EP1575136A2 - Tap device - Google Patents

Abstract

The branching device (10) electrically connects a main cable (1) to a secondary cable (2). The device has contact elements (5) for making an electrical connection at contact points of a socket into which a plug of the secondary cable can be plugged. The contact elements have an insulating cutting clamp (11) for contacting the conductors of the main cable. At least one of the contact elements has a clamp contact (12) electrically connected to the cutting clamp. This is flat and locally defines a plane, whereby a clamping effect of the clamp contact results from a spring force acting along the plane. Independent claims also cover a branching system, a contact element, a contact system and a multiple socket system.

Description

The invention relates to a branching device for electrically conductive connection a main cable with a secondary cable.

Various types of branch devices of this type are known, for example from the publications WO 00/30218, DE 199 20 768, DE 101 43 363 or WO 03/021721. In all these branching devices are cable cores of the Main cable contacted by cutting contacts. At the branching devices According to WO 00/30218, DE 199 20 768 and DE 101 43 363, the secondary cable is through a socket-and-plug connection can be inserted while at the Branching device of WO 03/021721 the secondary cable also by a Cutting contact is contacted, whereby the possibility is missing, the secondary cable to replace as needed.

Known branching devices with female-and-male connections to Secondary cables require relatively complicated shaped contacting elements, which are complex in production. For example, sections of a molded Sheet metal bent or bent so that between the flat sides of two Sections creates a clamping action. This has in addition to the complexity of Manufacturing process, the additional disadvantage that the spring effect in essentially arises from the kink, resulting in continuous stress can cause rapid fatigue.

Another problem area concerns the coding. It is known socket-plug connections to be provided with an individual coding possibility. One Installer can be done by an on-site assembly coding Make sure different devices are plugged in only in the correct mains can be. A solution with a detachable coding cam becomes For example, in DE 199 32 243 discloses. The solution is only for use in a fixed network, eg. A low-voltage network suitable.

It is an object of the invention to provide a branching device, which Problems according to the prior art overcome and in particular one cost-effective production allows. In this context, the creation of a Contacting element, which is as simple as possible in the production, also an object of the invention. Another object of the invention is solutions to provide which remedy in the above-mentioned Encoding problematic creates.

These objects are achieved by the invention as defined in the claims is defined.

According to a first aspect of the invention, the branching device has the Connecting a main cable with a secondary cable contacting elements, which ever at least one insulation displacement terminal for contacting the main cable cores and at least one terminal contact. The clamp contact is according to the invention flat or sheet-like and locally defines a plane, the Clamping action - for example between two wing elements - through along the plane acting spring forces arises. The clamp contact can be similar to a Shaped be shaped, so for example as Stimmgabelartig ausgestaltetes Sheet present, the wing elements tines of the tuning fork-like structure are. Between the tines then forms a contact opening, and the Insertion of the object to be contacted (for example, contact pin) results a contact spread of the tines against each other against the mentioned spring force.

The term "flat" in this context does not necessarily mean that the whole terminal contact is strictly in a single plane. Rather, the Clamping contact as a whole, for example, be bent or even kinked. He is local flat sheet-like, and the clamping action is, for example. At a terminal point, such as Mentioned by forces, which are along the plane of the sheet metal at the place of Clamping point defined level act.

The fact that the terminal contact according to the invention is flat, arise important Advantages in the production. The terminal contact can be punched from a sheet metal or be formed by fine cutting, without the plate then massive must be deformed. In addition, the clamping effect even at low Sheet thicknesses should be large enough by the width of wing elements (or Tines), between which the clamping effect arises, is chosen large enough. This allows the use of relatively thin sheets, which can also bring benefits. The frontal contacting causes Also, that even with thin sheets in operation a relatively small Current density is present.

In addition, a significant additional geometry is created by the specific geometry Advantage: Since the clamping contact is made along a plane, this can Contact element essentially without major manufacturing effort with two or be provided several clamping contacts. This makes it ideal for use also as a component of multiple socket outlet designs in which a single contact element makes contact with several sockets. This is advantageous both in the manufacture and in the assembly of systems with the branching device according to the invention. Furthermore, the concept can be up Contacting systems with, for example, a branching device and with Multiple socket modules are extended. A contact according to the invention in a multiple socket module also has terminal contacts of the above described type and can also be punched from a sheet or by be made fine cutting.

