EP0498403B1 - Duct-outlet combination for installation in an electrical duct - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a duct/electrical-socket combination which can be installed in a groove-shaped electrical duct (10) and comprises at least one duct/electrical socket (80) or the like. The duct/electrical-socket combination is electrically protected against being touched and can thus be installed in the electrical duct (10) without separate protection boxes. <IMAGE>

Description

This invention relates to a duct-electrical socket combination to be installed in a channel-shaped electrical duct with at least one duct electrical socket or the like.

An electrical duct is understood here to mean wall-mountable duct-shaped ducts which can generally be modified from a U-shaped basic profile and in which duct electrical outlets can be installed. Duct electrical socket is understood here to mean various installation devices and devices that can be installed in an electrical duct, e.g. Duct sockets, switches, measuring devices, terminals for tele, telephone and data transmission connections other similar electrical accessories. Duct installation box is understood here to mean a protective socket that can be installed in an electrical duct and in which various installation devices and devices mentioned above can be installed.

The edges of the open part of the electrical duct are bent towards the interior of the electrical duct and are designed in such a way that they function as contact surfaces for the fastening elements of the duct electrical outlets to be installed in the electrical duct and on the one hand prevent the insertion of duct electrical outlets into the electrical duct and on the other hand prevent them from being inadvertently Prevent detachment from the electrical duct. Those areas of the electrical duct where there are no duct electrical outlets are covered by means of appropriately cut blind front panels, the cross profile of which is shaped in such a way that they can be easily, e.g. can be attached to the electrical duct by pressing. Only the outlets of the duct electrical outlets installed in the electrical duct are therefore visible to the outside. All cables and other installation material are invisible inside the electrical duct.

A duct installation box to be installed in an electrical duct is known, for example, from patent application FI 872247, where it is called an electrical socket. This publication shows a protective box installed in an electrical duct, which can be cast in one piece and in which various installation devices or devices can be installed, such as sockets, switches, etc. This protective box is provided with several predetermined breaking points for the introduction of cables. The protective box can also be installed in the electrical duct with resilient locking elements without tools.

If at least two, for example, double sockets or similar installation devices are used in adjacent protective sockets in an electrical duct, for example in the solution according to the publication mentioned above, the adjacent protective sockets can be connected to one another via a separate cable and the electrical lines within each protective socket to the double sockets in question Element to be connected. According to the regulations, the connection cable between two protective sockets in the electrical duct should be attached to the two protective sockets with strain relief elements. The duct electrical sockets according to the above publication are provided with predetermined breaking points, to which separate strain relief members shown in the same publication can be attached. The connection of protective sockets by means of an intermediate cable can of course only take place if the power requirement at the sockets permits the use of a single single-phase (phase, zero and protective earth) supply line. Another known way to deal with the situation in question is to provide power to each junction box through separate single phase cables of the type described above, provide strain relief for each cable, and the electrical conductors within each junction box to the double concerned -Socket element to be connected separately. However, the installation is complicated and troublesome and involves several separate operations; a part of it must be done without tools, a part of it requires tools and separate pieces of cable. All parts that require so-called mains current should also be installed in separate protective sockets.

From US-A-49 52 164 an electrical socket combination is known, consisting of at least one electrical socket, which is intended for installation in a channel not described in detail. The electrical socket combination further comprises power strips, which contain ten flat, parallel, vertically adjacent power lines in their interior. The power strips each have through openings arranged on their side surfaces, within which the aforementioned power lines of the power strips are exposed. The electrical outlets can be plugged into the openings of the power strips via plug-like extensions in which contact elements are mounted so that they are protected against contact, and electrical contact can be made between electrically conductive contact elements of the electrical outlets and the current conductors of the power strips. An electrical connection of the power strips to the power supply system is ensured via end-side connection parts which are connected to the power strips in a similar manner to the electrical outlets.

From DE-A-33 36 817 a plug-in system for electrical installations of the 220 volt AC network is also known, with pre-wired plug-in modules for sockets, switches, lamp bases and connecting strips, these plug-in modules being optionally connectable with pre-wired distributor modules which have rows of sockets on three sides and have on one side a row of plugs, which in turn can be connected to a row of sockets of a supply module. For the purpose of securing the plug connections between the rows of sockets and a supply module, a plug-in module or a row of connectors, a rubber-like sleeve is provided in the case of installation in a damp room, the exact design form of which is not described, however.

In the known solutions, duct / socket combinations, which can be installed in electrical ducts, arise, for example, from socket outlets or corresponding light problems, even if one subsequently wants to make additions or changes to, for example, several sockets or other electrical installation groups comprising devices designed for mains voltage, and used in one and the same electrical duct . Within individual electrical installation groups, it is of course possible to retrofit and combine different duct / socket combinations to form a larger unit by forwarding the single-phase supply cable of the type described above from one duct / socket combination to the other, if you are only under the maximum load permitted for a three-core cable certain limit remains. If additional sockets or other corresponding devices are required in the electrical duct, the power requirement of which already exceeds the permissible maximum load for the electrical installation group already located in the same electrical duct, a completely new supply line should be laid for this duct / socket combination so that we can form our own new electrical installation group . The power supply for each electrical installation group determined by the permissible maximum load is via a separate three-core cable that is to be installed by the next group center. It is of course clear that due to the relevant, even very ordinary, subsequent changes / additions, the contracting parties of installations will incur high additional costs, the installers performing the work will experience difficulties and disruptions in the employment relationships of all those people whose jobs are between the retrofit and the next group headquarters, because such change work is not done immediately. In connection with the retrofitting, one is forced to open long sections of the cable duct and to lay several additional meters of new electrical cable in the relevant electrical duct and to connect the relevant cable in the group center.

