EP0052768B1 - Installation system made from ready-made lines with plugs and centres of connection - Google Patents

Abstract

An installation system of labeled conductors including plugs as well as connecting centers for permanent yet still flexible circuit connections, which also produce plug connections leading to a plurality of conductors. The system provides that (a) the connecting center includes contact rails directly connected to the leads of a conductor, which form a plurality of tongues for the socket contacts in socket plugs; (b) wherein the housing has the plug receivers receive the tongues in a recessed manner and forms protective collars fitted to the plugs; (c) and wherein at least one plug receiver is formed for connection to all contact rails.

Description

The invention relates to an installation system made up of cables with a plug core and with a connection center for plug connections for flexible and permanent switching connections, in order to also produce plug connections to several branching lines, in detail according to the preamble of claim 1 and is based on FR-A-2 145 409 out.

In such an installation system it is known (FR-A1-2145 409) to connect contact rails to the conductors of a line, on which outlets for plug contacts are formed. The contact rails enable through connections by being connectable to the conductors of an outgoing through line. As a rule, an outgoing line can be plugged into a contact rail. Two outgoing lines can also be connected to individual contact rails.

According to the prior art, it is common practice to plug together as many plug-in elements as are required for the required function.

An installation quick coupling is known (DE-B2-2 741 798) which works with a distributor to which input plugs with socket contacts can be plugged in for supply. An outlet socket with plug contact sockets is provided in the current passage, to which a plug with plug contact pins of a coupling line can be inserted. Branches for energy supply are made possible by means of outlet plug-in receptacles on the back of the distributor for AC and three-phase feeders. The safety is increased by a protective collar. The outlets are offset so that an approximately symmetrical load can be achieved.

There are plug contacts on the market that are used, for example, to connect lighting fixtures in fitted kitchens, which prevent live parts from being touched by the fact that the contact pins or contact tongues are also protected in envelopes, the associated socket contacts between the pins or tongues and their Intervene wrapping. Such socket contact plugs can also be connected to a tongue contact plug via a line as a ready-to-use coupling line.

To produce branches, plug-in components can be inserted into the cable (for example according to DE-B _- 2 415 727, DE-A-2 712 723). What these and similar systems have in common is that wiring work is saved on the construction site. Such installation systems, which also enable electrical switching without wiring work due to plug-in components for switching functions, cause many contact resistances. They are particularly numerous if each socket can be plugged in individually (DE-A-2712723).

On the one hand, these contact resistances increase losses and heating and, on the other hand, they accumulate sources of error. If one follows the current path from a conductor via the plug-in components of the known type, the following contact resistances result, for example: from the conductor to a connection point in a plug, from socket contacts to contact pins or tongues, from the contact pins or tongues to the connection contact of a branching element in a plug-in component, possibly a branch connection, i.e. a connection point in a branching element, from the connection of the branching element to a socket contact, from the socket contact to a contact pin or tongue, from the connection of the contact pin or tongue finally to the conductor in the branch. The current path in such a single branch thus has seven to eight contact resistances. With conventional wiring in conventional wall plugs, there is a single contact resistance in the connection terminal. The number of contact resistances in plug systems increases with the number of conductors as a factor.

The invention has for its object to develop an installation system for permanent or stationary operation, which is flexible, yet safe, in which the number of contact resistances is drastically reduced.

The described task is solved by an installation system with the features according to patent claim 1.

The conductors on one side of an imaginary through connection are designed as plug connections, but the conductors on the other side are directly connected. The feedthrough functionally ensures the forwarding of all connection options. To reduce the contact resistances per contact rail of the connection center, several outlets are formed. The outlets of the contact rails are designed in the manner of a comb for socket contacts of socket plugs to be connected.

In the installation system described at the beginning (FR-A 1-2145409), metallic tubular stumps are provided at the ends of through lines in order to accommodate the ends of conductors. The ends of the contact rails are thus of identical construction, so that one can either assume that the conductors are prewired directly connected to both ends of the contact rail, or that they are plugged in at both ends. No indications for a stretch connection are given.

