EP1128493A1 - Electrical power supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a metal profile (10) with an inner channel (14) for an electrical cable (26) and an undercut outer groove (18) for attachment elements. An adapter (20) that can be clamped in the groove has a contact pin (28) protruding through a channel opening to contact the cable and is in electrical contact with the metal profile. The cable is freely suspended in the channel and held only at points along its length by insulating distance pieces. Independent claims are also included for the following: a furniture frame with two metal profiles.

Description

The invention relates to a power supply device with a metal profile, a channel inside and an undercut groove in the outer wall for tightening fasteners.

Such metal profiles are used, among other things, as construction elements in shelving systems used, for example as vertical columns on which floor supports to be fastened for the individual shelves. For reasons of weight and material savings the metal profiles are mostly designed as hollow profiles, so that they have at least one longitudinal channel in the interior exhibit. The fasteners, such as the floor supports, are with the help braced by slot nuts in the undercut groove of the metal profile. Mostly holes are formed at the base of the groove at certain longitudinal intervals, which make it easier to attach the fasteners in defined positions to attach the metal profile.

It is already known to use metal profiles that are used in shelf construction Form busbars to the electrical consumer, for example Luminaires connected in any longitudinal position using suitable adapters can be. The electrical conductors of the busbars are then isolated from the metal profile by insulation profiles and arranged so that they are brought into contact with corresponding contacts of the adapter can. The technical requirements for such a busbar, in particular the need for adequate isolation distances between each However, adhering to electrical conductors leads to certain restrictions regarding the design of the metal profile. Typically at the conventional conductor rails have a relatively wide metal profile have open groove in which for the production of electrical contacts and functional parts of the adapter required for mechanical fastening can be included. Through such a relatively wide open groove affects the appearance of the metal profile. For high-quality shelf furniture can therefore be caused by the function as a busbar technical requirements do not readily comply with the requirements agree on an aesthetically pleasing design of the metal profile.

The object of the invention is to provide a power supply device with low To integrate voltage-operated electrical consumers into the metal profile that with regard to the design of the metal profile a high degree constructive freedom is retained and yet a reliable electrical Contact can be guaranteed.

This task is performed in a power supply device of the type mentioned Art solved in that the channel is cantilevered, along its length electrical conductors held only at certain points by insulating spacers takes up and that an adapter can be clamped in the groove, the one hand by an insulated from the metal profile, by a breakthrough in the contact pin protruding with the conductor and on the other hand directly with the Metal profile is in electrical contact.

According to the invention, the conductor received in the channel and created a two-phase track by the metal profile itself the connection of low voltage, safe for humans operated electrical consumers such as low-voltage halogen lights and the like is suitable. The undercut groove that here also serves to fasten the adapter, does not need to be larger be than with conventional metal profiles for shelf elements, which are a purely mechanical Function. By placing the electrical conductor in the already existing channel of the metal profile becomes a compact design of the profile. The cantilever arrangement of the conductor in the channel has the advantage that on an insulation profile or an insulating jacket can be dispensed with and that the conductor practically anywhere can be contacted without the contact reliability through the insulation is affected. This way, a safe electrical contact can also be made produce if the conductor only by a very small dimension Breakthrough is accessible, for example through one of the already existing Holes for the shelf supports.

The self-supporting electrical conductor must of course have a certain bending stiffness and accordingly have a relatively large cross section, so that a Contact with the metal profile is excluded. This high cross section the conductor also benefits from the electrical conductivity, so that the line losses can be minimized and also with longer cable lengths and / or a large number of consumers does not result in a noticeable drop in voltage. Finally, by not using continuous insulation the dissipation of the heat loss of the electrical conductor is improved.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention result from the subclaims.

The electrical conductor is preferably formed by a solid copper wire. The channel of the metal profile that receives the copper wire is preferred closed all around and only by separated, in certain Openings arranged at longitudinal intervals are accessible through them. In this way is a mechanical weakening of the metal profile by a continuous Avoid slot in the wall of the channel. The grid of breakthroughs can however be chosen so fine that the limitation of the possible Connection points does not have a negative effect in practice.