The present invention is intended to create an electrical socket combination which, in addition to its completely new properties, i.a. also represents an improvement for the known solutions mentioned above and an answer to the above-mentioned problems arising during retrofitting.

This object is achieved by a duct-electrical socket combination according to the invention with the features of claim 1. The duct-electrical socket combination according to the invention can be easily installed and removed, and its parts can be electrically and mechanically connected to one another in a simple manner, without tools and separate electrical conductors and the duct-electrical socket combination can be installed in the electrical duct without a separate protective socket. The supply voltage required by the channel-electrical socket combination can be realized in a variety of ways, that is also by utilizing the alternation of the three-phase supply effectively and nevertheless easily with each channel socket of the channel-electrical socket combination. Additional sockets or corresponding devices requiring additional power can easily be added retrospectively, without having to open the electrical duct, both in individual duct / socket combinations and in separate duct / socket combinations. The covers of the trunking and electrical outlet combinations can be formed easily and with few parts and can be attached neatly, and all mechanical fastening measures associated with the trunking and canister assembly can be easily carried out without tools and the mechanical connections which have arisen, e.g. be loosened with a screwdriver.

A duct / electrical socket combination according to the invention can be made from a separate connecting part + at least one duct electrical socket or form a permanent part of a duct electrical socket and thus possibly coupled duct electrical sockets. As described earlier, duct electrical outlet is understood to mean numerous alternative electrical accessories that can be installed in an electrical duct.

• Fig. 1 schematisch einen einfachen Elektrokanal, in dem eine aus zwei Doppel-Schutzkontakt-Sicherheits-Kanalsteckdosen zusammengesetzte Kanal-Elektrodosenkombination installiert ist. In die eine Doppel-Schutzkontakt-Sicherheits-Kanalsteckdose ist ein schutzgeerdeter Winkelstecker eingesetzt,
• Fig. 2a in Draufsicht die Kanal-Steckdosenkombination aus Fig. 1 im Elektrokanal eingesetzt, ohne Frontplatten des Elektrokanals, schitzdeckel des Anschlußteils und Kopfleisten,
• Fig. 2b axonometrisch Fig. 2a,
• Fig. 3a den Trägerteil des getrennten Anschlußteils in Draufsicht,
• Fig. 3b den Trägerteil aus Fig. 3a in Seitenansicht,
• Fig. 3c den oberen Teil des Zugentlastungsglieds,
• Fig. 3d den Schutzdeckel des Anschlußteils in Draufsicht,
• Fig. 3e den Schutzdeckel des Anschlußteils in Seitenansicht,
• Fig. 4 in Detail die elektrischen Anschlußorgane zwischen den Teilen einer Kanal-Elektrodosenkombination,
• Fig. 5a axonometrisch eine Kanal-Steckdose,
• Fig. 5b eine Kanal-Steckdose in Draufsicht,
• Fig. 5c das Zuleitungsende einer im Elektrokanal installierten Kanal-Steckdose,
• Fig. 6a eine Kopfleiste in Frontansicht und
• Fig. 6b eine Kopfleiste in Draufsicht,
• Fig. 6c eine Kopfleiste von der Stirnseite aus gesehen.

The invention is described below with reference to an application example according to the invention, namely a channel-electrical socket combination consisting of two double protective contact safety channel sockets and a separate connecting part with reference to the accompanying drawings. It shows

• Fig. 1 shows schematically a simple electrical duct, in which a combination of two double protective contact safety duct sockets duct-electrical socket combination is installed. A protective earthed right-angled plug is inserted into the double protective contact safety duct socket,
• 2a is a top view of the duct / socket combination from FIG. 1 used in the electrical duct, without front plates of the electrical duct, slotted cover of the connecting part and headers,
• 2b axonometric Fig. 2a,
• 3a shows the carrier part of the separate connecting part in plan view,
• 3b, the carrier part of Fig. 3a in side view,
• 3c the upper part of the strain relief member,
• 3d the protective cover of the connecting part in plan view,
• 3e the protective cover of the connector in side view,
• 4 shows in detail the electrical connection elements between the parts of a channel-electrical socket combination,
• 5a axonometrically a channel socket,
• 5b a duct outlet in plan view,
• 5c shows the supply end of a duct socket installed in the electrical duct,
• Fig. 6a is a header in front view and
• 6b is a header in plan view,
• Fig. 6c seen a header from the front.

The electrical duct 10 which can be installed on the wall and is shown in FIG. 1 is mounted horizontally, preferably directly below the window plane, or vertically as required. In the electrical duct 10, a duct / electrical socket combination composed of duct electrical outlets, in this case two double protective contact safety duct outlets 80 and a connecting part 20 (not visible, shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) is installed , where headers 110 are attached to the end faces of their channel sockets. The headers 110 and the edges of the channel sockets 80 parallel to the electrical channel together form the cover 108 for this channel / socket combination composed of channel sockets. Those areas of the electrical duct 10 where there are no duct electrical outlets are covered with suitably cut-to-length blind front plates 12 which are shaped in a transverse profile in such a way that they e.g. can be attached to the electrical duct by pressing. From the duct electrical outlets installed in the electrical duct, only their outlets are visible to the outside. All cables and other installation accessories are invisible inside the electrical duct. An angled plug 98 is plugged into one channel socket 80, the cable of which is connected to the plug from the side at an angle of approximately 90 ° with respect to the contact pins. With this connector, the connection point of the cable with the connector is at an angle of approximately 90 ° to the line formed by the contact pins.