The solution according to the invention enables contact rails with molded outlets in the manner of a comb to make do within a contact rail in a simple manner without additional contact resistance. There are no additional contact resistances from the downstream tongues of the connection center to other branch lines.

It is advantageous if the contact rails in a common housing are offset with respect to their course and the arrangement of plug receptacles on the back of the housing, so that in the case of a multi-phase system, connection is made to different phase conductors. This creates an approximately uniform load. It also makes it possible to make do with plugs of a structure with three-pin plug cores.

The protective collars and the associated plugs can form an optical coding due to their shape and / or mechanical coding due to the unmistakable means. This makes handling easier.

In principle, the housing of the connection center can be a cuboid-shaped structure that receives a connecting line on one end face, on the other end of which a connector is fastened, and forms a connector receptacle for connection to all contact rails on an opposite end face, and which is provided with latching members. The latching promotes safe continuous operation. It can be designed so that it can be solved with tools or by hand.

In a multi-phase system, the connection center can enable branches for alternating current and for three-phase current if, in addition to plug receptacles for alternating current plugs, those for three-phase plugs are also formed on the back of the housing. Safety in continuous operation is promoted if the plugs assigned to the plug receptacles are provided with resilient flat contact sockets.

The installation system can be further developed for switching functions. At least one line with two conductors can be connected to an interrupted contact rail, each with a conductor on a contact rail piece. These pieces of the interrupted contact rail and further contact rails can end at their ends with plug receptacles for connection to all contact rails. The line to an interrupted contact rail forms a switching line, at the free end of which a switch of the usual type can be connected. A total of an adapter plug is thus formed, to the switching line of which a switch can be connected. This adapter plug also requires relatively little contact resistance. In addition, the means for the feeders are not burdened by the requirements of the switching elements in the number of contact resistances. The connector receptacles for connection to all contact rails of the intermediate connector can be provided with latching elements.

The number of contact resistances of the intermediate plug is further reduced if only one plug receptacle is designed for connection to all contact rails and if a line is held opposite, the conductors of which are held directly on the contact rails, in particular by means of a clamping bracket. Understandably, simple conductors can also be used instead of contact rails.

A connection center with an inserted connector fulfills branch and switching functions. The appropriate switching, changeover, series and cross-connections known in installation technology can be implemented by means of an appropriate switching line and break points of the contact rails in the adapter plug.

Plug-in installation systems with switching functions are known which work with additional conductors to which voltage is applied for switching (DE-B-2 415 727, DE-A-2 712 723). If the control switch contact of a control button module is actuated in such a known system, a current flows via the contact from the supply current line to the switching line and via an excitation coil of a relay of a switching module and from there via the supply line. This current can then be used to excite a relay which closes a contact, as a result of which a supply current line is now switched through from the input to the output of the switching module. As a result, the system output of the switching module carries current and the electrical devices connected downstream of it are then switched on (DE-B-2 415 727). The installation system according to the invention manages without additional conductors and is much simpler.

• In Fig. 1 ist ein Verbindungszentrum mit zwei Gehäuseschalen in Aufsicht wiedergegeben, wobei eine Gehäuseschale abgenommen ist.
• In Fig. 2 ist eine Schnittansicht durch das Verbindungszentrum nach Fig. 1, längs 11-11 genommen, bei geschlossenem Verbindungszentrum dargestellt.
• In Fig. 3 ist die Aufsicht auf das Verbindungszentrum nach Fig. 1 bei aufgesetzter Gehäuseschale wiedergegeben.
• In Fig. 4 ist ein Verbindungsstecker wiedergegeben, den man sich mit dem Verbindungszentrum nach Fig. 1 über eine Leitung fest verbunden angeschlossen vorzustellen hat.
• In Fig. 5 ist der Verbindungsstecker nach Fig. 4 in geöffnetem Zustand wiedergegeben.
• In Fig. ist ein dreipoliger Stecker mit Anschlussleitung, teilweise aufgebrochen, wiedergegeben.
• In Fig. ist der Stecker nach Fig. von der Stirnseite gesehen wiedergegeben.
• In Fig. ist ein fünfpoliger Stecker in der Darstellungsweise nach Fig. 6 wiedergegeben, der eine andere mechanische Codierung aufweist.
• In Fig. 9 ist der Verbindungsstecker nach Fig. 8 von der Stirnseite gesehen wiedergegeben.
• In Fig. 10 ist ein Zwischenstecker mit Schaltleitung, teilweise aufgebrochen wiedergegeben und bei verkürzter Schaltleitung, dargestellt.
• In Fig. 11 ist ein Stecker in der Funktionsweise des Zwischensteckers nach Fig. 10 dargestellt, der jedoch nur eine Steckseite aufweist, wobei an der gegenüberliegenden Seite eine Abgangslei-
• tung fest angeschlossen ist. Die Abgangsleitung führt zu einem zu schaltenden Verbraucher.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to exemplary embodiments schematically shown in the drawing:

