EP1156558B1 - Overvoltage protection apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Unit with protector elements for the protection of low-voltage installations against voltage excesses comprises a base (1) with conductor bridges (3) which span the input and output sides of the unit, and connect the phase leads to the protector elements. The base is also provided with a conductor bridge (4) at a right angle to the bridges (4) for analogous connection of the neutral/earth lead.

Description

The invention relates to a surge protective device for Protection of low-voltage electrical installations before overvoltages according to the preamble of claim 1.

The correct use of surge protective devices in Low voltage installations is in national and international standards presented in great detail. However, these standards apply electrotechnical special knowledge ahead, which one often an electrician or Electrical planner overwhelmed. Because there must be one Many installation conditions are observed be in the planning of an electrical Plant and also in the manual execution of the Plant must flow. An incorrect installation of surge protective devices can result have that individual lines and thus the to protective devices continue to be unacceptably high Are exposed to voltage loads. In extreme cases due to incorrect installation the whole Surge protection become inoperative. Can too there is overloading of surge protective devices come from operating voltages.

These problems have led to a broad Acceptance of surge protective devices by the Electrical planners and also for electrical installation could not be reached. In addition, through Failures despite existing ones Surge protection devices trust in this Installation questioned.

Conventional surge protective devices point to Connection to electrical lines Lower housing part, which, for example DIN rails or the like can be mounted that in the central distribution of an electrical system are provided.

The installation is preferably close of the building's entrance of the electrical Supply lines so that the entire network of it equipped house can be protected. The actual surge protection elements are for example varistors or spark gaps, for example in the form of pluggable elements are trained so that they can be plugged into the appropriate lower part of the device can be used can.

In order to install such a surge protection device, which, for example, is intended to protect the phase-conducting conductors L ₁ , L ₂ , L ₃ , and the neutral conductor N and, if appropriate, also the PE conductor, the lower part of the known apparatus has a U-shaped design, for example can, in the region of one leg, the arrangement of terminals for phase conductors L ₁ to L ₃ and the neutral conductor is provided. For example, earth connections can be provided on the other leg of the housing, that is on the opposite side. Such a device cannot be looped into an existing installation, in particular into the wiring harness, but due to the circuitry requirements it is necessary to provide a parallel arrangement so that, for example, branches must be provided from the phase-conducting conductors of the installation system (L ₁ to L ₃ ), which then have to be connected to the corresponding connections of the surge protection device in a way that differs from the usual installation.

Furthermore there is a connection to the neutral conductor or to provide the PE conductor who again with the potential equalization rail, the is grounded, connected. This Installation method differs from the usual Installation grid from, such as at so-called residual current circuit breakers or others switches looped into the cables are common is.

Especially from this necessary installation result in many mistakes. Common sources of errors in the installation of such Surge protective devices are high, for example Cable lengths for the connection between the protective ladders and the Surge protection devices. Even the parallel one Laying unprotected and protected Cables are possible and therefore a source of errors. In the first case, the error would be too high Line length too much voltage on the Connection lines fall off, so that no correct protection is achieved. In the second illustrated fault case would be the parallel Laying protected and unprotected lines a significant coupling of overvoltages from the unprotected in the protected lines can have. Also the connection to the equipotential bonding bar is often problematic because permissible cable lengths there are exceeded.

From EP 0 644 613 A is a generic Surge protection device known. Here too is the installation effort considerably and the confusion-free assignment of the connections is also not easily guaranteed here. The Rather, an electrician must take considerable care to ensure correct wiring can.

DE 298 22 203 U1 is a mounting block for one Cable junction box with input terminals for connection of power supply cables and with outgoing terminals for Connection of consumer cables known, the Input terminals with the output terminals via Conductor rails are connected. Here are the Conductor rails with the formation of electrically insulating Bridge areas formed in two parts, each with an input rail facing the input terminals and a feeder rail facing the feeder terminals, the input rails with the outlet rails in the Bridge areas using electrically conductive Bridge connecting elements are connectable.

Based on this state of the art Invention based on the object To create surge protection device, which in simple way and using simplest Installation rules are installed properly can.