2, a duct / electrical socket combination is installed in an electrical duct 10, without front plates 12 of the electrical duct and headers 110. This channel-electrical socket combination includes two channel sockets 80 and a connecting part 20, which is shown without a protective cover 60 (shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b), the arrangement of the strain relief member 24, the supply cable 16 and the outgoing extension cable 18 in the connecting element 20 is clearly visible. The position of the connecting part 20 in the duct / electrical socket combination and its position in the electrical duct 10 are also illustrated. On one of the inwardly curved edges of the electrical duct, in the area lying below the front plate, retaining grooves 14 are incorporated. Correspondingly, a holding part, such as position 48 in FIG. 3a, can be arranged on the parts of the duct / socket combination, which engages in one of the above-mentioned holding grooves 14 and thereby prevents the part of the duct / socket combination in question and the other parts coupled therewith the duct-electrical socket combination in the longitudinal extension of the electrical duct. If a duct installation socket, in this case the duct socket 80 and the connection part 20 form a fixed unit, this part of the duct / socket combination formed by the fixed unit is referred to as an integrated connection part 28.

3, the structure of the separate connector 20 is shown in more detail. The connecting part 20 consists of a support part 22, a strain relief member 24, terminals 46 for switching on, a holding part 48, fastening openings 50 for the header, support strips 52, fastening members 54 of the connecting part, a discharge end 56, a protective cover 60 and the fastening members 26 and 62 of the Protective cover.

3a and 3c show a two-part strain relief member 24 belonging to the connecting part 20, formed from an upper part 30 and a lower part 32 belonging to the connecting part 20. The upper part 30 has a cable clamp 38, a predetermined breaking point 34, a cutout 36, and a two-part locking element 40, on one end of which locking teeth are arranged. One of the cable openings 31 is covered by a predetermined breaking point 34 arranged on the upper part. This predetermined breaking point 34 can easily be broken off, for example by hand, at the cutout 36 arranged therein if two cable openings are required in the connecting part 20, that is to say if a feed-through member 31 provided for the feed and discharge lines 16, 18 is required. If the predetermined breaking point 34 is broken off at the cutout 36, the rest of the part a similar cable clamp is formed as is already available in the open cutout. The lower part 32 has openings 42 with a threshold 44 and floors 33 of the cable opening. When the upper part 30 engages in the opening 42 of the lower part 32, the threshold 44 in the opening 42 prevents the teeth of the fastening part and thus the entire upper part 30 from being lifted out. The upper part 30 of the strain relief member can thus be coupled to the lower part 32 with this simple so-called snap-on connection, without tools, simply by pressing and easily opened, for example with a screwdriver.

3a and 3b show the carrier part 22 of the connecting part 20 in more detail. The carrier part comprises fifth suitable clamps 46 for electrical conductors, which clamps are either without or with screws. The holding part 48 arranged on the side of the carrier part prevents, as already mentioned, that the connecting part 20 and thus at the same time the other duct electrical outlets connected to the connecting part 20, in this case the duct-socket combination formed by the duct sockets 80 in the Longitudinal extension of the electrical channel moves by engaging in one of the holding grooves 14 arranged on the inwardly curved edges of the electrical channel. The separate connecting part is only mechanically fixed in the electrical duct by the above-mentioned holding part 48, which allows the front plate 12 to be fixed in such a way that it covers the connecting part 20 used in the electrical duct. The head strip 110, which forms the head part of the cover 108 of the duct / electrical socket combination, engages in the openings 50 in the connecting part. The supports 52 come to lie on the mechanical coupling of the connecting part 20 and the associated duct socket 80 behind the end plate 94 at the feed end of the duct socket 80, and in turn they support this mechanical connection. The fastening members 54 of the connection part 20 also grip the end plate 94 at the supply end of the duct socket during the mechanical coupling of the connection part and the duct outlet 80 connected to it and snap into the openings 96 disposed therein, thereby preventing the connector 20 from detaching from the adjacent duct socket. The connection formed by the fastening members 54 of the connecting part with the duct socket can also be easily loosened, for example with a screwdriver. The connection part 20 is connected in a touch-safe manner via the discharge end 56 to the following duct electrical outlet.

In FIGS. 3d and 3e the protective cover 60 covering the strain relief members and electrical connecting terminals is shown, which engages via its male fastening elements 62 into the female fastening elements 26 in the carrier part 22 of the connecting part without tools, with a so-called snap-on connection. This mechanical connection can also be easily done by hand, e.g. loosen with a screwdriver.