• In Fig. 1, a connection center with two housing shells is shown in supervision, one housing shell being removed.
• FIG. 2 shows a sectional view through the connection center according to FIG. 1, taken along 11-11, with the connection center closed.
• FIG. 3 shows the top view of the connection center according to FIG. 1 with the housing shell attached.
• In Fig. 4 a connector is shown, which has to be imagined connected to the connection center of Fig. 1 connected via a line.
• 5 shows the connector shown in FIG. 4 in the open state.
• A three-pin plug with a connecting line, partially broken open, is shown in FIG.
• In Fig. The connector of Fig. Is shown seen from the front.
• In Fig. A five-pin connector is shown in the representation of FIG. 6, which has a different mechanical coding.
• In Fig. 9 the connector is shown in FIG. 8 seen from the front.
• FIG. 10 shows an adapter plug with a switching line, partially broken open and shown with a shortened switching line.
• FIG. 11 shows a plug in the mode of operation of the intermediate plug according to FIG. 10, but which has only one plug side, with an outgoing line on the opposite side.
• device is firmly connected. The outgoing line leads to a consumer to be switched.

FIG. 12 shows, broken off, a contact rail of the connection center according to FIG. 1.

The connection center 1 according to FIG. 1 has contact rails 4 directly connected to the conductor 2 of a line 3. Three contact rails can represent the phase conductors L1, L2 and L3 and two contact rails 4 the neutral conductor N or the protective conductor PE. The contact rails 4 each form a plurality of tongues 5, according to FIG. 2, which can be coupled to socket contacts in socket plugs. In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1, the housing of the connection center 1 consists of two housing shells 6. The housing receives the tongues 5 in a recessed manner in the plug receptacles 7. It forms protective collars 8 that match the plugs. At least one connector receptacle 7a according to FIG. 1 is designed as a connection to all contact rails.

In the connector receptacles 7, only one phase is available for AC connection and three phases are accessible for three-phase connection. It is also possible to design a three-phase connection in such a way that either an AC plug or a three-phase plug can be inserted. Only both codes are to be provided in the socket.

The contact rails 4 are arranged offset in a common housing 6, 6 with respect to their course and the arrangement of plug receptacles 7 on the back of the housing in such a way that in a multi-phase system, connection is made to different phase conductors. This distributes the burden. A suitable design of the contact rails 4 with regard to an offset arrangement of plug receptacles 7 can be seen from a summary of FIGS. 1 and 3 for an exemplary embodiment. In FIG. 12, a contact rail 4 with tongues 5 formed on opposite sides is shown broken off.

The protective collar 8 can form an optical coding through its shape or through the choice of color. In the exemplary embodiment, a mechanical coding is formed by means of unmistakability 10, grooves in the connector receptacle and matching webs in the connector.

In the exemplary embodiment, the conductors 2 of the line 3 are connected directly to the contact rails 4 according to FIG. 1 by means of a clamp holder. Here, flaps or the rails themselves are bent and pressed around the conductor to be connected, which is known as crimping.