To solve this problem, it is proposed that a additional conductor bridge for the PE conductor parallel to the other conductor bridges is arranged, the end a corresponding first and second connection terminal has, that in the area of the installation site Conductor bridge for the neutral conductor a connection for the neutral conductor connection of the Overvoltage protection element is provided with the neutral conductor connecting bridge is contacted, as well as another connection for the Surge protection element that with a Connection bridge is contacted, which is isolated to Neutral conductor is arranged and with the PE conductor bridge is electrically connected.

The configuration according to the invention makes it possible to carry out the installation of the overvoltage protection device in a simple manner in such a way that it is practically possible to loop through the incoming and outgoing lines. The overvoltage protection device can be connected in a simple manner by the individual conductors (L ₁ , L ₂ , L ₃ ), neutral conductor and PE conductor being fed in parallel to one another and connected to the connections on one side of the housing, the outgoing lines being practical can be connected coaxially to these incoming connections on the other side of the housing. The conductor bridges of the phase conductors and possibly also the neutral conductor and PE conductor ensure correct and simple wiring, with excess lengths or loops also being avoided. Characterized in that on the one hand connection contacts are provided for the respective phase connection of the overvoltage element to be used at the inputs of each conductor bridge and the neutral conductor connection bridge is provided on the other contact area of the overvoltage protection element, the electrical correct wiring or connection between the intended overvoltage protection elements and the network is ensured. If necessary, a further conductor bridge for the PE conductor can also be provided, which is only electrically connected to the conductor bridge of the neutral conductor, so that a corresponding overvoltage protection element, for example a gas arrester, can be used in the corresponding connection contacts of the neutral conductor, which inevitably installs correctly is. The surge protective device must be integrated into the electrical line in such a way that it corresponds to the installation habits of electrical installers. A distribution is usually wired from bottom to top, with the individual line wires running parallel to each other. Such an installation direction can be implemented in a simple manner with the surge protection device according to the invention, since the device has inputs at the bottom and outputs at the top, which can be connected to the corresponding conductors. This also almost spatially separates the lines and also makes the parallel laying of protected and unprotected lines very difficult, if not impossible. The problem of cable lengths which adversely affect the installation is also avoided, since all the cables to be protected are brought together on the surge protection device and are correctly connected there using the shortest cable lengths. The installation and assembly of surge protective devices is made considerably easier as a complete installation solution is built integrally in the device. With a suitable design of the device, the device can be used for all network types, so that it does not require the installer to know about the network type.

As already stated, this enables device according to the invention the installation according to the installation habits of the Electrical trades as the installer is similar Types of installation, for example, during assembly is used to residual current circuit breakers. Also there the lower terminals are used as an input and the upper terminals form the outlets. The remaining installation instructions exist only to the extent that the surge protective device always mounted directly at the entrance to the installation must be and no further connections between the protected and unprotected lines may be made.

It is a particularly preferred development seen that the lower housing part is approximately U-shaped is formed, being in the base of the U-shape parallel to each other and electrically from each other isolated in a first, lower level Conductor bridges arranged in the form of sheet metal strips are the ends in the region of the legs of the U-shape have the terminals whose Cable insertion channels each parallel or quasi coaxial to the corresponding conductor bridge from the mutually facing surfaces of the legs open out.

In addition, it can preferably be provided that the cross neutral conductor connecting bridge arranged to the conductor bridges in the area of one leg the U shape or in the base near the leg in a second level isolated from the conductor bridges the phase conductor of the first level is arranged and with the conductor bridge of the neutral conductor is electrically connected, especially on this contacting in the intersection area.

It is also preferably provided that in the area of other leg or in the base near the Leg in the second level in the area of a each installation location one Surge protection element for the phase conductor one contacting the respective conductor bridge and insulated from neighboring conductor bridges Part is arranged as a connection.

It is also preferred that in the area of the other Thigh or in the base near the thigh in the second level in the area of coverage of the Conductor bridge of the neutral conductor and the PE conductor the connecting bridge in the form of a Conductor bridge of the PE conductor contacting and opposite the conductor bridge of the neutral conductor insulated sheet metal strip is formed.