FIG. 4 shows in more detail the electrical contact members according to the application between the different parts of a duct / socket combination to be inserted in an electrical duct. The lead ends 56 and lead ends 58 arranged on the different parts of the duct / electrical socket combination are identical for each part of the duct / electrical socket combination, both for the duct sockets according to this example and for the connecting part. The connection part 20 has only one discharge end 56, because the electrical current is supplied to the connection part via a supply cable, while the duct electrical outlets have both a discharge end 56 and a supply end 58. Three slots 64 for contact elements are arranged at the current-feeding lead-off end 56, wherein three female contact elements 66 (phase, zero and protective earth) are arranged in an electrically contact-safe manner, via which the supply current required by the channel electrical outlets from one part of the channel / electrical outlet combination to the other is directed. The lead end 58 accordingly has three male contact members 70 (phase, zero and protective earth), via which the channel electrical socket that via the female contact members 66 received supply current received. The contact members 66 and 70 shown in FIG. 4 are designed as contact members of the so-called knife type. One of the knife type female contact members 66 shown in Fig. 4 is shown partially broken away to illustrate the construction of a knife type contact member in detail. When parts of the duct / socket combination are fastened to one another, the female and male contact members 66, 70 engage in one another and establish electrical contact between the parts of the duct / socket combination. The connection formed by the electrical contact members 66 and 70 is laterally and above surrounded by a protective collar 68 in order to ensure the protection against contact of this connection. When parts of the duct / socket combination are fastened to one another, the edges of the protective collar 68 engage in the fastening grooves 72 arranged on the side at the end 58 of the feed line and in turn secure both the mechanical coupling of the different parts of the duct / socket combination to one another and the protection against contact by the contact members 66 and 70 electrical connection formed.

The contact members of the adjacent parts of a duct / socket combination, i.e. the electrical current-feeding, preferably formed from conductor rails, female contact members 66 and the electrical current-receiving, preferably formed from conductor rails, male contact members 70 of the next channel electrical socket can be coupled to one another without tools and separate electrical conductors in a contact-protected manner.

The contact elements feeding electrical current are intrinsically protected against contact. The electrical current-feeding male and female contact members are advantageous as such known contact members of the so-called knife type 66, 70 or the fork type, but other contact members can also be used which meet the requirement of contact protection on the current-feeding side. The conductor rails Both in the separate connection part 20 and in the duct electrical outlets are covered by a base plate 106 in such a way that the sections of these parts lying in the electrical duct are also electrically protected against contact. The above power supply concept in connection with the contact members located in the connection part, designed for fastening and advancing the power supply cable, makes it possible for the duct electrical socket according to the present invention, particularly advantageously, to install the duct socket 80 in the electrical duct 10 without a separate protective socket . The individual duct electrical socket according to the invention is therefore completely safe to touch apart from the contact elements 70 receiving the electrical current. The separate connecting part 20 which can be coupled to a duct electrical socket or to electrical sockets lined up according to the invention is likewise completely touch-proof and is equipped with the necessary strain relief elements for the electrical cables. The entire duct-socket combination of this type can thus be installed in the electrical duct without separate protective sockets.

If the channel-electrical socket combination according to the invention is fed with single-phase mains current or three-phase current, it is first applied to the connection part 20, which can be designed as a separate part 20 or as part of a channel electrical socket which is usually the closest lying in the direction of entry of the supply cable the channel-electrical socket combination can belong, wherein it is referred to as an integrated connection part 28. The channel-electrical socket combination according to the invention has suitable power supply elements 46 and 56 or corresponding ones which, in addition to the usual so-called mains current, ie the single-phase supply (phase, zero and protective earth), also the use of three-phase supply (L 1, L 2, L 3, zero and protective earth ) and their effective alternation allow such that each channel-electrical socket combination is connected in one phase with this three-phase group. In the solution according to the invention, each channel-electrical socket combination has either a separate or a connecting part 20, 28 integrated into a duct electrical socket and matching electrical contact elements 46 or the like suitable for switching therein with 5 connecting terminals both for the feed line 16 and for a possibly outgoing extension cable 18, which connecting elements the use of three-phase supply and its effective Allow variety in the different duct / electrical box combinations. The connecting part 20 also has a strain relief member 26 both for the incoming and for the supply cables 16 and 18 which may have to be laid for the needs of the next duct electrical installation group. Over the strain relief member 24 and the electrical terminals 46, a protective cover 60 is arranged, which can be attached without tools and easily, for example by hand or with a screwdriver. When the connecting part 20 is open, that is to say without a protective cover 60, it can easily be checked whether the electrical connection is correct. Both the incoming and outgoing electrical conductors can be connected to the connection part either via connections with or without screws. At the connection terminals 46 of the separate connection part 20, the incoming electrical conductors are connected to electrical conductors within the connection part, which are advantageously designed as conductor rails. The female contact members 66 formed from electrical conductors arranged in the connecting part, preferably formed from conductor rails, in turn transmit the current to the male contact members 70 of the adjacent channel electrical socket.

