EP0702433A2 - Electrical socket assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

The plug socket device has a housing (50) with a number of adjacent plug socket inserts (51-54), each having at least 2 terminal poles, cooperating with respective poles of a multi-pole lead (58) fitted into the housing. Each of the plug socket inserts can be rotated relative to the housing through a limited angle, about an axis parallel to the insertion direction of the plug, with the socket poles coupled to the corresponding lead poles via sliding contacts. Each plug socket insert can be secured relative to the housing in a given rotary position.

Description

The invention relates to an electrical socket arrangement, consisting of a housing with at least two socket inserts, which have connection poles for electrical contacting of poles of a multi-pole connecting line leading into the housing by means of suitable multi-pole plugs.

Electrical socket arrangements can be found in every household in the form of flush-mounted sockets, surface-mounted sockets and in single or multiple arrangement with a common connecting line as a mobile connection option for various electrical consumers such as lamps, electrical household appliances and / or power supplies for operating electrical low-voltage devices.

In connection with the insertion of the plug into the socket insert of a socket, it often happens that the orientation of the connection poles in the socket does not match an optimal plug insertion direction or that, for example in the case of a double combination with flush-mounted sockets, one of the sockets by angled plugs, plug adapters , Power supplies or chargers for battery-operated devices or similar is covered. This situation is particularly problematic in the case of power strips or table sockets, in which it was previously customary for cost reasons to arrange the socket inserts in a row or in a square. If several angled plugs or the like are connected here not all socket outlets can be used disadvantageously because they can be covered by the kink protection device of one or more angled plugs or by plug adapters, power supply units with molded plugs and the like.

To solve this problem, it is already known to arrange the socket inserts on flush-mounted sockets and on multiple sockets rotated relative to the longitudinal axis of the socket strip in order to enable the insertion of several angled plugs. However, it has been found that when using chargers and plug-in adapters, the size of the nearest socket insert is still covered in some areas and is therefore not usable.

DE 43 09 453 C1 discloses a socket box of the type mentioned at the outset, in which the connection poles of the sockets are each connected to the poles of the multi-pole connection line via flexible connecting lines and each socket insert is limited on each side within a receptacle of the housing from a basic position can be rotated and locked. A disadvantage of this known socket box is that, due to the limited rotatability of the socket insert, in practice not all of the desired rotational positions can be assumed. In addition, dangerous over-shorting can occur if the housing of the socket box is over-tightened if the flexible connecting cables tear. In addition, there is a relatively large outlay in terms of production technology, since all connecting lines have to be fastened to the respective connection poles.

The invention has for its object to further develop an electrical socket arrangement of the type mentioned in such a way that the respective socket inserts securely brought each position corresponding to the respective needs can be.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by the features characterized in claim 1. Preferred features which advantageously further develop the invention can be found in the subordinate claims.

Advantageously, the invention achieves the stated object by creating an electrical socket arrangement in which each socket insert can be rotated indefinitely about an axis parallel to the direction of insertion of a plug relative to the housing and in any direction.

Preferably, the connection poles of each socket insert can be connected to poles of the connection line via a sliding contact arrangement, the sliding contact arrangement having no contact with the assigned poles of the connecting line in at least one predetermined relative rotational position of each socket insert. This makes it possible to endlessly rotate each socket insert either to the left or to the right and, in a favorable manner, additionally to integrate a switch function individually for each individual socket insert, on the basis of which each socket insert can be switched off in at least one predetermined relative rotational position. This means that the electrical socket arrangement is not generally only a central on / off switch as previously, but rather the possibility is given to switch each socket insert on and off independently of the others.

Furthermore, it can also be advantageously provided that each socket insert can be locked to the housing in predetermined relative rotational positions. The envisaged lockability in predetermined relative rotational positions with the housing preferably defines certain otherwise frequently occurring positions, for example in the case of an electrical socket arrangement in Last form a zero degree position to the longitudinal axis of the last, then with a clockwise rotation by 45 °, a third rotational position then with a rotation to the longitudinal axis by 90 °, and finally a fourth functional position, for example with a rotation of 135 ° to the longitudinal axis, as "Exhibition. The respective positions can also be made easily visible on the housing and the respective socket insert using markings.

According to a preferred embodiment, at least one radial latching cam is provided on each socket insert for the appropriate engagement in housing-side latches, with a total of two radially opposite latching cams being optimal for the latching force distributions that occur.