The contact pin of the adapter is preferably elastic against the electrical Prestressed conductor so that a reliable electrical contact is guaranteed becomes. The elastic reaction forces acting on the adapter can be immediate through a slot nut engaging in the undercut groove Metal profile can be initiated.

For example, if the metal profile is an anodized extrusion profile is made of aluminum, due to the insulating effect of the Anodized layer special measures are taken to direct electrical Establish contact between the adapter and the metal profile. In a particularly preferred embodiment are the breakthroughs that give access to allow conductors inside the channel, formed by counterbores. The anodized layer has been removed in the area of the conical depression, so that at this point there is a safe electrical contact between the adapter and the metal profile can be manufactured. The adapter then preferably has a sleeve surrounding the contact pin and electrically insulated from it made of metal, which is tapered at one end and elastic against the Taper of the counterbore is biased. The resulting from this bias Reactive forces can again enter the metal profile via the sliding block be initiated. This sleeve is preferred with a certain axial play in held the sliding block and takes up an insulation sleeve inside, in the again with a certain amount of axial play, the contact pin is held. In this way are the contact pin, the insulation sleeve, the metal sleeve and the sliding block captively connected to one unit.

The sliding block preferably has a tubular surrounding the metal sleeve Shaft on which the electrical connected with the help of the adapter Consumer is held. One screwed onto an external thread of this shaft Round nut is supported on the outer surface of the metal profile and thus enables the sliding block to be firmly in the undercut groove of the metal profile to brace.

An adapter of the type described above can also be used as a feeder of current in the electrical conductor. In one particularly preferred embodiment, however, is the feeder into a special node element integrated, specially for a stable attachment at one end is formed of the metal profile and for connecting additional construction clamps serves, which together with the metal profile form a stable space grille.

The following is an embodiment of the invention with reference to the drawing explained in more detail.

Fig. 1

einen Querschnitt eines Metallprofils mit einem daran angesetzten Adapter zur Stromversorgung einer Leuchte;

Fig. 2

vergrößerte Teilschnitte des Metallprofils und des Adapters nach Figur 1;

Fig. 3

eine Stirnansicht des Adapters;

Fig. 4

einen Schnitt durch das Metallprofil in Verbindung mit einem Knotenelement mit integriertem Einspeiser;

Fig. 5

einen Längsschnitt durch das Metallprofil mit Knotenelement und Einspeiser; und

Fig. 6

eine Prinzipskizze eines Möbelteils mit Stromversorgungseinrichtung.

Show it:

Fig. 1

a cross section of a metal profile with an attached adapter for power supply to a lamp;

Fig. 2

enlarged partial sections of the metal profile and the adapter according to Figure 1;

Fig. 3

an end view of the adapter;

Fig. 4

a section through the metal profile in connection with a node element with integrated feeder;

Fig. 5

a longitudinal section through the metal profile with node element and feeder; and

Fig. 6

a schematic diagram of a furniture part with power supply device.

A cross-section of a metal profile 10 known per se, for example, is shown in FIG Made of anodized aluminum, shown for example a vertical column a shelf can form. This metal profile 10 has a square outer cross section with slightly convex sides and is covered by a Web cross braced 12, in the middle of a central channel 14 with a circular Cross section is formed. The outer wall of the metal profile 10 is shown in the Example interrupted at one corner by a slot 16 (Figure 2) that together with one of the four hollow chambers delimited by the web cross 12 forms an undercut groove 18. Shelf supports and other fastening elements, not shown can be done in a known manner with sliding blocks in the groove 18 fix. In the example shown, however, an adapter 20 is inserted into the groove 18, the one for mechanical fastening and at the same time for power supply Lamp 22 is used. The lamp 22, for example a low-voltage halogen lamp, is connected to the adapter 20 by a biaxial joint 24.

For the power supply of the lamp 22 is in the channel 14 of the metal profile 10 an electrical conductor 26 is arranged, of which the current through a contact pin 28 of the adapter 20 is tapped. The current is returned directly over the metal profile 10, which with a metal sleeve 30 of the adapter 20 is in electrical contact. The conductor 26 is a solid, stiff copper wire, which is cantilevered in the channel 14 and with the walls thereof Channel forms an insulating annular gap.