On the inwardly curved edges of the electrical duct 10, in the section located below the front plate, holding grooves 14 can be worked in with a division defined by the standard size of duct installation sockets or duct sockets without a protective socket or separate connecting parts. A holding part 48 can also be arranged on the connecting part, which engages in one of the above-mentioned holding grooves 14 and thus prevents the connecting part 20 and the other duct electrical outlets coupled to the connecting part, that is to say the entire one concerned channel-socket combination moved in the longitudinal extent of the electrical channel. The connecting part itself, both the separate connecting part 20 and the integrated connecting part 28 belonging to the duct electrical socket, are inserted into the electrical duct in such a way that its upper surface comes to lie below the front plate 12 of the electrical duct. If the duct / electrical socket combination is installed in the electrical duct 10, the connecting part is therefore not visible, but rather the front plate 12 hides it and extends to the edge of the first duct / electrical socket of the duct / electrical socket combination. The separate connecting part 20 is mechanically fixed in the electrical duct 10 only via the above-mentioned holding part 48, which holding part thus engages the profile of the inwardly bent edges of the electrical duct on the part arranged below the front plate 12 of the electrical duct. This holding part 48, however, only prevents the movement of the connecting part in the longitudinal extent of the electrical channel. The connecting part 20 and the duct electrical socket, on the other hand, have suitable fastening members 54 and 96 for mechanically coupling these parts to one another without tools. This mechanical connection can also be easily loosened, for example using a screwdriver. The connecting part 20 can thus easily be mechanically coupled to the duct socket and connected in an electrically contact-safe manner to the same duct electrical socket.

If the connection part is part of the duct electrical socket, no mechanical or electrical coupling members are of course required to connect these parts to one another. The integrated connection part 28 otherwise has exactly the same organs as the separate connection part 20. If the supply cable is electrically connected to the connector 28 integrated into the channel electrical socket, the electrical conductors, preferably conductor rails, located within the relevant channel electrical socket can be used for the current both for the needs of this channel electrical socket and for those formed from the same conductor rails female contacts 66 are connected, which in turn pass the current on to the male contact members 70 of the next channel electrical socket. Also in the alternative with an integrated connection part 28, the portion of the connection part of this combination electrical box is arranged in the electrical duct 10 such that its upper surface comes to lie below the front plate of the electrical duct. In this solution, the front plate 12 of the electrical duct also extends to the edge of the actual duct-electrical socket portion of this duct-electrical socket combination.

FIG. 5 shows the double protective contact safety duct socket 80, which occurs in FIGS. 1 and 2, which is one of the most common types of duct socket outlet. The duct socket 80 has the following parts: device cover 92 with two protective contact safety sockets 84 and edges 86 forming part of the flank of the cover, end plate 88 at the end of the discharge line with fastening elements 90, end of the discharge line 56, end plate 94 at the end of the lead with openings 96, end of the lead 58 , Fastening elements 100 and base plate 106.

The only part of the duct socket that is visible from the outside is the device cover 82. The device cover 82 has two protective contact safety sockets 84. The plug openings 74 of this protective contact safety sockets 84 and correspondingly both the protective contacts 76 made of metal and the guide slots 78 are arranged in the device panel 82 in such a way that the plug openings 74 are essentially parallel to the longitudinal extension of the electrical channel 10. It is easy here to couple several so-called angled plugs 98 to adjacent sockets. The edges 86 of the device cover 82 facing the electrical channel 10 are at different heights compared to the remaining surface of the device cover 82 and thus form part of the flank of the front plate of the channel socket 80. The device cover 82 is a component of the channel socket. The channel socket 80 is constructed in such a way that, apart from the male, that is to say electrical current-receiving contact members, it is electrically safe to touch all around which means that it can be installed in the electrical duct without a separate protective box. The other, lead-side end 80 of the duct socket is formed by the current-feeding lead end 56 with the above-described female electrical contact members 66 and by the lead-side end plate 88, the claw-shaped fastening members 90, known per se, which essentially struts from the end face 88 for mechanical Coupling the duct electrical outlets with each other. The fastening members 90 have fastening openings 92 for the male fastening members of the head strip 110. The discharge-side end 56 essentially strives from the discharge-side end face 88. The other end of the duct socket 80 on the supply side is formed by the end plate 94 on the supply side and the end 58 of the supply line, which has the male contact members 70 already described. The feed-side end plate 94 has openings 96. As already described above, the fastening members 54 of the connecting part 20 engage behind the supply-side end plate 94 in the mechanical coupling of the connecting part 20 and the channel socket 80 and engage in the openings 96 arranged therein, which in turn prevent the connecting part 20 from becoming detached this adjacent duct outlet triggers. In addition to this mechanical coupling, the parts mentioned above are also mechanically connected to one another at another location, namely in the vicinity of the discharge end 56 and the supply end 58. With this mechanical connection, the protective collar 68 arranged at the discharge end 56 engages in fastening grooves 72 at the supply end. The resulting mechanical connection is thus very stable, and it is prevented that the adjacent parts of the duct / socket combination, in this case the connecting part 20 and the duct socket 80, move relative to one another in the electrical duct. When two duct sockets are mechanically coupled, the supply-side end plate 94 in turn grips the claw-shaped fastening elements 90 on the discharge-side end plate 94 and, on the other hand, as in the coupling of the connecting part 20 and the duct socket 80, engages at the discharge end 56 arranged protective collar 68 into the fastening grooves 72 at the supply end 58. The resulting mechanical connection is very stable in this case, too, and the movement of adjacent duct sockets relative to one another in the electrical duct is prevented.

