EP1782504B1 - Plug-in surge protection assembly - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a pluggable overvoltage protection arrangement for contact strips for soldering, cutting and stripping-free connection of components and lines, in particular in the field of telecommunications and data technology, comprising a magazine with electrical contact elements for establishing a connection to the contact strip and separating the respective current path and inserting the overvoltage protection elements into the respective current path and a ground rail or a ground terminal, wherein the magazine has a male part and a housing body, the housing body receives the overvoltage protection elements and engages the male part in the contact strip, according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

The current standard for connection systems in the telecommunications sector is characterized by the so-called LSA-PLUS (registered trademark of Krone GmbH), which enables a very fast, clean and secure connection of cables and components. By "LSA" is meant a soldering, cutting and stripping-free handling. In the case of the LSA-PLUS technology, the contacts are at an angle of substantially 45 °, so that the contacting is possible more favorably and an improved strain relief of the cable is given.

In LSA-PLUS technology, terminal blocks, disconnectors, ground wire strips and similar contact strips are already known. With disconnectors, it is possible to disconnect a connection with a simple plug to connect or redirect connections. For terminal strips, a connection can be made by simply inserting a plug. In Erddrahtleisten, also called grounding strips, the application is carried out to bring various components or lines safely to the same ground potential, which need applicable surge protection systems to conduct corresponding amounts of energy in the direction of earth and to avoid destruction of the connected communication systems.

The product information from Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG, Blomberg, on the pluggable surge protection for LSA-PLUS strips with regard to the The COMTRAB arrester has overvoltage protection plugs for one to ten pairs or two to twenty individual wires.

As a typical application, reference is made here to patch panels with LSA-PLUS isolating or safety edges. The COMTRAB overvoltage protection magazine can be combined with a wide variety of protective plugs. The magazine itself has a capacity of up to ten surge protection plugs, with the protection circuit built from a combination of reversible power protection components and high-performance fail-safe contact gas discharge arresters.
When the surge protection plug is plugged into the LSA-PLUS disconnector or safety edge, it is disconnected and simultaneously inserted into the current path.

The connection to equipotential bonding in the COMTRAB arrangement is made using the ground rail integrated in the magazine.

A disadvantage of the COMTRAB pluggable overvoltage protection from Phoenix is the fact that plugging in the protective plug into the LSA-PLUS terminal strip makes it no longer accessible for shunting, disconnecting and measuring purposes. If measuring tasks are to be solved, the respective overvoltage protection element or the overvoltage protection plug or even the entire overvoltage protection magazine must be removed from the LSA-PLUS strip.

With regard to further embodiments of connection strips for telecommunications technology with integrated grounding element for forming an electrically conductive connection with an overvoltage protection component and / or a shielding component, for example, reference FIG DE 200 00 506 U1 directed.

Regarding the attachment of a contact strip on a mounting frame is on the DE 198 81 273 C2 and in terms of the embodiment of a contact strip with plug contacts for PCB mounting on the EP 1 286 420 A2 to draw attention.

Overvoltage protection devices in various designs are known from the prior art. On the one hand there are surge protection magazines for holding gas discharge arresters. On the other hand, overvoltage protection devices are already known, the combination of coarse protection elements and Fine protection elements included. These devices are designed in designs for the wiring of a double wire to the wiring of ten pairs as described above.

Regarding the state of the art for surge protection magazines are exemplary the PCT / EP99 / 02621 , the DE 199 17 824 A1 and the DE 199 00 759 A1 mentioned.

Surge protection devices in combination of coarse and fine protection in the form of a separable connection are in the DE 100 07 173 A1 or regarding the internal structure of a surge arrester for a double wire in the EP 0 797 379 B1 disclosed.

A ground connection for overvoltage protection devices for a double core via a grounding earth, which receives all overvoltage protection devices of a contact strip, shows the EP 1 290 760 B1 ,

DE 38 37051 discloses a pluggable surge protection arrangement according to the preamble of claim 1.

With regard to the prior art explained above, it should be noted that, on the one hand, the LSA-PLUS technology is very widespread and, on the other hand, pluggable overvoltage protection modules for such strips, in the form of overvoltage protection plugs, which are accommodated in a magazine, are already known are.

In the known technique, however, the otherwise given accessibility to the contacts of the contact strip with attached surge protection is no longer possible.

Surge protection devices currently available on the market are either designed as overvoltage protection magazines to contain gas discharge arresters, or include coarse and fine protection and the necessary decoupling impedances in a single device.

A combination of overvoltage protection magazines with an overvoltage protection device, which has fine protection elements is electrically, but also mechanically not provided in the previous technology and without design changes not readily possible.

From the foregoing, it is therefore an object of the invention to provide a further developed pluggable overvoltage protection arrangement for contact strips for soldering, cutting and stripping-free connection of components and lines, in particular specify in the field of telecommunications and data technology, the overvoltage protection arrangement when used in or for contact strips to ensure that there existing contacts are not occupied, so that a maneuvering or measuring is still possible without that overvoltage protection elements removed or a surge protection magazine must be removed.