The structure of the adapter 20 is explained in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 explained. In Figure 2, the adapter 20 is separated for clarity represented by the metal profile 10.

Carrying element of the adapter 20 is a sliding block 32 made of metal, which with a elongated plate 34 designed as a gag into the undercut groove 18 engages and has a tubular shaft 36 extending from the plate 34, which protrudes through the slot 16 of the metal profile 10 and at the free end an internal threaded connector 38 of the joint 24 is screwed. If the sliding block 32 starting from the position shown in FIG. 2 by 90 ° around its

Is rotated in the longitudinal axis, the plate 34 is oriented in the longitudinal direction of the slot 16, so that they go through the slot 16 into the undercut Groove 18 can be inserted. The plate 34 can then be rotated about about 45 ° can be locked in the undercut groove 18. On the external thread of the shaft 36 is a round nut 40 screwed with which one Fitting piece 42 surrounding shaft 36 against the outer surface of metal profile 10 can be tensioned so that the plate 34 firmly against the undercuts the groove 18 is pulled. In this way, a stable mechanical connection Made between the metal profile 10 and the hinge 24 of the lamp 22.

The metal sleeve 30 is guided axially displaceably in the shaft 36 of the sliding block 32 and has on the inside of the plate 34 a thickened, for free Conical tapered head 44. The opposite end of the metal sleeve 30 is supported on an electrically via an electrically conductive coil spring 46 conductive part of the joint 24. The head 44 is through on the plate 34 two screws 48 are held which relate to the axial play of the metal sleeve 30 limit the sliding block 32 and the metal sleeve and the sliding block to one Connect unity.

The contact pin 28 is guided in an insulation sleeve 50 with limited axial play, which in turn is held captive in the metal sleeve 30. A Coil spring 51 is supported on an inner shoulder of the insulation sleeve 50 and tends to get the contact pin 28 out of the head 44 of the metal sleeve 30 to push out. In the state shown in Figure 2, the contact pin held by a collar on a shoulder of the insulation tube 50. The contact pin is connected to the lamp 22 via a flexible cable 52, while the metal sleeve 30 via the conductive coil spring 46 electrically with the Luminaire is connected.

The conductor 26 running in the closed channel 14 of the metal profile 10 is accessible through a bore 54 formed in the base of the undercut groove 18, which has a countersink 56 at the outer end. In the area of this The insulating anodized layer of the metal profile 10 is removed from the tapered cone.

If the adapter 20 in the manner shown in Figure 1 using the sliding block 32 and the round nut 40 at a suitable height in the undercut groove 18th of the metal profile 10 is clamped, so the free ends of the contact pin protrude 28 and the insulation sleeve 50 through the bore 54, and the tip of the contact pin 28 abuts the conductor 26, so that the contact pin opposes the force of the coil spring 51 slightly pushed back into the insulation tube becomes. In this way, the contact pin under tension in contact with the Head 26 held so that a safe electrical contact is guaranteed. The engagement of the insulation tube 50 in the bore 54 prevents a short circuit by touching the contact pin with the metal profile 10. The conical tapered head 44 of the metal sleeve 30 engages in the countersink 56 and is also pushed back somewhat, against the force of the coil spring 46, so that there is sufficient contact pressure in the area of the lowering cone 56 between the metal sleeve 30 and the metal profile 10 is ensured. On in this way, the adapter 20, which is very small in size, makes it easier and more reliable electrical connection of the lamp 22 reached to the power supply.

Figures 4 and 5 show the metal profile 10 in connection with a node element 58, into which a feeder 60 for the power supply to the conductor 26 is integrated is.

The node element 58 is a metal casting that is stable at one end of the metal profile 10 is attached and two legs arranged at right angles to each other 62 forms the stable connection of longitudinal and cross members, not shown allow a shelf. After the final assembly of the shelf, the node element lies 58 invisible under the bottom shelf.

An oriented in the direction of the bisector between the legs 62 Terminal block 64 is adapted to the outer contour of the metal profile 10 and with With the help of a sliding block 66 clamped in the undercut groove 18 of the metal profile.

