DE9414984U1 - Electric light band - Google Patents

Description

Patent Attorneys Tergau & Pohl, Nuremberg I ***. » &idigr; !*..!. ....... Page 1

94619-8/42/13
Description

s Electric light strip

&iacgr;&ogr; A conventional lighting strip or field consists of several individual

n lights and a corresponding number of electrical couplings. Each

i2 SingleJeuchte has a power input designed as a plug and

has a power output designed as a socket. The first individual

H luminaire is connected to the electrical mains voltage with its supply input

ie connected. Between the supply output of this first individual

i6 lamp and the supply input of the second single lamp, the

&igr;? coupling is interposed. This creates a light strip with

is several electrically connected in series and mechanically flush with each other

19 of the coupled individual lights. The supply input and output of the

20 individual luminaires are electrically connected to each other within the luminaire housing.

21 wired. This creates an internal supply line in the lighting strip

22 from the first to the last individual lamp.

24 The disadvantage of these individual luminaires is the high manufacturing costs of the

25 luminaire manufacturer. He must install the supply line at the luminaire

26 production and integrate it within the luminaire housing, &zgr;? Another disadvantage is the plug connection between two adjacent

2s Single lights with interposition of the coupling. In row direction of the

29 individual lights arranged in a row therefore have no mechanical play.

30. When replacing a single lamp, the lamp must be replaced - unless the lamp forming the end of the strip is being replaced.

32 Light strip from its end to the individual light to be replaced in

33 its individual parts are disassembled. The disassembly of the light strip and

34 its reassembly after replacement of one or more

35 individual lights is therefore very time-consuming. The maintenance and repair costs are correspondingly high. There is also the risk that when dismantling the light strip, even technically perfect individual lights

be damaged. In addition, the electrical connection to the input

September 1384

Patent attorneys Tergau & Pohl, Nuremberg

&igr; cell light three separate components, namely a socket, a plug and a

a coupling must be present. This makes the manufacture and assembly of the

Individual lights are also cumbersome.

The invention is based on the object of mounting a light strip

&bgr; of the type mentioned above.

This problem is solved by the combination of features of claim 1.

According to this solution, an external supply line is separate from the individual lights. The supply line consists of adjacent line sections, between which the individual lights are connected. Only a single connection part is required for the connection. The line input, output and branch are electrically wired together within the connection part. The line input and output thus form an electrical bridge between two adjacent line sections. Wiring the line branch with this electrical bridge enables the supply voltage to be tapped for the individual light assigned to the connection part.

The cable branch also makes it possible that when replacing a single light, only the individual light itself needs to be disconnected from the electrical connection point between two adjacent cable sections, regardless of where the individual light is located within the light strip. This eliminates the need to dismantle the entire light strip when the light needs to be replaced. Reassembling the light strip with the repaired individual light or a replacement light is also simplified. The assembly, disassembly, maintenance and repair times are reduced. The use of the light strip according to the invention is therefore more cost-effective for the customer.

According to the invention, the individual light itself does not contain a supply line, which also simplifies the manufacture of the individual lights. In the event of a defect in the supply line, the corresponding individual light no longer needs to be replaced. Only the corresponding section of the supply line needs to be repaired, which further reduces the repair costs of the light strip.

14 September 1994

Patent Attorneys Tergau & Pohl, Nuremberg · ***;·· j*····"··;··;· Page 3

&igr; According to the invention, only a single connection is required for the electrical connection.

2 end part. On the one hand, this simplifies the manufacture of luminaires.