The outer flanks of the duct electrical socket 80 parallel to the electrical duct have fastening members 100 for mechanically fixing the duct socket in the electrical duct 10. The tongue 102 and the stop 104 arranged thereon are pressed in when the duct socket is inserted into the electrical duct. After passing the edges of the inwardly bent part of the front wall of the electrical duct, tongue 102 and stop 104 are relaxed and locked, the duct socket being inserted in the correct position. The lower side of the device cover 82 serves as a contact surface for the front wall of the electrical duct and prevents the duct socket, when inserted, from immersing deeper into the electrical duct. After the tongue 102 and the stop 104 arranged thereon have been released, the stop 104 functions in its name as a stop for the edge of the inwardly bent section of the front wall of the electrical duct and prevents the duct socket from becoming detached from the electrical duct. When tongue 102 is pushed in, e.g. the duct socket 80 can be easily unlocked from the electrical duct with a screwdriver. The base plate 106 is part of the compact duct socket and forms the bottom of the duct socket and covers the live parts in the duct socket from the bottom. The bottom plate 106 can e.g. detachable or attached so that they can not be solved after assembling the duct outlet.

The duct electrical outlets can be fastened in the electrical duct using known snap-on links without tools, and the duct electrical outlets can easily be lifted out of the electrical duct, for example with a screwdriver. The duct electrical outlets can also be made using known methods For example, the snap-on type, the so-called dovetail type or corresponding links can be fastened both to one another and to the separate connecting part without tools. The duct electrical outlets can also be easily detached from one another, from the electrical duct and the connecting part, for example with a screwdriver.

The following general problem is solved, for example, by the various elements of this duct socket, for example by its suitable positioning. For example, it is known from patent application FI 872247 to use duct sockets in an electrical duct, the plug openings 74 being arranged essentially at right angles to the longitudinal extent of the electrical duct. It is difficult, often impossible, to couple more than two of the fairly common right-angle plugs 98 to an assembly formed from two such sockets. With this type of connector, the cable is connected from the side, most often at an angle of 90 ° to the contact pins. With such plugs 98, the connection point of the cable on the plug is at an angle of approximately 90 ° with respect to the line formed by the contact pins. If more than two such plugs 98 are to be plugged into adjacent duct sockets, where the plug openings 74 are arranged essentially at right angles to the longitudinal extension of the electrical duct, the outermost plugs can of course only be coupled in such a way that their cables point away from the sockets. In the case of the angled plugs 98 lying between the outermost sockets, one is forced to bend the connection point of the cable upward, for example by force, in order to be able to connect such a plug to the socket. Sometimes this also does not help, the measure slightly damaging the cable connection point of the plug, but one has to rely on other solutions, such as the use of extension cords or multiple extension sockets, which alternatives are not necessarily simple and often not aesthetically pleasing from the outside. The connector openings arranged according to the application example of this invention, in this case essentially parallel to the electrical duct 74 of duct sockets enable better functionality of an assembly formed from more than two adjacent sockets if, for example, angled plugs are coupled to them. The connection cables of the above-mentioned angled plugs are each cleanly and properly directed downwards. The solution used in connection with this invention thus offers an easily realizable solution to the above-mentioned problem, which provides an aesthetic end result.

The header 110 shown in FIGS. 6 and 1, according to its designation, forms the header of the cover 108 of the duct / socket combination. If the duct-electrical socket combination according to the example, consisting solely of the connection part 20 + duct sockets 80, is installed in the electrical duct 10, the lateral edges of the part of the duct socket protruding from the electrical duct, the device cover 82, form part of the Flank of cover 108 of the channel-electrical socket combination. When the connection part 20 of the channel-electrical socket combination and all the channel sockets 80 are installed, the headers are on the end faces of the channel-electrical socket combination, at one end in the fastening openings 92 of the channel socket and the other end on the fastening members 50 of the connecting part 110 attached, which thus complete the flanks of the cover formed by the edges of the channel sockets to a complete and aesthetic whole. The headers 110 can be attached without tools using suitable, preferably male fastening members 112 known per se and can be easily detached, e.g. by hand. The headers 110 are identical, which means that in the case of duct / electrical socket combinations of any type, loose parts of a single type, namely headers 110, are required to form the cover 108, which the electrician can easily e.g. can be carried in the breast pocket.

In order to obtain a clean cover, it of course requires that all duct electrical outlets are installed so that they are held close together in the electrical duct, so that none would create unsightly gaps in the cover. This requirement can in turn be met in a number of different ways, such as, for example, that the duct electrical sockets have suitable organs for mechanically coupling them to one another, with no disruptive gaps being created between the duct electrical sockets. Holding grooves 14 are incorporated, for example, on the inwardly curved edges of the electrical duct 10. On the parts of the channel-electrical socket combination are correspondingly arranged holding members 48 which engage in the above-mentioned holding grooves and thus prevent the relevant channel electrical socket and the other coupled channel electrical sockets from moving in the electrical channel in the longitudinal direction thereof.

The duct electrical sockets of a duct-electrical socket combination do not necessarily have to be mechanically coupled to one another. It is sufficient if they are held together in one way or another without gaps. The shape of the headers to be attached to the end faces of the duct / electrical socket combination is identical. Only the different color alternatives used for the electrical outlets result in differences in the appearance of the headers. The cover formed on the one hand by separate headers and on the other hand by the flanks of the duct electrical outlets can be installed effortlessly and cleanly, requires few parts and offers a very cost-effective way to form different cover alternatives.

In the description of an exemplary embodiment of the duct / electrical socket combination, namely the separate parts of a duct / electrical socket combination shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 and formed by two double protective contact safety socket outlets 80 and a separate connecting part 20, it has already become clear that the duct Sockets and the parts coupled to them, suitable fastening elements for carrying out the mechanical installations connected to the duct electrical socket, such as tool-free fastening of duct electrical socket, installation devices, device parts, protective covers and have covers etc.