It is also preferred that each surge element from a varistor arranged in a housing or a spark gap that exists with Connection contacts with the connections of the Lower housing part are electrically connected (in the Position of use), so that the overvoltage element electrical connection between each Conductor bridge of the phase conductor and the Neutral conductor bridge and the Connection bridge between neutral conductor and PE conductor represents.

An embodiment of the invention is in the Drawing shown and below in more detail described.

Figur 1

ein erfindungsgemäßes Überspannugsgerät schematisch in Draufsicht;

Figur 2

desgleichen im Schnitt II/II der Figur 1 gesehen;

Figur 3

desgleichen im Schnitt III/III der Figur 1 gesehen;

Figur 4

ein Schnitt im Schnitt IV/IV der Figur 1 gesehen;

Figur 5

ein Schnitt V/V der Figur 1;

Figur 6

ein Schnitt VI/VI gemäß Figur 1 gesehen.

It shows:

Figure 1

a surge device according to the invention schematically in plan view;

Figure 2

likewise seen in section II / II of Figure 1;

Figure 3

likewise seen in section III / III of Figure 1;

Figure 4

seen a section in section IV / IV of Figure 1;

Figure 5

a section V / V of Figure 1;

Figure 6

a section VI / VI seen in Figure 1.

The view in FIG. 1 corresponds approximately to the view in FIG Section line I in FIG. 3.

An overvoltage protection device for protecting low-voltage electrical installations against overvoltages is shown in the drawing. It consists of a lower part 1 with terminals for the phase conductors L ₁ , L ₂ , L ₃ and the earth conductors PE as well. the neutral conductors N. Furthermore, in the exemplary embodiment, installation locations designed as slots are provided on the lower part, which are in electrical connection with the connection terminals. The actual overvoltage protection elements 2 are designed in the form of varistors or spark gaps and can be plug-connected as cuboid elements to the lower part 1, the position securing being provided on the one hand and the proper electrical contacting on the other hand.

A continuous conductor bridge 3 _L1 , 3 _L2 , 3 _L3 , 3 _PE , 3 _{N is} provided in the area of each installation location for a surge arrester 2. The continuous conductor bridge 3 _L1 shown in the drawing figure 1 on the left connects the input L ₁ at the bottom with the output L _{1 '} at the top. The adjacent jumper 3 _L2 arranged in parallel connects the input L ₂ with the output L ₂ '. The further conductor bridge 3 _L3 , which in turn is located next to it, connects the input L ₃ at the bottom to the output L ₃ 'at the top. The next conductor bridge 3 _N connects the input N at the bottom with the output N 'at the top. The next conductor bridge 3 _PE in turn connects the input PE at the bottom with the output PE 'at the top. For example, insulated from the conductor bridges 3 _L1 , 3 _L2 , 3 _L3 , 3 _N by plastic insulating elements, a neutral conductor connecting bridge 4 arranged transversely to these is provided on the upper end region of the conductor bridges 3 _L1 , 3 _L2 , 3 _L3 , 3 _N in the installation direction according to FIG , specifically in the area of the installation locations with a plug connection for the neutral conductor connection of the overvoltage protection element. This connecting bridge 4 is not electrically connected to the phase-conducting conductor bridges 3 _L1 , 3 _L2 , 3 _{L3 of} the conductors L ₁ to L ₃ , but rather is electrically insulated from them and lies on the conductor bridge 3 _{N of} the neutral conductor N in an electrically conductive manner. In the area shown in FIG. _1, a connection element is provided above each conductor bridge 3 _L1 , 3 _L2 , 3 _L3 for the phase conductors L ₁ to L ₃ , by means of which the phase connection of the respective surge arrester 2 can be plug-connected and electrically conductively connected to the bridge underneath. The surge element 5 provided within the surge arrester is electrically connected to the plug connections of the surge arrester 2, as can be seen for example from FIGS. 4 and 5. The conductor bridge 3 _PE for the PE conductor is connected via a connecting bridge 6 to the connection area of the overvoltage protection element above the conductor bridge of the neutral conductor N, this connection being insulated from the conductor bridge 3 _{N of} the neutral conductor. However, the connecting bridge 6 is electrically conductively connected to the conductor bridge 3 _{PE of} the PE conductor, that is to say can be placed on it in a contacting manner, for example. When surge arresters are plugged in, an electrical connection is established between the input connection L ₁ E, L ₂ E, L ₃ E and PEE on the one hand and the associated neutral conductor connection NA. This ensures proper wiring, and the appropriate top and bottom outlets and inlets for the cables also ensure simple and correct installation. As can be seen in particular from FIGS. 4 to 6, the lower housing part is essentially U-shaped. In this case, the arrangement of the conductor bridges 3 _L1 , 3 _L2 , 3 _L3 , 3 _PE , 3 _{N is} provided in the base of the U-shape parallel to one another and electrically insulated from one another, for example in the form of copper sheet metal strips or the like can be trained. In the area of the legs of the U-shape, the corresponding connection terminals are arranged in the areas designated with the designations L ₁ , L ₂ , L ₃ , N and PE or L ₁ ', L ₂ ', L ₃ ', N' and PE ' Marked are. The cable insertion channels are thus each aligned quasi coaxially to the corresponding conductor bridges 3 _L1 , 3 _L2 , 3 _L3 , 3 _PE , 3 _N.

