EP1529302B2 - Electrical switchgear - Google Patents

Abstract

The switching device has an insulating housing (2), each switch pole having incoming and outgoing contacts (4) provided with respective terminals (41) for connection with an external electrical lead, at least one of the contacts having a second terminal (42) for connection with a second electrical conductor, positioned between its opposite ends, respectively provided with the first external electrical lead terminal and a stationary switch contact (43). Each second terminal can be provided by an opening for reception of an electrical conductor pin contact.

Description

The invention relates to an electrical switching device according to claim 1. In particular, the invention relates to switching devices, such as contactors motor protection switch, circuit breaker or circuit breaker or the like. But also programmable switching devices, such as programmable logic controllers or programmable relays are contemplated in the scope of the invention.

Conventional switching devices such as contactors have input and output side for each pole to be switched on a terminal contact in the form of a fixed contact. For the purpose of connection, or interruption, the associated fixed contacts are connected or disconnected via a contact bridge driven by a magnetic drive. In such devices, the externally accessible fixed contact terminals are usually on laterally accessible screw, which can be screwed or loosened from the top of the device or laterally accessible or from above and also from the side or from above releasable spring clamped connections formed.

From the publication DE 201 20 504 U1 is already a switching device with such connection devices known. This switching device is equipped on one pole side with screw terminals and on the other opposite pole side with different connection elements, such as equipped with spring clamp elements.

Furthermore, from the document DE 100 23 851 A1 a terminal for switchgear known in which a base provided screw can be replaced by a module for a spring clamp connection.

The publication EP 0 633 588 A1 a connection device with a busbar is to be taken over which a main screw terminal and an auxiliary screw terminal are connected. The publication FR 2 742 918 A1 shows a switching device, the terminal side is provided with elaborate to produce metallic terminal blocks, in each of which a screw clamp mounted and a terminal lug is designed for connection to a blade receptacle. Similarly, the US 5 107 396 a switching device with metallic terminal blocks, the clamping screws for load connection cable lugs and directly attached below, with surrounding insulating sleeves outwardly projecting contact angle for auxiliary wire conductor.

From the publication FR 1 289 699 A a switching device with screw terminals is to be taken, which allow it by means of specially trained clamping screws to connect two parallel electrical conductors in parallel.

The above-described embodiments have already proven themselves in practice for the most part. The object of the invention is to provide a switching device which is optimized with regard to the connection technology. It is intended both to ensure ease of use by the user, and to be more flexible in terms of the variety of connectivity options.

Starting from an at least single-pole switching device in which each pole has at least one incoming and one outgoing connection contact, each of the connection contacts has first connection means for connecting a first external electrical conductor and at least one of the connection contacts has second connection means for connecting a second electrical conductor the object is achieved in that the first and second connection means and a connection point for device-internal contacting components of a tongue-like contact carrier. To the outside of the device, the switching device according to the invention realized in a structurally and technologically uncomplicated manner both in a conventional manner formed first connection means and second connection means for additional connection members.

The second connection means are arranged closer to the interior of the switching device than the first connection means.

According to the invention, the connection contact carries a fixed contact leading to the interior of the device (for example, contactors). The first connection means are in the form of conventional Schraubldemmanschlüsse. Spring clamped terminals (e.g., cage spring clamp terminals), insulation displacement terminals, or other connection means are formed.

The additional second connection means are designed as means for the non-positive and / or positive reception of a connection member, in particular in the form of a plug connection or a screw connection.

According to the invention, the second connection means are designed as central hole receptacles for connecting members designed as plug contacts. In order to optimize the contacting in the second connection means, the hole-like recess is closed (hole receiving) or open at the edge (lateral recess) formed as a punched passage, so that around the recess around at least partially tongue-like extensions are formed projecting outwardly around the recess. As a result, an additional connection possibility for the externally accessible connection contact is realized structurally simplest way. Other designs, such as a lateral recess of the connecting member or the contact carrier are also possible.

For access to the second connection means arranged inside the device, the housing made of insulating material optionally has predetermined breaking points in an area above the second connection means, which define an access area which can be produced by breaking out. Also, the access area may originally be free (unlocked).