3 additionally, on the other hand, the storage of the materials required for the construction of the

4 tenbandes required individual parts simplified.

e Claim 2 proposes for the electrical connection of the connecting part between

7 two adjacent cable sections have a plug connection. This enables a

&bgr; Very simple electrical connection of the individual lights to

9 the supply line is ensured. Plug connections with all their advantages

10 are e.g. in EP 0 471 943 A1 (application number: 91 110 221.8, filing date:

11 21.06.1991 , Publication date: 26.02.1992; Applicant: F. Wieland Elektri-

12 see Industrie GmbH; title: Multi-pole appliance connector) and in DE is 34 40 043 C2 (reference number: P 34 40 043.5-34; filing date: 02.1 1.1984;

&eegr; Disclosure date: 07.05.1986; Publication date of the patent grant

15 date of registration: October 2, 1986; patent holder: F. Wieland Elektrische Industrie GmbH;

ie Title: Electrical connector) . Other connectors

17 are from F. Wieland Elektrische Industrie GmbH, Bamberg, "ELECTRICAL

is CONNECTION TECHNOLOGY, Connector systems", 0037.1 /P7.91 and from

19 F. Wieland Elektrische Industrie GmbH, Bamberg, "ELECTRICAL

20 CONNECTION TECHNOLOGY, quick assembly and compact connectors

21 of", P 6/4.88 .

23 The connectors are available as mass-produced items, so that the coupling

24 parts for the line sections and the connection parts for the individual

25 lights can be manufactured cost-effectively or are available cheaply on the market as purchased parts

26. The external supply line is therefore hardly worth the cost.

27 weight. In addition, the cost-effective procurement of individual

28 components, the manufacturing depth of the entire inventive luminaire

29 bandes reduce.

31 The connectors usually also have a coding on the

32 coupling parts of the line sections as well as at the line inlets and -

33 outputs of the connectors. In this way, incorrect connections of

34 individual lights reliably prevented. The inventive light strip

35 can therefore be easily installed by laymen. To do this, only the required sockets, which are available as sockets, must be used when installing the supply line.

37 coupling parts designed as connectors or plugs at the ends of the cables

38 sections must be taken into account.

14 September 1994

Patent Attorneys Tergau & Pohl, Nuremberg · j·; ; ........... Page 4

2 Claim 3 takes into account the VDE regulations for contact protection

3 when assembling or disassembling the light strip. Consequently, the

4 consumer-side part effective connection part a line input and

5 output, each of which is designed as a plug part. The coupling parts of the line sections, which act as the mains-side &bgr; part, are designed as

7 socket parts formed.

9 Claim 4 further simplifies the replacement of a single lamp.

10 The end part and the associated individual light are detachable from each other so that

11 the connector between two adjacent cable sections can remain permanently la interposed and therefore does not need to be removed when replacing the light

13 must be dismantled. A connection part that can be detached from the individual lamp in this way

&kgr; also has the advantage that the supply line during a lighting

15 replacement is not interrupted. The lighting strip is therefore

16 still in the operating state, even if one or more decoupled individual

17 lights do not need to be replaced immediately.

ig Claim 5 proposes a detachable fixing of the connecting part to the individual

20 lamp has a plug connection. Consequently, the individual lamp itself is only

21 Hch a complementary to the line branch of the connection part - either as

22 socket part or as a plug part - designed input part must be provided.

23 If the connection part is damaged or destroyed, the individual lamp

24 can therefore be reused. It is simply connected using the plug connection

25 with a new connector. This modular design of the

26 lighting strip reduces its repair costs when required

27 exchange of individual components. Regarding further advantages of the connectors

28 In this connection, reference is made to the advantages mentioned in claim 2.

30 According to claim 6, a space-saving T-shape of the connecting part is provided.

31. The line inlet and outlet form the horizontal leg and

32 run in the longitudinal direction of the supply line when assembled.

33 The line branch of the connection part runs opposite the line input

34 and outlet vertically and therefore causes longitudinal

35 no additional space is required. In addition, the cable branch creates a spatial separation between the individual light and the supply cable.

37 This allows for easy assembly and disassembly of individual functional

38 units are guaranteed. In addition, accidental damage

14 September 199·»

Patent Attorneys Tergau & Pohl, Nuremberg · j · j j ... » ....... Page 5

&igr; individual functional units during assembly of the other functional units

2 units avoided.

4 If the individual lamp is connected to the connector in a plug-in manner, the connection

5 connection part as the mains-side part of the plug connection.

6 Types of contact protection for a decoupled from the luminaire strip

7 single lamp are taken into account, claim 7 therefore suggests a book-

8 senteil designed line branch.
&thetas;

&iacgr;&ogr; The subject matter of the invention is illustrated in the figures.