The neutral conductor connecting bridge 4 arranged transversely to the conductor bridges 3 _L1 , 3 _L2 , 3 _L3 , 3 _N is provided near one leg of the U-shape of the lower part 1 in a second plane, which lies above the first plane, which is from the conductor bridges 3 _L1 , 3 _L2 , 3 _L3 , 3 _{N is} spanned; electrical insulation is provided between the conductor bridges and the neutral conductor connecting bridge 4. The conductor bridges 3 _L1 , 3 _L2 , 3 _L3 , 3 _PE , 3 _N are also spaced apart and insulated from each other. Only in the crossing area of the conductor bridge 3 _N , which forms the neutral conductor connection N, is the neutral conductor connecting bridge 4 placed in contact with the corresponding bridge 3 _N , so that the desired electrical connection between the bridge 4 and the bridge 3 _{N of} the N conductor is established , Near the other leg of the lower part 1, in the area of each installation location of an overvoltage protection element 2 for the phase conductors L ₁ to L ₃ , for example a plate-shaped connecting element is provided in the second level; which plug connection means has as plug connection of the corresponding surge conductor. The individual elements L ₁ E, L ₂ E, L ₃ E are arranged next to one another and insulated from one another and in each case only connected in contact with the conductor bridge 3 _L1 , 3 _L2 , 3 _L3 underneath. In the area of the neutral conductor N and the PE conductor, the bridge 6 is arranged, which lies in contact with the PE conductor and is insulated from the neutral conductor N (the corresponding conductor bridge 3 _N ). This bridge is also formed, for example, by a sheet metal strip.

Each overvoltage element 2 can have a varistor or a spark gap in its housing as a protective element 5, this corresponding protective element being electrically connected to connector contacts 7, which in turn can be plugged into the corresponding connector elements located above the conductor bridges 3 _L1 , 3 _L2 , 3 _L3 , 3 _PE , 3 _{N are} formed or arranged. In addition, in a corresponding free space of the lower part 1, which is formed above the conductor bridge 3 _{PE of} the PE conductor, an element for remote signaling can be used which signals in a manner known per se when a surge arrester has failed or has been stressed.

The overvoltage protection device shown in the exemplary embodiment is suitable for all common network types and is therefore to be installed by the installer without that he knows the network form. The device is also in extremely easy way into an existing line integrate by using the device in the usual way incoming lines at the bottom and outgoing lines at the top Outlets installed analogous to the illustration in Figure 1 can be.