As far as the contacting of the conductor 26 is concerned, the feeder 60 is analogous to the adapter 20 according to FIG. 2 and has an insulation tube 68 in which a contact pin 70 is guided. The somewhat tapered end of the insulation tube 68 engages again in a hole in the base of the undercut groove 18 a, and the contact pin 70 is by a coil spring 72 against the Head 26 excited. The other end of the coil spring 72 is supported on one clamp 74 held in the insulation tube 68, which is connected via a cable 76 one of the two secondary outputs of a transformer, not shown is. The clamp 74 is, for example, with the help of a fixing screw Insulation tube 68 held. The conductive and mechanically flexible connection to the contact pin 70 takes place in this case via the coil spring 72.

The insulation tube 68 and the cable 76 are in a suitably contoured groove 78 inserted, which is formed in the top of the node element 58. Two Cross bores 80 allow the insulation tube 68 with the aid of clamping screws to fix in the node element 58.

As can be seen from FIG. 5, the sliding block 66 is below the feeder 60 arranged on the connection block 64 and can be tensioned with the aid of a tension bolt 82. The free end of the tension bolt 82 engages in one of the bores 54 of the metal profile 10, so that it is ensured that the node element 58 in a defined height is fixed to the metal profile 10. Because the node element 58 located at the (lower) end of the metal profile 10, the sliding block 66 not to be designed like a gag, but it can enter from the free end undercut groove 18 are inserted before the draw bolt 82 continues is screwed in.

When using the adapter 20 shown in Figures 1 to 3, several electrical Consumers are connected, the current at the feeder is 60 a multiple of the current intensity that is tapped at the individual adapters 20 becomes. It is therefore important that the feeder has a particularly good electrical one There is contact with the conductor 26 and especially with the metal profile 10. For this reason, the metal profile 10 is contacted via a special one Clamping screw 84, the tip of which is firmly in the material of the metal profile 10 can be pressed in at the bottom of the groove 18. The tension screw 84 is in threaded engagement with a clamp 86 held on the connection block 64, to which a second cable 88 leading to the transformer is connected.

Since in this embodiment the draw bolt 82 engages in one of the bores 54, the contact pin 70 does not fit into the grid of the holes 54. For the Contact pin and the insulation tube is therefore a special hole in the Bottom of the groove 18 formed.

A lower end portion of the central channel 14 of the metal profile 10 is with a Provided with internal thread. An insulating plug is in this end section 90 screwed, which holds one end of the conductor 26. The insulating plug 90 is at least at the level of the draw bolt 82, so that this draw bolt cannot come into contact with the conductor 26.

The upper end of the conductor 26 is held in an analogous manner by a plug 92.

If the metal profile 10 and the conductor 26 have a relatively long length, it is expedient to push spacers 94, which isolate punctually, onto the conductor 26, the bending of the conductor 26 and contact with the inner wall prevent the channel 14.

Figure 6 shows schematically a horizontal section through a piece of furniture four vertical columns, through 10 identical metal profiles with the metal profile are formed, which are differentiated here by reference numerals 10, 10a, 10b and 10c. Between these pillars is a schematic indicated shelf 96 held under which a lamp 98 is arranged in the center is.

The power supply device is here diagonally opposite one another Metal profiles 10 and 10a formed, both an inner conductor Record 26. The current from the inner conductor 26 of the metal profile 10 is in the manner described above with the aid of the contact pin 28 of the adapter 20 tapped. However, the second contact of lamp 98 is not with the adapter 20 connected, but with a slightly modified adapter 20a that the metal profile 10a is attached. This adapter 20a differs from the adapter 20 in that the contact pin 28 and the coil spring 51st are omitted. The cable 100 coming from the lamp 98 is here at one Threaded socket 102 connected, which is screwed into the round nut 40 and the abutment for the coil spring 46 forms and at the same time a conductive Establishes connection between the cable 100 and the metal sleeve 30. To this The luminaire 98 is electrically bound to the metal profile 10a, so that the current from the inner conductor 26 of the metal profile 10 via the lamp 98 in the diagonally opposite metal profile 10a flows. The metal sleeve 30 of the Adapter 20 is not used here to make electrical contact Contact with the metal profile 10 is required, but only serves in connection with the sliding block 32 for mechanical attachment of the adapter.