11 examples are explained in more detail. They show:

Fig. 1 is a sectional front view of a first embodiment of the &eegr; inventive connecting part,

is Fig. 2 the side view of the connecting part according to arrow direction II in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 shows the side view of the connecting part according to arrow direction III in Fig. 1,

i7 Fig. 4 the top view of the connecting part according to arrow direction IV in Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 is a section of a sheet metal panel for locking the connecting part ig according to Fig. 1 to Fig. 4,

20 Fig. 6 shows the sectional front view of another embodiment of the

21 connecting part,

22 Fig. 7 the side view of the connecting part according to arrow direction VII in Fig. 6,

23 Fig. 8 the side view of the connecting part according to arrow direction VIII in

24 Fig. 6,

zs Fig. 9 the top view of the connecting part according to arrow direction IX in Fig. 6,

26 Fig. 10a - c the indicated assembly of a plug connection of the connection part

27 ies according to Fig. 6 with an input plug on the luminaire side.

29 The T-shaped connecting part 1 (Fig. 1, Fig. 6) has a conductor

30 input 2, a line output 3 and a line branch 4 for the electrical connection of a single-unit device not shown in the figures.

32 lights up. The connector 1 is connected to its line input 2 and line

33 output 3 in the assembled state between two adjacent cable sections

34 sections of a supply line (not shown here) for the electrical energy supply of the individual lights. Two adjacent

These cable sections are thus electrically connected to one another.

14 September 1894

. · . &idgr;&idgr;&idgr;

&idigr;&idigr;&idigr;

Patent Attorneys Tergau & Pohl, Nuremberg * ***..! ;*,,;. *.,&idigr;».«. Page 6

&igr; The line input 2 is a three-pin, conventional plug part with three

2 contact pins 5 (Fig. 2, Fig. 7). The line output is designed as a three-pole

3-wire, conventional socket part with three contact sleeves 6 (Fig. 3, Fig. 8)

* The line input 2 and the line output 3 are designed with regard to

5 Hch Construction and mode of operation from the description

&bgr; introduction cited printed matter and catalogues. The management

7 input 2 assigned end of a line section has a complementary

8 tär to the plug part designed socket part. The cable output 3

9 assigned end of an adjacent line section has a compie-

10 has a plug part that is integral to the socket part. The cable entry

11 gang 2 and the cable outlet 3 are inserted in the plug direction 7 into the mentioned

12 and complementary parts of the line sections (not shown here) and lock into place with the complementary parts. For this purpose, a locking element 8 is provided in a known manner. The locking elements 8 are integrally formed on the insulating

15 housing of the connecting part 1 molded locking elements 8 run in the

ie essentially in the plug direction 7 and have two

U locking hooks 9, which fit into corresponding recesses of the complementary parts

is intervene.

20 In another embodiment, not shown here, the conductor

21 The line input 2 and the line output 3 are each designed as plug parts.

22 In order to facilitate assembly, it is not necessary to first check which

23 brazing line section of line input 2 or line output 3

24 is assigned.

26 in the first embodiment (Fig. 1) of the connection part 1, the line

27 branch 4 is equipped for a screwless connection of the individual luminaire.

28 For this purpose, there are three clamping springs 10 in the cable branch 4 for electrical

29 see connection of the supply cable of the individual light. In this way, connector 1 is connected to the individual light before installation between

si firmly connected to two adjacent line sections. A

32 Single lamp must therefore also be connected together with the connection part 1 from the

33 supply line must be removed. The construction of the line branch 4

34 is known from the above-mentioned catalogues.

36 Each clamping spring 10 of the line branch 4 is provided with an associated

37 Contact pin 5 and an associated contact sleeve 6 by a

38 branch pin 11 (Fig. 1) is electrically connected in a manner not explained in detail.

i4 September 1S84

Patent Attorneys Tergau & Pohl, Nuremberg ·*"·*· · ··* · ···**·· Page 7

&igr; den. The branch pin 11 runs perpendicular to the plug direction 7 in the vertical direction.

