin 40 engages behind the busbar 4a, as shown in Fig. 21.

The adapter 1 can be designed both as a device adapter and to accommodate busbar or NH fuses.

Claims (1)

Protection claims 1. Adapter for busbars, in particular for fastening switching or installation devices, consisting of a base body, contact and fastening means, the busbars being arranged in one plane, characterized in that the adapter (1) has contact surfaces resting on the narrow sides of the busbars (4a, 4b, 4c), the contact surfaces being arranged perpendicular to the base body (2) and that at least one liftable, spring-loaded locking element (14) is present, its spring force acting in the direction of the contact surfaces. 2. Adapter according to claim 1, characterized in that two locking elements (14, 15) are provided for locking, which engage behind the current busbars (4a, 4c). 3. Adapter according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that an upper locking element (14) under spring pressure is provided for engaging behind the uppermost busbar (4a) and a lower locking element (15) is provided for engaging behind the lowermost busbar. 4. Adapter according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that support projections (10b, 10c) for supporting the current busbars (4b, 4c) are arranged on the narrow sides of the current busbars (4b, 4c) opposite the contact surface. 5. Adapter according to claim 4, characterized in that the support projections (10b, 10c) have bevels (43) which merge into a straight region (44). · • * Klöckner-Moeller GmbH -17- 0**324* GM 16 March 1993 6. Adapter according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that L-shaped contact rails (6a, 6b, 6c) are present between ribs (5) formed from the base body (2), their legs (9a, 9b, 9c) forming the contact surfaces. 7. Adapter according to claim 6, characterized in that the contact rails (6a, 6b, 6c) are slidably attached and that the legs (9a, 9b, 9c) of the contact rails (6a, 6b, 6c) are under spring pressure. 8. Adapter according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the contact rails (6a, 6b, 6c) have holes (8) for fastening with screws (7), and that there is a clearance between the screws (7) and the holes (8). 9. Adapter according to claim 8, characterized in that intermediate rings (42) or intermediate elements made of plastic are present between the screw head and the contact rail (6a, 6b, 6c). 10. Adapter according to one of claims 3 to 9, characterized in that the lower locking element (15) consists of a U-shaped hook part (16) with a roof-shaped elevation (18) for gripping behind the lower busbar (4c) and a clamping part that can be locked between its legs (17), wherein the clamping part (17) lies flush between the legs of the hook part (16) and that in order to fix the hook part (16) to the base body (2), the legs of the hook part (16) are formed with grooves (19) which are filled by a wall (20) of the base body (2). 11. Adapter according to claim 10, characterized in that _on the inner surfaces of the legs of the hook part (16) there are several locking grooves (22) into which locking fingers (23) of the Klöckner-Moeller GmbH -18- 0 324 GM 16 March 1993 clamping part (17). 12. Adapter according to one of claims 3 to 11, characterized in that the upper locking element (14) consists of a spring-loaded slider (24), an actuating part (25) and a cap part (26). 13. Adapter according to claim 12, characterized in that the slider (24) consists of an approximately cuboid-shaped block (27) and a U-shaped guide section (28) with guide grooves (28) and locking lugs (30) arranged on the outer sides, and that the guide grooves (28) correspond to guide webs (34) formed on the base body (2) and at least a part of the slider protrudes from the top of the base body (2). 14. Adapter according to claim 13, characterized in that between the legs of the guide section (28) there is a dome (31) arranged centrally and parallel to the legs for supporting a compression spring (32) which can be inserted from above and which is supported on the inner surface (33) of the base body (2). 15. Adapter according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the slide (24) partially protrudes from the base body (2) at an opening provided for this purpose, wherein the locking lugs (30) which emerge from the base body (2) grip a locking projection (35) of the actuating part (25). 16. Adapter according to one of claims 12 to 15, characterized in that the cuboid-shaped actuating part (25) in the rest position rests snugly on top of the base body (2) and that the latter is provided on the broad sides with slot openings (36) and balcony-like lifting projections (37) above them. Klöckner-Moeller GmbH -19- 6*32*4 GM 16 March 1993 17. Adapter according to claim 16, characterized in that for locking the cap part (26) is provided with two locking webs (38) which engage in the slot openings (36) from the inside. 18. Adapter according to one of claims 13 to 17, characterized in that a longitudinal pin (40) for engaging behind the uppermost busbar (4a) is arranged asymmetrically on the underside of the block (27). 19. Adapter according to one of claims 13 to 18, characterized in that the block 27 is provided with bevels (41).