In the metal profile 10a, the electrical conductor 26 does not become a power supply the lamp 98 needed. This conductor is only used for power supply here of lights, approximately in the manner shown in Figure 1 directly on the metal profile 10a are attached. This means that consumers, whose power supply is via two columns as with lamp 98, can be combined with consumers where the power supply only over a single pillar. The variant shown in Figure 6 has in this Case over a power supply from only one pillar the advantage that a more uniform current load in the different circuits is achieved.

Since the metal profiles 10 and 10a part of a common frame of the furniture part are, it can generally not be assumed that a potential separation exists between these two metal profiles. Unless the inner Conductor 26 of both profiles are used for the power supply, it must therefore be ensured that the two conductors 26 on the one hand and the metal profiles 10 and 10a, on the other hand, voltages supplied are in phase. If the Power supply via two separate electronic transformers can achieve phase equality through electronic synchronization of this Transformers can be ensured.

Claims (12)

Power supply device with a metal profile (10), which forms a channel (14) inside, which receives an electrical conductor (26), and an undercut groove (18) in the outer wall for tightening fastening elements, and with one in the groove (18 ) fixable adapter (20), which on the one hand is insulated from the metal profile (10), through an opening (54) in the channel (14) protruding contact pin (28) with the conductor (26) and on the other hand directly with the metal profile (10 ) is in electrical contact, characterized in that the conductor (26) is arranged in a self-supporting manner in the channel (14) and its length is only held selectively by insulating spacers (90, 92, 94). Power supply device according to claim 1, characterized in that the channel (14) is surrounded by a closed wall which has only individual openings (54) arranged at certain longitudinal intervals. Power supply device according to Claim 2, characterized in that the opening (54) has a chamfer or a countersink (56) on the outer edge and that the adapter (20) has a metal sleeve (30) surrounding the contact pin (28) and electrically insulated therefrom which contacts the chamfer or the tapered cone (56) with a head (44) tapered towards the free end. Power supply device according to claim 3, characterized in that the metal sleeve (30) is resiliently biased against the chamfer or the countersink cone (56). Power supply device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact pin (28) is surrounded by an insulation sleeve (50) which projects into the opening (54). Power supply device according to claim 5, characterized in that the insulation sleeve (50) forms an abutment for a spring (51) which tensions the contact pin (28) against the conductor (26). Power supply device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the adapter (20) has a slot nut (32) which engages in the undercut slot (18) and from which a shaft (36) emerging from the slot extends, and in that the contact pin (28 ) is arranged coaxially to the shaft (36). Power supply device according to claims 4 and 7, characterized in that the sliding block (32) and the metal sleeve (30) are connected with a certain axial play to form a unit. Power supply device according to Claim 7 or 8, characterized in that an electrical consumer (22) is fastened to the shaft (36) of the sliding block (32). Power supply device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a feeder (60) with a contact pin (70) for the power supply to the conductor (26) is integrated in a node element (58) to be fastened to the metal profile (10). Furniture frame with two metal profiles (10a, 10a), characterized in that each of the two metal profiles (10, 10a) is part of a power supply device according to one of Claims 1 to 10 and in that voltages of the same phase are supplied to these power supply devices. Furniture frame with two metal profiles (10, 10a), each forming a channel (14) inside and an undercut groove (18) in the outer wall for tightening fastening elements, characterized in that the channel (14) of at least one metal profile (10) accommodates a self-supporting electrical conductor (26), which is only sporadically held along its length by insulating spacers (90, 92, 94) and that an adapter (20) can be clamped in the groove (18) of this metal profile, 10) insulated, through an opening (54) in the channel (14) projecting contact pin (28) with the conductor (26) in electrical contact, and that in the groove (18) of the other metal profile (10a) an adapter (20a ) can be clamped, which is in electrical contact directly with this metal profile (10a).

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