2 tung 12, which lies in the plane of the drawing. The three branch pins 11 extend

3 in the vertical direction 12 approximately to the height of the associated con-

4 contact pin 5 and contact sleeve 6. The branch pin 11 is located between &bgr; the associated contact pin 5 and the contact sleeve 6 and thus forms

6 the vertical leg of a contact pin 5, contact sleeve 6 and

7 branch pin 11 existing T-shaped structure.

9 Approximately at the level of the transition area between the branch pin 11 and the

10 clamping spring 10, a cover frame 13 &eegr; is integrally formed on the insulating housing of the connecting part 1. In Fig. 1, it runs in the plug-in direction 7 and extends

12 approximately evenly on both sides of the branch pin 11. The cover frame 13 is

13 in a plane spanned by the insertion direction 7 and the transverse direction 14.

14 The transverse direction 14 runs at right angles to the transverse direction 7 and to the

15 tical direction 12. The cover frame 13 covers the assembled state of the connection

16 part 1, the rectangular recess 15 in the schematically indicated

17 cut from a sheet metal panel 16. To lock the cable branch 4 with the two locking edges 17 of the recess 15 are provided on the insulating housing of the

Two locking arms 18 are integrally formed on the line branch 4 (Fig. 2, Fig. 3).

20 The two locking arms 18 are located opposite each other in the transverse direction 14

21 and run opposite the vertical direction 12 in the direction of the cover frame.

22 mens 13 is inclined outwards. To lock the connecting part 1 with the

23 Sheet metal panel 16, the line branch 4 is inserted in the vertical direction 12 into the recess

24 tion 15. The sheet metal panel 16 is thus an assembly aid for the

25 Connection part 1. The cover frame 13, the locking arms 18 and the recess 15

ze are in terms of construction and mode of operation also from the above-mentioned

27 catalogues known.

29 Alternatively, a plug-in connection can be installed between the connection part 1 and the individual lamp.

30 connection is provided. For this purpose, the line branch 4 is in a further

31 Embodiment of the connection part 1 (Fig. 6) as a conventional socket part

32 with three contact sleeves 19. They run in the vertical direction 12 and

33 are arranged along the plug direction 7 between the contact pins 5 and the contact

34 tact sleeves 6 are arranged. Similar to the clamping springs 10 (Fig. 1), the

35 contact sleeves 19 in a manner not explained in detail each by a

36 branch pin 20 with the associated contact pin 5 and the contact sleeve 6 electrically

37 trically conductively connected. The branch pin 20 (Fig. 6) is about half as long as the branch pin 11 (Fig. 1).

M. September &igr;&bgr;&bgr;4 ** ········· ·

Patent Attorneys Tergau & Pohl, Nuremberg &idiagr; "**· » &iacgr;&idigr;*..*♦*·♦· »-«j* Page 8

2 In both embodiments (Fig. 1, Fig. 6) the connecting part 1 is T-shaped

3 with the line inlet 2 or line outlet 3 as horizontal leg and

4 the line branch 4 as a vertical leg. In the transition area of the horizontal leg to the vertical leg, the housing of the connecting part 1 β according to Fig. 6 has two crenellated housing pins 21. They extend in

&tgr; vertical direction 12, are integrally attached to the insulating housing of the cable entry

β or the cable outlet 3 and on both sides of the branch pin

9 tes 20 arranged. They grip into the insulating housing of the line branch 4

10 in a form-fitting manner. In order to then create a one-piece insulating housing of the connection

11 part 1, for example, the joint areas of the form-locking engagement

12 welded together.

14 As already mentioned, the connector part 1 in the second version enables

16 form (Fig. 6, Fig. 10a) a plug connection with the individual lamp. Since the the cable branch 4 is designed as a conventional socket part (Fig. 10a),

17, the individual luminaire as a complementary part has a conventional input

18 plug 22 or 23. The light connection cable is either screw-

19 loosely connected (clamping springs 24) to the input plug 22 (Fig. 10b) or by means of a screw connection (clamping screws 25) to the input plug 23

21 (Fig. 10c). The input plug 22 or 23 is connected in the vertical direction

22 tung 12 is pushed onto the line branch 4 and with the help of a

23 Vertical direction 12 aligned locking element 26 on the housing

24 of the connecting part 1 is releasably locked. The construction of the input

25 connectors 22,23 and their interaction with the cable branch 4 are

26 again known from the above-mentioned catalogues.