Claims (6)

1. An overvoltage protection apparatus for the protection of low-voltage installations from overvoltages, consisting of a lower apparatus part (1) having terminals for phase conductors (L₁ - L₃) and earth or neutral conductors (PE,N) and also having installation sites preferably constructed as plug-in locations, which are electrically connected to the terminals and are inserted or plugged into the overvoltage protection elements (2) in the form of varistors, dischargers or the like,
   wherein the lower housing part (1) in the region of each installation site comprises a continuous conductor bridge 3_L1, 3_L2, 3_L3, 3_LPE, 3_LN), which in each case is bonded with a first terminal for the incoming wire disposed on one side of the housing and a second terminal for the outgoing wire disposed on the opposite side of the housing,
   wherein each conductor bridge (3_L1, 3_L2, 3_L3) of each phase conductor (L₁-L₃) comprises a connection for the phase connection of the overvoltage protection element (2) in the region of the associated installation site,
   wherein disposed insulated from the conductor bridges (3_L1, 3_L2, 3_L3) is a connection bridge (4) disposed at right angles to them, which each, in the region of the installation sites, comprise a connection for the neutral conductor connection of the overvoltage protection element (2) and which is bonded with the conductor bridge (3_N) for the neutral conductor (N) disposed parallel to the conductor bridges (3_L1, 3_L2, 3_L3) of the phase conductors (L1-L3),
   characterised in that a further conductor bridge (3_PE) for the PE conductor is disposed parallel to the other conductor bridges (3_L1, 3_L2, 3_L3, 3_N), which at the end comprises a corresponding first and second terminal,
   in that in the region of the installation site of the conductor bridge (3_N) for the neutral conductor a connection for the neutral conductor connection of the overvoltage protection element (2) is provided, which is bonded with the neutral conductor connection bridge (3_N), and also another connection for the overvoltage protection element (2), which is bonded with a connection bridge (6), which is disposed insulated from the neutral conductor (N) and is electrically connected to the conductor bridge (3_PE) for the PE conductor.
2. An overvoltage protection apparatus according to Claim 1,
   characterised in that the lower housing part (1) has a roughly U-shaped construction, wherein in the base of the U-shape the conductor bridges (3_L1, 3_L2, 3_L3, 3_PE, 3_N) are disposed parallel to each other and electrically insulated from each other in a first, lower plane in the form of strips, which at the end in the region of the limbs of the U-shaped comprise the terminals, the cable plug-in conduits of which emerge from the mutually opposite faces of the limbs parallel or virtually coaxially to the corresponding conductor bridge (3_L1, 3_L2, 3_L3, 3_PE, 3_N).
3. An overvoltage protection apparatus according to one of Claims 1 or 2,
   characterised in that the neutral conductor connection bridge (4) disposed at right angles to the conductor bridges (3_L1, 3_L2, 3_L3, 3_N) is disposed in the region of the one limb of the U shape or in the base close to the limb in a second plane insulated from the conductor bridges (3_L1, 3_L2, 3_L3) of the phase conductors (L₁-L₃) of the first plane and is electrically connected to the conductor bridge (3_N) of the neutral conductor (N), in particular is adjacent in the intersection region and bonding on it.
4. An overvoltage protection apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to 3,
   characterised in that a part (L₁E, L₂E, L₃E), which bonds with the respective conductor bridge (3_L1, 3_L2, 3_L3) and is insulated from adjacent conductor bridges (3_L1, 3_L2, 3_L3) is disposed as a connection in the region of the other limb or in the base close to the limb in the second plane in the region of each installation site of an overvoltage protection element (2) for the phase conductors (L₁-L₃).
5. An overvoltage protection apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to 4,
   characterised in that the connecting bridge (6) in the form of a strip which bonds the conductor bridge (3_PE) of the PE conductor and is insulated from the conductor bridge (3_N) of the neutral conductor (N) is constructed in the region of the other limb or in the base close to the limb in the second plane in the region of the covering of the conductor bridge (3_LN) (3_LPE) of the neutral conductor (N) and of the PE conductor.
6. An overvoltage protection apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to 5,
   characterised in that each overvoltage element (2) consists of a varistor disposed in a housing or a discharger, which are electrically connected by contacts to the connections of the lower housing part (1) (in the position of use) so that the overvoltage element (2) represents the electrical connection in each case between the conductor bridge (3_L1, 3_L2, 3_L3) of the phase conductor (L₁, L₂ or L₃) and the neutral conductor connecting bridge (4) and the connecting bridge (6) between neutral conductor (N) and PE conductor.

Images