The contact element is in one piece according to a preferred embodiment formed. It can therefore also be punched as a whole from a sheet or by are subsequently produced, where appropriate, the cutting of the Cutting clamp can be made by stamping or grinding and where if necessary, the plane of the insulation displacement terminal and / or a terminal contact with respect to original sheet metal is twisted. The latter can be in an embossing process happen.

The branching system according to another aspect of the invention has a multi-level coding system. A first stage consists of factory-fitted mechanical coding, for example. Notches in the plug, which parallel to a Run plug axis and combing in the socket correspond (or in the case of false Coding do not correspond) or vice versa. The second stage consists of Removable and / or added elements, for example, on the plug side existing Cam, whose lateral position of that of bush side insertable pins equivalent.

• Fig. 1: Eine Ansicht der erfindungsgemässen Abzweigvorrichtung, wobei zur Wahrung der Übersicht sämtliche Gehäuseteile weggelassen wurden
• Fig. 2a und 2b: Ansichten eines Kontaktierungselementes der Vorrichtung gemäss Figur 1.
• Fig. 3: Eine Ansicht der Vorrichtung, gemäss Fig. 1, wobei die Kabeladern des Hauptkabels im Gehäuse-Basisteil geführt werden und wobei auch ein Beschaltungsdeckel gezeichnet ist.
• Fig. 4: Eine Ansicht derselben Vorrichtung, wobei sich der Beschaltungsdeckel in der Endstellung befindet und wobei auch ein in die Buchse eingeführter Stecker gezeichnet ist.
• Fig. 5: Die Vorrichtung mit gezogenem Stecker inklusive Abdeckung.
• Fig. 6, 6a und 6b: Eine Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemässen Vorrichtung zur Verwendung mit Netzsteckern und Detailansichten der zugehörigen Kontaktierungselemente.
• Fig. 7, 7a und 7b: Eine der Ausführungsgsform von Fig. 6 ähnliche Ausführungsform, wobei die Eigenschaft der Stapelbarkeit sichtbar wird.
• Fig. 8 eine weitere Ausführungsform des Kontaktierungselementes.
• Fig. 9 eine Abzweigvorrichtung mit zwei Mehrfachbuchsen, so dass sich ein Kontaktierungssystem ergibt.
• Fig. 10 Ein Kontakt für ein Kontaktierungssystem.
• Fig. 11a und 11b Frontansichten einer Steckerbuchse mit Kodierung.
• Fig. 12 eine Ansicht eines Ausschnitts aus der Vorrichtung gemäss Fig. 5.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to drawings. In the drawings show:

• Fig. 1: A view of the inventive branching device, wherein all housing parts have been omitted to maintain the overview
• 2a and 2b: views of a contacting element of the device according to FIG. 1
• Fig. 3: A view of the device, according to FIG. 1, wherein the cable cores of the main cable are guided in the housing base part and wherein a wiring cover is drawn.
• Fig. 4: A view of the same device, wherein the wiring cover is in the end position and wherein a plug inserted into the socket is drawn.
• Fig. 5: The device with drawn plug including cover.
• Fig. 6, 6a and 6b: An embodiment of the inventive device for use with power plugs and detail views of the associated contacting elements.
• Figures 7, 7a and 7b: An embodiment similar to the embodiment of Figure 6 showing the property of stackability.
• Fig. 8 shows a further embodiment of the contacting element.
• Fig. 9 shows a branching device with two multiple sockets, so that there is a contacting system.
• Fig. 10 A contact for a contacting system.
• 11a and 11b front views of a socket with coding.
• 12 is a view of a detail of the device according to FIG. 5.

The principle of a branching device according to the invention is visible in FIG . A main cable 1 with main cable cores 2 is contacted by a sub-cable 3 with sub-cable cores 4. Serve for this purpose contacting elements 5, which are electrically contacted by male contacts 6. The plug contacts are, for example, connected via terminals 7 fixed to the secondary cable cores 4.

As can be seen in Figures 2a and 2b , each contacting element 5 has a cutting clamp 11 for contacting the Hautpkabeladern and at least one clamping contact 12, in the illustrated embodiment, there are two terminal contacts. The contacting element 5 is integrally formed, as a punched out of a sheet metal stamped part. The cutters formed on the inner side of the cutting clamp 11 have been sharpened after punching by embossing or grinding. The cutting clamp is - in the example drawn by about 45 ° - turned off with respect to the sheet metal plane. This allows a geometry of the branching device as shown in Figure 1, so with parallel to the main cable plug contacts 6. But there are other geometries conceivable, for example. Without wacked disconnect terminal and with the main cable vertically wegführenden plug contacts, or with divider clamps to another Angle are rotated as 45 ° relative to the sheet plane, for example, at an angle between 45 ° and 90 °.