The housing of the connection center 1 according to FIG. 1 is essentially a cuboid-shaped structure, composed of two housing shells 6 made of insulating material. In the exemplary embodiment, a connecting line 3 is connected to one end face, at the other end of which a plug 11 is fastened as a connecting plug, according to FIG. 4. On the opposite end face of the connection center 1, a plug receptacle 7a is formed for connection to all contact rails. The plug receptacle 7a is provided with latching members 12, into which latching levers 13 of plugs according to FIG. 4 can engage.

On the back of the housing, according to FIG. 3, of the connection center, in addition to plug receptacles for AC plugs with a total of three contact members, also those for three-phase plugs with a total of five contact members are formed. The plugs assigned to the plug receptacles 7 and 7a can advantageously be provided with resilient flat contact sockets 14, as shown in the plug 11 designed as a connecting plug according to FIG. 4, and in the plugs according to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 as well as 8 and 9 . Such flat contact sockets 14 can be pushed onto the tongues 5 of the contact rails 4.

The installation system with the connection center 1 fulfills a distribution function, since plugs can be inserted as outgoing plugs on the back of the housing in the plug receptacles 7. Further connection centers can be plugged into the connector receptacle 7a for connection to all contact rails 4 with their connecting plug according to FIG. 4.

6 and the front view according to FIG. 7 is designed as a three-pole outgoing connector, which accommodates only three flat contact sockets 14 in a unit housing 20, namely one for phase L1 and one further contact for neutral conductor N and protective contact PE. 6 can be inserted into the back of the connection center 1 according to FIG. 3. The correct connection is ensured by means of unmistakability 10, namely webs on the connector housing and associated grooves in the connector receptacle of the back of the connection center 1. In the exemplary embodiment, the plug according to FIG. 6 has a lever 13 for latching on the plug receptacle according to FIG. 3.

8 and 9 is designed as a five-pin plug for insertion into plug receptacles on the back of the distribution center 1 according to FIG. 3. It differs from the connector according to FIGS. 6 and 7 externally only in the differently arranged unmistakability means 10 for coding. In addition, five flat contact sockets 14 are inserted in the plug. The line 3 accordingly takes up five conductors 2, in which the line 3 of the plug according to FIGS. 6 and 7 contains only three conductors 2.

The installation system makes it possible to form network-like branches for the sub-distribution of energy. The five-pole continuation to further distribution centers takes place via the connector receptacle 7a for connection to all contact rails.

• Eine Leitung 33 mit zwei Leitern 2 ist an einer unterbrochenen Kontaktschiene jeweils mit einem Leiter an einem Kontaktschienenstück angeschlossen. Diese Stücke der unterbrochenen Kontaktschiene und weitere Kontaktschienen, die in der Zeichnung verdeckt gehalten sind, münden an ihren Enden in eine Steckeraufnahme 7a bzw. in einen Stecker 7b für Anschluss zu allen Kontaktschienen.

The installation system is suitable for plugging switch connections if a special plug is used, which is to be called adapter plug here. At least one line with two conductors is here on an interrupted contact rail of the intermediate connector, each with a conductor on a contact rail piece connected. This line is the switching line that can be routed to a switch. The pieces of the interrupted contact rail and further contact rails open at their ends in plug receptacles for connection to all contact rails. Such an adapter is illustrated in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 10:

• A line 33 with two conductors 2 is connected to an interrupted contact rail, each with a conductor on a contact rail piece. These pieces of the interrupted contact rail and further contact rails, which are kept hidden in the drawing, open at their ends into a plug receptacle 7a or into a plug 7b for connection to all contact rails.

10 makes it possible to insert a switching function, namely switching on and off according to the exemplary embodiment. For this purpose, only an installation switch of the usual type designed as an on / off switch is to be connected to line 33. Latching means 12 and 13 make it possible to captively connect the intermediate connector at the connection center 1 according to FIG. 1 with the connector side 7b. The consumer to be switched can be connected with a corresponding plug in the plug receptacle 7a. The adapter plug can be plugged into the distribution center directly or via a connecting cable. It can have its own holding means, as described in the connection center.