In the solution according to the invention, many, rather annoying, installation-technically disadvantageous factors associated with the above-mentioned known solutions can be eliminated in a simple and effective manner by means of the elements shown. In the solution according to the invention, a five-wire supply cable is therefore preferably used as the supply cable. For example, in the so-called first installation, the five-core supply cable laid from the group center is connected in the electrical duct to the connection part of the next duct / socket combination, with the required three conductors, namely the neutral conductor and protective earth, being required for the requirements of the duct / socket combination concerned from this five-core supply cable and for example phase L₁ can be branched. The phases L₂ and L₃ are placed on the remaining two terminals suitable for switching. The five-wire supply cable that is to be laid to the next duct / socket combination is then connected to these five terminals suitable for advancing, which in turn is connected to the connecting part of the duct / socket combination that is next in the electrical duct. If, for example, the maximum load defined for the L₁ phase has been reached in the first channel-electrical socket combination, then in this connection part the second-channel electrical socket combination in sequence from the five-wire supply cable laid by the first channel electrical installation group, neutral conductor, protective earth and one of the previously unused phases, such as phase L₂ connected. The phases L₁ and L₃ are connected to the remaining two terminals suitable for switching. In this way, the phases are alternated if necessary until the installation work is completed or until the maximum load capacity of this five-wire supply cable is reached. The connecting parts thus serve, in addition to being a supply point for the power supply to the duct / socket combination in question, and also as a stepping point for the five-wire cable to be laid to the next duct / socket combination. Depending on the situation when, for example, it is known that later in a certain duct electrical installation group either additional duct electrical outlets are required or larger devices can be connected to the existing duct electrical outlets, it is advisable to load the capacity of each phase L 1 to L₃ to think carefully in advance in order to facilitate these future installations or to allow an increase in the load without additional measures. Of course, it is clear that otherwise it is worthwhile to exhaust the maximum load capacity of each phase in the initial installation phase, if no major change needs can be foreseen. If / when the already mentioned need for additional installations or an additional burden due to device changes occurs afterwards, the application alternatives made possible by the links of the duct / socket combination according to the invention offer a flexible and easy way to meet these new needs. If the utilization of the various phases is properly planned in advance, the new additional duct sockets or other moderate additional loads, for example, do not require any changes to the existing power supply system. In this case, for example, the new duct electrical outlets with the links according to the invention belonging to the duct electrical outlet can be easily connected electrically to the existing duct / electrical outlet combinations without tools or separate conductor pieces. Only the shortening of the front plate of the electrical duct is associated with some work. But should it happen that, for example, any channel-electrical socket combination created in phase L₁ would require additional channel sockets or more effective devices would be connected to the existing installation equipment, the maximum load capacity of phase L₁ being exceeded, phase L₃ but still would have a load reserve, the relevant, rather annoying problem can be quite a problem with an installation assembly composed of duct / socket combinations constructed according to the invention just be fixed. The total load capacity of the five-core supply cable used is then sufficient. Only the stress at the different phases is too uneven. In practice, the total load-bearing capacity of a five-wire supply cable is so great that the upper limit of the total load for this three-phase group is rarely reached for a single electrical channel; on the other hand, requirements in line with the example, which would lead to manager-related exceedances, may very well be met. This problem can be solved by reorganizing the conductors already present in the connecting parts of various channel / electrical box combinations, of course only the phase conductors L 1 to L 3, so that the loads between the different phases are adjusted to levels appropriate for each conductor. No additional cable is required, and there is no need to open the electrical duct to the group center. Actually, one only needs to open the front panel of the electrical duct at the connection part of each duct-electrical socket combination in order to carry out the rather simple modification work above. The duct-electrical socket combination according to the invention has suitable links for performing this work without unnecessary effort, because the headers of the cover can be removed easily and the front plate of the electrical duct on the connecting part can be easily opened. After the modification work, the above parts can easily be reinstalled in the electrical duct.

It should also be emphasized that when using coupling members according to the invention with 5 terminals in all phases of the three-phase supply, that is to say the same 0 and ground conductors can be used on the phases L 1, L 2 and L 3. By using a single five-wire supply cable in a way made possible by the power supply elements according to the invention, the same supply power can be supplied to an assembly composed of a plurality of duct / socket combinations installed in an electrical duct as in an electrical duct installation would normally require three three-core supply cables. The advantages achieved by the invention in the power supply of duct / socket combinations installed in an electrical duct as well as in initial installations and in particular in retrofitting are thus quite obvious.

A duct-electrical socket combination, which has only duct sockets according to the example as duct-electrical sockets, is of course only one of the embodiments according to the invention. A duct-electrical socket combination according to the invention can be made from a separate connection part + at least one duct

Form electrical socket combination or a fixed part of a duct electrical socket and possibly coupled duct electrical sockets. As already described above, duct electrical socket is understood to mean numerous alternative electrical accessories that can be installed in an electrical duct, such as duct sockets, various installation devices and devices without a separate protective socket, various installation devices and devices used in protective sockets, such as sockets, switches, and connecting terminals for tele , Telephone and data transmission connections and other similar electrical accessories.