Figur 1:

ein mehrpoliges Schütz in schematischer Explosionsdarstellung;

Figur 2a:

Anschlusskontakte des Schützes mit verschiedenen ersten Anschlussmitteln (Schraubklemm- bzw. Federklemmanschlüssen) sowie einer möglichen Ausführung der zweiten Anschlussmittel (Lochaufnahme) gemäß Fig. 1;

Figur 2b:

eine alternative Ausführungsform der zweiten Anschlussmittel;

Figur 3:

eine Detaildarstellung der Lochaufnahme gemäß Fig. 2;

Figur 4, 5:

mögliche Ausführungen eines Steckkontaktes für die Lochaufnahme gemäß Fig. 2a.

Further details and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following, explained with reference to figures embodiment. The invention is explained as representative of all other electrical switching devices using the example of a contactor. Show it

FIG. 1:

a multi-pole contactor in a schematic exploded view;

FIG. 2a:

Connection contacts of the contactor with different first connection means (Schraubklemm- or Federklemmanschlüssen) and a possible execution of the second connection means (hole receiving) according to Fig. 1 ;

FIG. 2b:

an alternative embodiment of the second connection means;

FIG. 3:

a detailed representation of the hole recording according to Fig. 2 ;

FIGS. 4, 5:

possible embodiments of a plug contact for the hole recording according to Fig. 2a ,

Fig. 1 shows a schematic exploded view of the structure of a multi-pole contactor (in this example, 3-pin or 4-pin plus supply connection for the drive coil of the magnetic drive) with a housing 2 made of insulating material, each pole has an incoming and an outgoing terminal contact 4.

The housing 2 of the contactor is in the present case designed in three parts and consists of a base housing part 2a for receiving a magnetic drive, an upper housing part 2b which can be placed on the base housing part 2a and a housing cover 2c. Furthermore, the connection contacts 4 are shown on both sides, which serve for the connection incoming and outgoing the connection lines. The housing 2 may be formed in two parts or even one piece depending on the type of switching device. Are clamped as an alternative connections to the illustrated terminals 4a with spring clamp connection and terminals 4b shown with Schraubklemmanschluss. For the case 2 shown here terminals 4 a are provided with spring clamp connection. For any connection terminals 4b with Schraubklemmanschluss the existing cover part 2c would have to be replaced, which then has corresponding access openings for the screw heads instead of openings for the spring clips The illustrated cover part 2c is provided for the terminals 4a with spring clamp connection and has a first row of openings 21 for the connection or the access of first connecting lines 410 with or to first connection means 41 of the connection contact 4a, a second series of (double) openings 22 for the engagement of a tool (eg screwdriver) and a third row of openings 23 or an opening in Shape of an opening slot for the connection of second connecting lines 420 with additional second connection means 42 of the connection contact 4. The provided according to the invention additional row of openings 23 (or the opening slot) is closed in a preferred embodiment of the invention in the initial state via a cover part. In this case, the opening can be closed by a resealable Dekkelteil via a latching connection or a film hinge. Preferably, however, the opening 23 is not resealable by one or more housing portions (e) which can be separated out from the point of weakness and which closes (forms) the later access area to the second connection means 42. As a result, a particularly simple construction is ensured and additional storage and administrative effort for separate cover parts avoided.

As incoming or outgoing terminal contact 4 two different alternative embodiments are shown. In a first embodiment, the connection contact 4a is formed with first connection means 41 in the form of spring clamp connections, while in the alternative embodiment screw clamp connections are arranged instead of the spring clamp connections. According to the invention, the connection contact 4 is formed by a tongue-like terminal lug which carries a fixed contact 43 to the interior of the device as a contact carrier, the device means the outside in a conventional manner, the first connection means 41 (as Schraubklemmanschlüsse or spring clamp connections) and which in the region between these connection points - preferably formed as a hole receiving - second connection means 42 has. In this case, the second connection means 42 are preferably spatially spaced from the first connection means 41 and designed to be self-sufficient in their actuation or connection operation, such that when the first connection means 41 are wired, the second connection means are freely accessible for further wiring and, on the other hand, for wiring the second connection means 42, the first connection means 41 are not actuated (released and secured again).