Alternatively, a central locking profile is provided for each socket insert in the area of the housing base and around the axis of rotation of the socket insert, which is attacked by at least one locking element arranged on the socket insert, preferably two diametrically opposite locking elements, which are preferably formed as molded locking lugs that are resilient due to their material elasticity can be locked with the locking profile.

In both alternatives of locking, each socket insert is rotatably guided on an upper housing section and has latching lugs on its lower region which engage a latching profile in the lower housing section. If a half-divided housing is provided, the upper housing section corresponds to the upper housing half and the lower housing section corresponds to the lower housing half.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the electrical poles of the connecting line are in the region of the Socket inserts are designed as slip ring sections, an electrical pole preferably being provided on both sides of the longitudinal axis of the strip in a strip-shaped socket arrangement and a neutral ring section design formed in one piece for all socket inserts and a neutral conductor rail arranged in the region of the longitudinal axis of the strip with contact with the assigned socket insert poles. This makes it possible to achieve an extremely simple manufacture of such socket assemblies, which can be carried out automatically, but not, as previously, certain connection points for the individual socket inserts have to be fastened.

For the rotatable guide on the upper housing section, it is particularly favorable if each socket insert has guide formations on its outside which engage behind an upper edge of the socket housing. As a result, the rotatability can be verified extremely easily and the assembly of the socket arrangement can be carried out without problems.

Depending on the configuration of the socket arrangement, the axes of rotation of the socket inserts can be at certain angles to one another or parallel or in parallel planes. A parallel assignment of the axes of rotation to one another is preferred for predominant use in the household sector.

Due to its design, the socket arrangement according to the invention advantageously also offers the possibility, when designed with a split housing, of replacing individual socket sections in the event of damage or other errors. Socket arrangements according to all international standards, in particular according to Swiss, Italian, German and Belgian standards, can be easily produced with the same housing with appropriately configured socket inserts with little tool effort.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figur 1:

eine Draufsicht auf ein erstes Ausführungsbeispiel einer Steckdosenanordnung in Form einer Steckdosenleiste mit drei Steckdoseneinsätzen;

Figur 2:

einen Schnitt entlang der Schnittlinie II - II in Figur 1;

Figur 3:

eine ausschittsweise Vergrößerung aus dem Abschnitt III in Figur 2;

Figur 4:

einen Schnitt entlang der Schnittlinie IV - IV in Figur 3;

Figur 5:

eine Draufsicht auf ein weiteres Ausführungsbeispiel einer elektrischen Steckdosenanordnung in Form einer Steckdosenleiste mit vier Steckdoseneinsätzen und Steckdosenleisten-Befestigungslöchern;

Figur 6:

einen horizontalen Schnitt durch die Steckdosenanordnung gemäß Figur 5;

Figur 7:

eine vergrößerte Detaildarstellung aus Figur 6 zur Erläuterung des Eingriffs von Rastnocke und Einrastung am Gehäuse;

Figur 8;

einen horizontalen Schnitt ähnlich Figur 6, wobei der jedoch die Verrastungselemente zur Vereinfachung weggelassen sind und die elektrische Kontaktierung der Steckdoseneinsätze mehr verdeutlicht ist;

Figur 9:

einen Schnitt entlang der Schnittlinie IX - IX in Figur 8; und

Figur 10:

einen Schnitt entlang der Schnittlinie X - X in Figur 8.

Show it:

Figure 1:

a plan view of a first embodiment of a socket arrangement in the form of a socket strip with three socket inserts;

Figure 2:

a section along the section line II - II in Figure 1;

Figure 3:

an enlarged detail from section III in Figure 2;

Figure 4:

a section along the section line IV - IV in Figure 3;

Figure 5:

a plan view of a further embodiment of an electrical socket arrangement in the form of a socket strip with four socket inserts and socket strip fastening holes;

Figure 6:

a horizontal section through the socket arrangement according to Figure 5;

Figure 7:

an enlarged detail of Figure 6 to explain the engagement of the locking cam and locking on the housing;

Figure 8;

a horizontal section similar to Figure 6, but with the latching elements omitted for simplification and the electrical contacting of the socket inserts is more clearly illustrated;

Figure 9:

a section along the section line IX - IX in Figure 8; and

Figure 10:

a section along the section line X - X in Figure 8.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an electrical socket arrangement according to the invention in the form of a socket strip 10 with a housing 11 and a multi-pole connecting line 12. The housing 11 has three circular recesses 13, 14 and 15, in which socket inserts 16, 17 and 18 are inserted such that they are each rotatable in the housing 11 about an axis A which runs parallel to the direction of insertion of a plug. The socket inserts 16, 17 and 18 can be rotated relative to the housing 11 indefinitely.