The terminal contacts 12 of the contacting element are different from the state at least locally flat so that a plane is defined. in the drawn example is the clamping contact in the plane similar to a tuning fork formed with two prongs. A clamping action for the plug contacts 6 is formed between the two prongs by spring forces along the plane, similar to at a fork contact. The terminal contacts can - unlike in the drawn Embodiment - also rotated from the original sheet plane be.

The material from which the contacting element is made, for example Copper or a copper alloy. The thickness of the sheet is, for example between 0.5 mm and 1.2 mm, preferably 0.7 mm to 0.9 mm. The width of the Tines are chosen so that a desired spring force is created and is therefore depending on the sheet thickness of the length of the tines and the material. she is, for example, about 1 mm to 3 mm, preferably about 1.7 mm to 2.4 mm. The length The tines may, for example, be between 12 mm and 25 mm.

Figure 3 shows a view of the components according to FIG. 1, wherein the cable cores of the main cable are guided in a housing base part 21 and wherein also a Beschaltungselement, namely a Beschaltungsdeckel 22 is drawn. The housing base part has a bushing seat (shown in the figure below) and a main cable core guide (in the figure above) with guide webs 23. The contacting elements 5 are fitted in the housing base part, so that the insulation displacement terminals 11 a cable insulation of between the guide webs 23rd Cut through the main lead wires and contact the main wires.

The wiring cover 22 serves to over pressing webs 26, the main cable cores against a resistance enough deep between the guide bars so that they are reliably contacted by the insulation displacement terminals 11. The wiring cover 22 has pivot axes 24, which in frontal Indentations 25 of the guide bars are mounted, whereupon the Beschaltungsdeckel is pivotally guided about the pivot axes. In a End position of the wiring cover is fixed by locking 27. Are conceivable also Beschaltungsdeckel respectively Beschaltungsmittel, by means of Pressing or pressing tongs can be connected vertically.

In Buchsensitz two sockets 31 are introduced, in which plug contacts 6 of a Plug are insertable. In the drawn arrangement is ever a socket - with respect to the direction of the main cable - directed forwards and backwards. The Contacting elements and the sockets are positioned so mutually, that the inserted plug contacts between the prongs of the terminal contacts be guided and thus contact them.

Figure 4 shows the whole branching system - ie the branching device including the associated plug, wherein the wiring cover 22 is in the end position and wherein the plug 41 is drawn inserted into the socket.

FIG. 5 shows the branching device 10 as a whole with the plug 41 drawn, including the cover 51. The cover has a transparent window 52 which allows a view of the main cable cores. This provides an inspector with the ability to verify the correct routing of the cable wires without opening the cover. In the illustrated embodiment, marks 53 are still attached to the window with ladder names that point to the correct position of phase, neutral and earth or of other types of cable cores. For manufacturing reasons, the cover can be made as a whole a transparent material, for example, only the window is ground so that a crystal clear view of the cable wires is possible.

The wiring cover can, but does not have to remain at its end position, when the cover is mounted and the branching device is ready for use.

For certain installations, the regulations include the locking of the plugs the sockets (ie the sockets for power cord) required. For known products the locking is achieved with an additional locking part. The drawn Embodiment of the invention includes a latch 42, which on the plug is injected. Alternatively, the latch can be manufactured separately as bspw. metallic item be available. The latch acts with a on the Socket inside existing locking edge (not visible) together and causes a catch. This can only be solved by a pressing member 44 against the The inside of the plug is pressed, whereby the latch is pushed inwards becomes. Due to the molded latch do not arise in the production Additional costs for locking. This principle of molded on the plug Pawl can also be used for contacting systems, which otherwise not designed according to the invention.

In the illustrated preferred embodiment, the branching device for three-pole power cable. The inventive embodiment of the Of course, branching device can also be used for other cable systems used for example for bipolar or five-pole power cables, for Data cable with any number of cable cores, for speaker cables etc.