28 The input connectors 22,23 allow the supply line to be connected

29 together with the connecting parts 1 (Fig. 6, Fig. 10a) is pre-assembled. With its

30 arranged input connectors 22 and 23, the individual lights can be

31 can be subsequently mounted or decoupled at any time without

32 supply line is interrupted.

14 September 1994

Patent Attorneys Tergau & Pohl, Nuremberg _f |. ,»»* *..* .** ,.* * Page 1

List of reference symbols

1 Connection part 2 Line input 3 Line output 4 Line branch 5 Contact pin 6 Contact sleeve 7 Plug direction 8th Locking slide 9 Latching hook 10 Clamping spring 11 Branch pin 12 Vertical direction 13 Cover frame 14 Transverse direction 15 Recess 16 Sheet metal 17 Locking edge 18 Locking arm 19 Contact sleeve 20 Branch pin 21 Housing pin 22 Input connector 23 Input connector 24 Clamping spring 25 Clamping screw 26 Locking element

14 September 1894

Claims (1)

Patent Attorneys Tergau & Pohl, Nuremberg ".'.». '. Il &iacgr; * »&iacgr; · Page &igr; 94619-8/42/13 3 14 September 1994 6 Claims &bgr; 1. From several &iacgr;&ogr; - arranged side by side and 11 - electrically connected 12 individual luminaires formed by a strip or field of luminaires, 13 characterized by &eegr; a) that a connection part (1) is provided on each individual lamp, is b) that on the connecting part (1) ie aa) a line input (2), &igr;? bb) a line electrically connected to the line input (2) 18 output (3), and 19 cc) a line branch (4) for the electrical supply of the individual 20 lights 21 are attached, 22 c) that a supply line separate from the individual luminaires consists of several 23 ren line sections, and 24 d) that between two adjacent cable sections a single lamp 25 is interposed in such a way, ze aa) that one line section is connected to the line inlet (2) 27 sen, and 28 bb) that the second neighbouring line section at the line outlet (3) 29 is connected. 31 2. Lighting strip/field according to claim 1, 32 characterized by 33 - that the line inputs (2) and the line outputs (3) are designed as plug parts 34 or socket part, and 35 - that the line sections are provided at their ends with coupling parts complementary to the power inputs (2) and outputs (3) 37 are provided for the formation of plug connections. 14, Sepwmear 1S94 (&Ngr;&Lgr;&Agr;&Ngr;»(£&idiagr;9. Patent AttorneysTergau & Pohl, Nuremberg · ···.,; ;*..;.·.. J J.&Idigr;. Page · · &igr; 3. Lighting strip/field according to claim 2, &zgr; characterized by 3 - that both the line input (2) and the line output (3) are 4 plug part is formed, and s - that all coupling parts of the line sections book 6 senteiie are. s 4. Light band message after one or more of the previous 9 sayings, 10 characterized by 11 that the connecting part (1) is releasably fixed to the individual lamp. is 5. Lighting strip/field according to claim 4, &eegr; characterized by is a plug connection between the individual lamp and the cable branch (4) of the 1$ final part (1). 18 6. Lighting strip/field according to one or more of the preceding 19 sayings, µm characterized by 21 a T-shaped connecting part (1), 22 - whose horizontal legs serve as line inlet (2) and line outlet 23 gang (3) can be connected to the line sections, and 24 - whose vertical leg acting as a line branch (4) is connected to the individual 25 light can be connected. 27 7. Lighting strip/field according to claim 5 and 6, 28 characterized by 29 - that the horizontal legs forming the cable input (2) and the cable output (3) are designed as plug parts, and 31 - that the vertical leg forming the line branch (4) is designed as a socket part 32 is trained.