The number of contact resistances of the intermediate connector according to FIG. 10 is further reduced if only one connector receptacle or one connector is designed for connection to all contact rails, as illustrated in FIG. 11. This eliminates the contact resistance between the adapter plug and the outgoing plug. The plug 7b can again accommodate flat contact sockets 14 for connection to all contact rails 4. Opposite a line 33 is introduced, the conductors 2 are held directly on the contact rails 4 by clamping bracket.

The intermediate connector according to FIG. 10 and the combination connector according to FIG. 11 can also simply contain conductors made of electrically conductive material instead of rails 4. These plug-in elements can also be designed in a manner known per se so that two-way or cross switches can be connected to the line serving as switching line 33.

The installation system can be assembled particularly easily, for example suspended in false ceilings, if a holding bracket 20 according to FIGS. 1 and 2 with quick fastening is arranged on the housing of the connection center 1. This quick fastening is achieved in the exemplary embodiment in that the holding bracket 20 is essentially U-shaped, one leg 21 of which is connected to the housing and in which threaded openings 22 are formed. Its other leg 23 is penetrated by a wing screw 24 which fits into one of the threaded openings 22. 2 shows the assembly in the manner of an exploded view. In the bracket 20, for example, a hollow rail with a C-profile 25 can be received as a mounting rail, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

Claims (10)

1. An installation system made from ready- made lines with plugs and with a connecting centre (1) for plug-in connections for flexible and permanent switching connections in order to form plug-in connections to a plurality of branch lines, and with contact bars (4) which are directly connected to the conductors (2) of an incoming through line (3) and which are provided with one or more outputs for plug-in contacts which are sunk in the housing (6) of the connecting centre (1), and in which the contact bars (4) form a through connection such that all contact bars (4) can be connected to the conductors (2) of an outgoing through line (3), characterised in that for the connection of the conductors (2) of the outgoing through line (3) to the contact bars of the connecting centre (1), plug-in connections are formed in the latter; that to reduce contact resistances, for each contact bar (4) a plurality of plug outputs is provided; that for each contact bar (4), the outputs are in the form of tongues and in the nature of a comb for the connecting socket contacts of socket plugs; that the tongues (5) are embedded in plug receivers (7) arranged in the housing; that the housing forms protective collars (8) matching the plugs; and that at least one plug receiver (7a) is designed for connection to all the contact bars (4).

2. An installation system as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the contact bars (4) are arranged in a common housing (6, 6) so as to be staggered as regards their course and the arrangement of plug receivers (7) at the back of the housing, in such manner that for a multi-phase system, a connection is established in each case to other phase conductors with an output plug which is the same as a three-pin plug.

3. An installation system as claimed in Claim 2, characterised in that through their shape, the protective collars form an optical coding and/or through interchange prevention means (10), a mechanical coding.

4. An installation system as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the housing of the connecting centre (1) is essentially a parallelepiped structure which at one end face receives a connection line (3) to the other end of which a plug (11) is secured, and at its opposite end face forms a plug receiver (7a) for connection to all the contact bars, and which receiver (7a) is provided with locking elements (12).

5. An installation system as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that, in addition to plug receivers for a.c. plugs, receivers for three-phase plugs are formed at the back of the housing.

6. An installation system as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the plugs assigned to the plug receivers (7, 7a) are provided with resilient flat contact sleeves (14).

7. An installation system as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that in an intermediate plug, at least one line (3) having two conductors (2) on an interrupted contact bar (4) is in each case connected to a conductor on a contact bar portion (switching line); and that the portions of the interrupted contact bar and further contact bars open at their ends into a plug receiver (7a), or into a plug (7b) for connection to all the contact bars (4).

8. An installation system as claimed in Claim 7, characterised in that the plug receiver (7a) and the plug (7b) for connection to all the contact bars (4) are provided with locking elements (12, 13).

9. An installation system as claimed in Claim 7, characterised in that only one plug receiver or one plug for connection to all the contact bars is designed for a further connecting centre; and that, oppositely, a line (3) is arranged, the conductors (2) of which are directly secured to the contact bars (4), in particular by a clamping holder.

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