For making contact with the second connection means 42, in particular, a connection element 6 designed as a plug contact serves. By means of this connection element 6, the corresponding contactor contact can be freely wired in a conventional manner. In particular, dimensionally stable combined multiple plug-in contacts are prefabricated so that, for example, two adjacent contactors via the respective second connection means 42 in the form of a reversing circuit or a star-delta connection in a simple manner via form-solid plug contact rows (pre) can be wired. Other applications, such as the combination of a motor protection switch with a contactor to a simple motor starter can be easily realized in remote positioned to be wired devices by prefabricated Mehrfachsteckkontakte that are connected via flexible free wiring. All of these applications can be wired by the invention in a particularly simple manner, without thereby already about the standard connection point "consumed" or occupied. In the case of further wiring, therefore, an already occupied connection point would not have to be loosened, further cables inserted and the connection point secured again. This eliminates a common source of error - connections that are already working need not be disconnected or additional cables need to be plugged. This avoids that, in the case of subsequent wiring, originally functioning wirings become faulty at one go, because perhaps an already wired line has come loose. Furthermore, it is intended to use the interface for a function control. A function check is possible in the subject invention without removing the connection wiring.

FIG. 2a shows the two in FIG. 1 already shown alternative embodiment of the terminal contacts 4 of the contactor with different first connection means 41 (Schraubklemm or spring clamp connections) and a possible embodiment of the second connection means 42 in the form of a hole receiving. Instead of the hole recording and other Kontaktierungs- or connection options are conceivable, such as one or more only edge-side groove-like recesses of the terminal contact 4 and der Kontaktträgers ( Fig. 2b ). For a contacting of the hole receiving or the peripheral recess are particularly plug forms as in the FIGS. 4 and 5 displayed. In this case, the plug can be fixed in the hole receptacle with advantage via a non-positive or force-locking connection. For this purpose, the plug can have laterally projecting spring-shaped projections from its in particular oblong and parallelepiped-shaped contacting body ( Fig. 5 ). Furthermore, it is also conceivable, seen in cross-section form the plug-in contact circular, so that it is screwed with its likewise circular in cross-section Kontaktierungskörper in a correspondingly formed hole receptacle. For this purpose, the hole holder may be equipped with a finished thread or this can only be cut by screwing the plug contact.

FIG. 3 shows the hole recording in an enlarged detail. In this case, the hole receptacle is preferably formed in the form of a punched passage, so that around the hole receiving up or down directed Kontaktzungenabschnitte (8) are formed, thereby increasing the contact surface is formed and thus optimizing the contact is guaranteed.

Claims (3)

1. Electrical switching device which has at least one pole and a housing (2) comprising insulating material,

   - with each pole having at least one incoming and one outgoing connection contact (4; 5) and each of the connection contacts (4; 5) having first connection means (41) for connecting at least one first external electrical conductor, and

   - at least one of the connection contacts (4; 5) having second connection means (42; 52) for the purpose of plug-connection with a second electrical conductor,

   characterised in that

   - each connection contact (4) is formed as a tongue-like connection lug, which bears a fixed contact as a contact carrier, which has the fixed contact arranged at one end for contacting inside the device, and has the first contact means (41) and the second contact means (42; 52) to the outside of the device, wherein the second contact means (42; 52) are arranged between the respective fixed contacts and first contact means (41) arranged at the other end, and wherein the second contact means (42; 52) are formed:

   - as receiving holes or lateral recesses of the connection contacts (4) for receiving plug contacts (6) connected with the second electrical conductors and able to pass through openings in a cover part of the switching device.
2. Switching device according to claim 1, characterised in that the/each receiving hole has a contact tongue section (8), at least in regions, on the edge, orientated upwards or downwards.
3. Switching device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the housing (2) for the access to the second contact means (42; 52) comprises an access region outlined by predetermined breaking points.

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