The housing 11 has for each socket insert 16, 17 and 18 in the region of the edge of the recess 13, 14 and 15 marking arrows 19, 20 and 21 for marking three different locking positions, each socket insert 16, 17 and 18 relative to the housing 11 can take. The socket inserts 16, 17 and 18 have associated marking arrows 24, 23 and 22 on their edge, which, together with the arrows 19 to 21 fixed to the housing, identify the respective latching position of the socket insert.

In the case of the socket insert 18, latching angles α and β with respect to the longitudinal axis of the socket strip 10 are indicated, which the socket insert 18 can assume one after the other from the position shown in FIG. The angles α and β are 45 ° in the exemplary embodiment. In FIG. 1, the socket insert 17 is rotated 90 ° clockwise relative to the socket insert 18, while the plug section 16 is rotated 45 ° clockwise relative to the socket insert 18.

Each socket insert 16, 17, 18 has two contact openings 25, 26 for inserting the contacts of a plug, not shown, two neutral conductors 27, 28, which are diametrically opposite one another, and molded-in slide-in guides 29 and 30 for a plug, not shown, in the socket insert.

The housing 11 is divided perpendicular to the axis of rotation A in the illustrated embodiment. It consists of the upper housing half 31 recognizable in FIG. 1 and the lower housing half 32 shown in FIG. 2.

Figure 2 shows a section along the section line II - II through the socket insert 18. This has lateral guide projections 40 and 41, which are encompassed by a peripheral edge 42 at the opening 15 of the upper housing section 31. The lower housing half 32 has a bottom 43, on which a circular latching profile 44 projects inward and extends around the axis of rotation A. The latching profile 44 has diametrically opposite latching grooves 45 for the engagement of diametrically opposite latching lugs 46, which are formed on a socket insert part 18 ', cf. also the enlarged detail according to FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 shows a section along the section line IV-IV of FIG. 3, a position of the locking lugs 46 'rotated clockwise from the initial position shown from 0 ° by the angle α = 50 ° and one by the angle γ = 90 ° from the starting position rotated position of the locking lugs 46 '' are shown in dashed lines for illustration.

Instead of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4, the electrical socket arrangement can also be designed as a surface-mounted socket arrangement with a correspondingly modified housing and as a flush-mounted socket arrangement with an adapted housing frame all international standards are realized.

FIG. 5 shows a further exemplary embodiment of an electrical socket arrangement in the form of a socket strip 50 with four socket inserts 51-54 and socket strip fastening holes 55 and 56. The socket inserts 51-54 are also rotatably guided in the housing 57, as in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1, and the upper half 59 of the housing 57 has arrow markings 60 and dot markings 61 for each socket insert, while each of the socket inserts 51-54 in turn has markings 62 . The socket inserts 51-54 each have two contact openings 62 and 64, two neutral conductors 65 and 66 and molded insertion guides 67 and 68 for a plug, not shown.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show a section through the socket arrangement according to FIG. 5 and an enlarged detailed illustration to explain the latching in the housing 57, the connecting line 58 and parts of the inner conductor routing being omitted for simplification.

A lower half 69 of the housing 57 of the strip-shaped socket arrangement is shown in FIG. 6, in which four different receiving areas for the socket inserts 51-54 are shown. The receiving areas each have a circular cross section 70, into which a snap-in 71 is formed every 45 °, which can be seen enlarged in FIG. 7. As can be seen in connection with FIG. 9, each socket insert 51-54 is formed with a lower section 72, on the outside of which rounded detent cams 73 are integrally molded in an elastically yieldable manner. In addition, sliding contact brackets 74 and 75 are shown in Figure 6, which with the respective Plug contacts are connected below the openings 63 and 64 and are provided for the edge-side contacting with slip ring sections omitted in FIG. 6. Also omitted in FIG. 6 is a center rail for connecting the neutral conductors.