The invention described above is a solution to installation problems with regard to the current electrical ducts. The invention also offers completely new, versatile alternatives for installing duct / electrical box combinations in such a way that the end result is inexpensive and aesthetically useful in terms of manufacturing and installation costs. Although only one advantageous embodiment of the invention has been described in detail above, the invention can be used within the scope of the inventive idea defined by the claims.

Claims (18)

1. Electrical duct and power socket combination to be installed in a channel-like electrical duct (10), with at least one duct power socket (80) or the like and terminal members (20, 28), wherein

   - the duct power socket (80) and the terminal members (20) apart from electrical contact members (70) which receive electrical current are protected from electrical contact on all sides, and

   wherein for tool-less mechanical and electrical coupling of several identical duct power sockets (80) to each other or for tool-less mechanical and electrical coupling of the duct power sockets (80) to terminal members (20), the following are provided:

   - a discharge end (56) which protrudes from an end plate (88) on the discharge side of the duct power socket (80) or from the end face of the terminal members (20),

   - a supply end (58) arranged at the end face of the duct power socket (80) on the supply side, and an end plate (94) on the supply side of the duct power socket (80),

   - wherein in the coupled state the end plate (88) on the discharge side and the end plate (94) on the supply side are opposite each other, and

   - wherein the discharge end (56) is provided with a fastening member (68) and electrical contact members (66) and the supply end (58) is provided with a fastening member (72) and the electrical contact members (70).
2. Duct and power socket combination according to claim 1, characterised in that both tool-less mechanical coupling and the production of strain relief on the several identical duct power sockets (80) relative to each other or tool-less mechanical and electrical coupling and the production of strain relief on the duct power sockets (80) with the terminal members (20), and protection against contact of the electrical connection formed by the electrical contact members (66, 70), are formed by the fastening members (68, 72) mating with each other.
3. Duct and power socket combination according to claim 2, characterised in that the fastening member (68) is a protective collar (68) which surrounds at the sides and bottom the connection formed by the electrical contact members (66, 70).
4. Duct and power socket combination according to claim 2, characterised in that the fastening member (72) is a groove (72).
5. Duct and power socket combination according to claim 4, characterised in that the groove (72) is arranged laterally at the supply end (58).
6. Duct and power socket combination according to one or more of the above claims, characterised in that the duct power socket (80) further includes at least one head strip (110) which when the duct power socket (80) is installed is arranged at the end faces thereof and, together with edges (86) of the power socket (80) parallel to the electrical duct (10), forms a cover (108).
7. Duct and power socket combination according to one or more of the above claims, characterised in that the duct power socket (80) has additional fastening members (90) for the connection of identical duct power sockets (80) to each other and/or a duct power socket (80) to the at least one head strip (110).
8. Duct and power socket combination according to claim 7, characterised in that the fastening members (90) comprise fastening openings (92) for male fastening members (112) of the head strip (110).
9. Duct and power socket combination according to one or more of the above claims, characterised in that at least a portion of the duct power socket comprises suitable fastening members (100) for fastening the duct power socket in the electrical duct (10).
10. Duct and power socket combination according to one or more of the above claims, characterised in that at least a portion of the combination of duct power socket and electrical duct comprises suitable fastening members (14, 48) for preventing movement of the duct power socket (80) in the electrical duct (10) in the longitudinal extent thereof.
11. Duct and power socket combination according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the electrical contact members (66, 70) are designed as contact members of the blade type, fork type or the like.
12. Duct and power socket combination according to one or more of the above claims, characterised in that the duct power socket comprises a separate terminal member (20) for supply of the duct power socket (80) with electrical current.
13. Duct and power socket combination according to one or more of the above claims, characterised in that at least one duct power socket comprises an integrated terminal member (28) for supply of the duct power socket (80) with electrical current.
14. Duct and power socket combination according to claim 12 or 13, characterised in that the terminal member (20; 28) comprises five terminals (46) suitable for continuous switching as well as a strain relief member (24) for supply and for possible discharge, by which parts with the duct power socket an ordinary single-phase supply obtains, apart from the ordinary single-phase supply (phase, neutral and earth), a three-phase supply (L, L, L, neutral and earth) and alternation thereof between the different duct power sockets.
15. Duct and power socket combination according to claim 12, characterised in that the separate terminal member (20) comprises mating fastening members (54, 40; 42; 44, 26; 62, 50) for the mechanical installations connected to the separate terminal member (20), such as fastening of the separate terminal member (20) to the duct power socket (80), tool-less fastening of the protective cover (60), the upper portion (30) of the strain relief device, the head strip (110), etc.
16. Duct and power socket combination according to claim 13, characterised in that the integrated terminal member (28) comprises mating fastening members (40; 42; 44, 26; 62, 50, 90; 92) for the mechanical installations connected to the integrated terminal member (28), such as fastening of the integrated terminal member (28) to the duct power socket (80), tool-less fastening of the protective cover (60), the upper portion (30) of the strain relief device, the head strip (110), etc.
17. Duct and power socket combination according to one or more of the above claims, characterised in that the duct power socket (80) or the separate terminal member (20) includes a bottom plate (106) which covers the live parts located in the duct power socket (80) or in the terminal member (20) from the bottom side to prevent contact.
18. Duct and power socket combination according to claim 17, characterised in that the bottom plate (106) is mounted releasably or stationarily on the duct power socket (80) or the terminal member (20).

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