The embodiment of the inventive branching device according to Figure 6 also has contacting elements and a housing of the type described above. However, it is in contrast to the embodiment of Figures 1 to 5 for standard plug 61 (shown sockets and plugs according to Swiss standard) are formed. This requires some design changes. Thus, the prongs of the terminal contacts must be further spread apart, since the pins 62 of the standard plug are usually round, as shown in Figure 6a . In addition, the contact pins are not arranged at the same height, so that the terminal contacts 12 must be in appropriately adjusted positions. This may mean that the terminal contacts must be mounted offset from each other as shown in the figure. FIG. 6b shows an arrangement of three contacting elements, as used in the embodiment according to FIG. This arrangement ensures that the polarity is always the same relative to the plug.

FIG. 7 shows how, based on the branching device according to the invention, a contacting system can be created without massive structural changes or sophisticated additional parts being necessary. The system includes stackable modules 71, wherein the contacting elements 5 engage through contact openings 63, 73 in the respectively adjacent module or the branching device 10 and contact a contacting element 5 of the adjacent module or the branching device. In this case, the contacting elements can have a contact slot formed in combination as a cutting terminal and plug contact, as illustrated in FIGS. 7a and 7b. Then, for branching device 10 and stackable modules 71 identical contacting elements can be used. Alternatively, the contacts of the modules instead of said contact slots may comprise clamping contacts, which are for example the same design as the already described terminal contacts, but are rotated against them by about 90 °.

The stackable modules 71 still have in the illustrated embodiment Twisting and positioning cam 74 and latching flaps 75 for the attachment of the in each case above or below the module.

Instead of stackable modules according to FIG. 7, the branching device itself can also be equipped with multiple sockets or sockets. Contacting elements used in these branching devices are then formed, for example, like the contacting element 5 drawn in FIG. 8 with six terminal contacts 12 serving as socket contacts.

Another extended contacting system is shown in FIG . In addition to the branching device 10, two series-connected multiple sockets 81 are drawn. Each multiple socket has multiple socket contacts, which also have terminal contacts of the type described above and which, for example, are also integrally formed from a sheet metal. In the lower half of the figure, contacting elements 5 or multiple socket contacts 82 are drawn, as used in the contacting system. The multiple socket contacts have a pin portion 83, which, for example. Plate-like and twisted by 90 ° against the original sheet metal plane. The pin portion may be made of the stamped part by twisting, or (eg. When punching) be made by pressing. The clamping contacts 84 are formed as mentioned analogous to the terminal contacts 12 of the contacting elements 5.

FIG. 10 also shows a contact 92 for a simpler module of a contacting system with only two sockets compared to FIG. Such a module can also be connected in series with any number of other modules.

The embodiments of the contacting system according to FIGS. 7 to 10 are mere examples to illustrate the manifold design possibilities, which by the contact elements according to the invention or Multiple socket outlets exist at very low manufacturing costs. By design of contacting or multiple plug contacts with any number of unilaterally or bilaterally outwardly projecting Clamping contacts are arbitrary multiple socket arrangements can be designed.

According to one aspect of the invention is a contacting system - according to the previously described type or with different types of contacts - with a multi-stage mechanical coding system equipped.

By mechanical coding can be prevented that a user erroneously make plug-ins that are not wanted and possibly may cause damage to equipment.

Contacting systems according to this aspect of the invention have a basic code which has been factory-set and an individual coding. The principle of multi-stage mechanical coding is illustrated in FIGS. 11a and 11b and in FIG . The basic coding consists of fixed mechanical features specified in the form of the plugs and sockets, for example notches 43 in the plug or socket, into which combs 102 in the socket or in the plug can be inserted. The notches and combs may be present in a manner known per se in various numbers and with different dimensions. They can be made when casting the socket or the plug. They serve, for example, to distinguish between low-voltage, low-voltage or data networks. According to a second stage, an individual coding is provided. For individual coding of the individual nets guide grooves 103 are provided with a pin guide 104 on the side of the can. At corresponding points of the plug irreversibly detachable cam 45 are provided, which are inserted when plugging the plug into the grooves. Also reversibly separable elements are conceivable. For individual coding, the installer can insert one or more coding pins 106 on the side of the socket and, on the plug side, cut off the corresponding coding sockets, for example with a knife. When inserted coding pin in the arrangement shown in FIG. 12, the plug can only be plugged when the upper cam 45 is removed. This is because the lateral position of the pin with respect to the plug axis (corresponding to the direction along which the plug moves for insertion) corresponds to the lateral position of the cam and is therefore in the way of insertion. By combining different basic codings with individual codings, a large number of combinations are possible.