FIG. 8 shows a section similar to FIG. 6, but in which the electrical contacting of the individual socket inserts 51-54 is shown in more detail and the exemplary embodiment is explained in more detail with the aid of FIG. A conductor leads from the three-pole connection 58 to a slip ring section arrangement 76 and 77, which are fastened on both sides of the longitudinal axis BB of the socket strip 50 to the corresponding projections of the lower housing half. The slip ring sections extend for each socket insert 51-54 by about a third of the circumference and are arranged symmetrically to the longitudinal axis BB. Between them there is a slip ring section-free space in the region of the longitudinal axis B - B, which ensures the rotational position "off" in the socket insert 54. The individual slip ring sections of the two slip ring section designs 26 - 28 are each connected to one another and are therefore extremely easy to assemble. A rail profile 78 is provided for the neutral conductor in the longitudinal axis B - B of the strip, which is located in the area of the bottom 79 of the lower housing half 69 and is connected to the neutral conductors 66 and 67 via a profiled plug-on column.

According to FIG. 9, each socket insert 51-54 has an annular projection 80 in its upper area, which engages in the ice-shaped opening edge in the upper housing part 59 with sufficient play to rotate the insert. As can be seen in connection with FIG. 10, the neutral conductor contacts 65 and 66 are connected to one another via a rail profile 81.

In the illustrated embodiment of a strip-shaped socket arrangement according to FIGS. 5-10, the socket inserts 51-54 can be rotated into any position, preferably latching positions after 45 ° swiveling, and the slip ring section design is made in such a way that in a certain rotation range the socket inserts are de-energized.

Claims (15)

Electrical socket arrangement (10; 50), consisting of a housing (11; 57) with socket inserts (16 - 18; 51 - 54) leading at least two connection poles for electrical contacting of poles of a multi-pole in the housing (11; 57) Have connection cable (12; 58) by means of suitable multi-pin plug, each socket insert (16 - 18; 51 - 54) being able to be rotated around an axis (A) parallel to the direction of insertion of a plug relative to the housing (11; 57). Arrangement according to claim 1,
characterized,
that the connection poles of each socket insert (16-18; 51-54) can be connected to the poles of the connection line (12; 58) via a sliding contact arrangement (76, 77). Arrangement according to claim 1 or 2,
characterized,
that each socket insert (16-18; 51-54) can be locked in predetermined relative rotational positions with the housing (11; 57). Arrangement according to claim 3,
characterized,
that in at least one predetermined relative rotational position of each socket insert (16-18; 51-54) the sliding contact arrangement (76; 77) has no contact with the associated poles of the connecting line (12; 58). Arrangement according to claim 3 or 5,
characterized,
that each socket insert (16 - 18; 51 - 54) can be re-locked from a locked position after any rotation by 45 °. Arrangement according to one of claims 3-5,
characterized,
that at least one radial locking cam (73) is provided on each socket insert (16-18; 51-54) for the appropriate engagement in housing-side latches (71). Arrangement according to one of claims 1-5,
characterized,
that for the (16, 17, 18) a central locking profile (44) is provided, which engages at least one locking element (46) arranged on the socket insert (16, 17, 18). Arrangement according to claim 7,
characterized,
that the locking profile (44) is formed on a housing base (43) of the socket arrangement. Arrangement according to claim 7 or 8,
characterized,
that two diametrically opposite locking elements (46) are provided on the socket insert (16, 17, 18). Arrangement according to one of claims 7 to 9,
characterized,
that each locking element (46) is designed as a molded locking lug, which due to its material elasticity can be locked resiliently with the locking profile (44). Arrangement according to one of claims 7 to 10,
characterized,
that the socket insert (16, 17, 18) is rotatably guided on an upper housing section (31) and engages on the latching profile (44) with latching lugs (46) formed on the underside. Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that the electrical poles of the connecting line (58) in the region of the socket inserts (51- 54) are designed as slip ring sections (76, 77). Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that in the case of a strip-shaped socket arrangement (50) on both sides of the longitudinal axis of the strip (B - B), an electrical pole is formed as a slip ring section design (76, 77) formed in one piece for all socket inserts and a neutral conductor rail (78) arranged in the area of the longitudinal axis of the strip (B - B) with contact with the associated socket insert poles (66, 67) are provided. Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that each socket insert (16-18; 51-54) has guide formations (80) on its outside which engage behind an upper edge of the socket housing (57). Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, in the form of a power strip,
characterized,
that the axes of rotation (A) of the socket inserts (16 - 18; 51 - 54) are parallel to each other.

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