This procedure allows the use of a contacting system, for example with a branching device according to the invention - in low-voltage, Low-voltage or data networks, as different basic coding possible and it also offers a cheap, easy option for one additional, individual coding of the plug-in system.

Claims (15)

Branching device (10) for electrically conductive connection of a main cable (1) with a secondary cable (3), with contacting elements (5) for establishing an electrical connection to contact points of a socket, in which a plug (41, 61) of the secondary cable can be inserted, wherein the contacting elements (5) have a cutting terminal (11) for contacting main cable cores (2) of the main cable, characterized in that at least one of the contacting elements (5) has a clamping contact (12) which is electrically connected to the cutting terminal and which is flat and locally one Defined plane, wherein a clamping action of the terminal contact is formed by spring forces acting along the plane. Branching device according to claim 1, characterized in that the clamping contact (12) forms one of the mentioned contact points of the socket. Branching device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the contacting element (5) is integrally formed. A branching device according to claim 3, characterized in that a plurality of clamping contacts (12) are present and define a common plane, and that the cutting clamp (11) is also flat and defines a plane which plane forms an angle to the plane of the clamping contacts. Branching device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least the clamping contact (12) is designed as a stamped part punched out of a sheet or obtained by fine cutting. Branching device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contacting elements (5) in a housing base part (21) are introduced, which has guide webs (23), and that the insulation displacement terminals (11) are positioned so that they have a cable insulation of between the guide webs (23) guided main cable cores (2) cuts as soon as they are introduced sufficiently deep. A branching device according to claim 6, characterized by a wiring element (22) having pressing means (26) positioned so that the main cable wires placed on an outer side between the guide webs are simultaneously so far inwardly between the guide webs by a single movement of the wiring element be pressed, that they are contacted by the insulation displacement terminals (11). Branching device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a transparent window (52) in a housing part, through which in a state of use exposed main cable cores (2) are visible. Branching device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a latching edge, by which a latching pawl (42) of a secondary cable connector (41) can be latched. A branching system, comprising a branching device (10), in particular according to one of the preceding claims, for electrically connecting a main cable (1) to a secondary cable (3), contacting elements (5) for contacting main cable conductors (2) of the main cable and for producing a main cable electrical connection to contacts of a socket, and with at least one plug (41, 61) for the secondary cable, which plug can be inserted into the socket, characterized in that the plug and socket have at least a two-stage mechanical coding system, of which a first stage to plug and sleeve fixed mechanical features (43, 102) so that the characteristics of mating male and female correspond to each other and only one plug with the appropriate coding is inserted into the socket, and a second stage on the socket and plug removable or has addable elements (45, 106), in their appropriate presence or absence of the Plug is insertable into the socket, whereas the elements are in improper coding when attempting insertion abut each other and prevent insertion of the plug into the socket. A branching system according to claim 10, characterized in that the removable or addable elements are plug-in, irreversibly removable cams (45) and guide grooves (103) of the socket plug-in coding pins (106), wherein the relative to a plug axis lateral position of the cams Insertion of the lateral position of the guide grooves corresponds. Contacting element (5) suitable for use in a branching device (10) according to one of claims 1-9, comprising a cutting clamp (11) and a clamping contact (12) electrically connected thereto, characterized in that the clamping contact is flat and locally a plane defines, wherein a clamping action of the terminal contact is formed by acting along the plane spring forces. Contacting element according to claim 12, characterized in that it is in one piece, and that preferably at least the clamping contact (12) is designed as a punched out of a sheet or obtained by fine blanking punched part. Contacting system, characterized by a branching device according to one of claims 1 to 9 and at least one multiple socket module (71, 81) with multiple socket contacts (5, 82, 92) with a plurality of clamping contacts (12), which are flat and each defining a plane locally, wherein a Clamping action of the terminal contacts by acting along the plane spring forces, wherein the terminal contacts form contact points of the sockets of the multiple socket contacts. Sheet-like, one-piece multiple socket contact (5, 82, 92) for a multiple socket module of a contacting system according to claim 14, characterized by a plurality of terminal contacts (12), which are flat and each locally define a plane, wherein a clamping action of the terminal contacts by acting along the plane spring forces ,

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