The object of the invention is achieved with a pluggable surge protection arrangement for contact strips for soldering, cutting and stripping-free connection of components and lines according to the feature combination according to claim 1, wherein the dependent claims include at least useful embodiments and refinements.

The basic idea of the invention accordingly is that the visible in the inserted state top of the magazine has directly accessible plug contacts, which respectively correspond to the plug face of the plug contact strip and which are electrically connected thereto in the above-mentioned inserted state.

Furthermore, first overvoltage protection elements are laterally adjacent to the plug contacts of the magazine, preferably on both sides.

Between the respective contact elements of the male part and the respective first overvoltage protection elements, an electrical connection in the form of a contact clip or a contact part is provided.

In a further development of the invention, an additional overvoltage protection plug part is provided, which has second overvoltage protection elements, wherein this plug part comprises a Einstecksteg, which engages when placed on the magazine from above into the local, free plug contacts.

This overvoltage protection plug part has a preferably two-part housing which comprises a wiring support for the second overvoltage protection element (s).
A free, protruding from the housing end of the wiring substrate can in this case form the Einstecksteg to minimize the total number of parts.

In the overvoltage protection plug part, a grounding strap is preferably further provided from a metal molding.

The housing of the overvoltage protection connector part has an opening oriented in the direction of the insertion bridge in order to ensure electrical contact access to the earthing strap.

The earthing bar in turn can be contacted to the earthing rail via a ground connection part.

According to the invention, an intermediate frame is placed on the magazine and can be locked there, wherein the intermediate frame receives and fixes a multiplicity of overvoltage protection plug parts. Here, the intermediate frame can first be placed and then plugging in the surge protection plug parts done or ausgestaltend can be pushed over these plug parts after already plugged plug parts of the intermediate frame.

The ground connection part or a plurality of ground connection parts are located in the intermediate frame and fixed there. These grounding connection parts can also be designed as a metallic stamped and bent part.

In a preferred embodiment and development of the invention, the first overvoltage protection elements are designed as two- or three-electrode gas discharge, which are each electrically connected via clamp or spring contacts and mechanically fixed.

The magazine body is designed so that the gas discharge for assembly and control purposes are easily accessible from the side and / or from above.

The second overvoltage protection elements in the overvoltage protection plug part comprise a protective circuit, which is coordinated with the first overvoltage protection elements, comprising a fine protection element and decoupling impedances.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is possible to set the surge protection connector parts directly on a LSA connector strip, without the use of further developed magazine with additional, immediately accessible plug contacts. Thus, a universal use of overvoltage protection connector parts as a module component of an overall system for surge protection is possible.

In summary, the developed overvoltage protection magazine is designed such that on its upper side a contact arrangement is formed, which comprises pairs of contacts which correspond in their design to the plug face of an LSA-PLUS contact strip. In such a contact arrangement of such executed overvoltage protection device therefore fit standard LSA PLUS plug contacts, as they are for. This can be used, for example, when maneuvering cords or other accessories of the LSA-PLUS system.

In order to enable a central arrangement of these contact pairs, as is also the case with LSA-PLUS contact strips, the first overvoltage protection elements, preferably gas discharge tubes, are arranged on both sides of the contacts. Corresponding receiving areas of the overvoltage protection magazine allow the above-mentioned recording of three-electrode gas discharge arresters, but also of two-electrode arresters.

The proposed surge protection magazine can be used for several to ten pairs, in the connector parts are used for each a double core.

The plug connection between the overvoltage protection magazine and the plug part is, as mentioned above, compatible with LSA-PLUS terminal strips. Accordingly, the top-side contacts are designed so that the insertion of LSA-PLUS connector systems can be done easily.

By providing with different fine protection elements connector parts in combination with a universal overvoltage protection magazine, the user can set up optimized for each system surge protection, the connector parts are retrofitted, so that an adaptation to changes in the system is readily possible.

Since the contacts on the top of the overvoltage protection magazine according to the invention take over the function of the contacts of the LSA-PLUS terminal strip, all maintenance work, such as cutting, measuring and maneuvering, even with plugged overvoltage protection magazine and there in function overvoltage protection elements can be performed ,

It is within the meaning of the invention that a Erdkontaktierung the connector parts via the overvoltage protection magazine can be done towards the mounting tray. The invention will be explained below with reference to an embodiment and with the aid of figures.

Fig. 1

eine Schnittdarstellung durch ein erfindungsgemäßes Magazin mit darüber befindlichem Zwischenrahmen sowie einem im oberen Bildteil gezeigten Überspannungsschutz-Steckerteil;

Fig. 2

eine Draufsicht auf eine Anordnung gemäß Fig. 1 mit erkennbarer mittiger Anordnung der frei zugänglichen Steckkontakte und jeweils benachbarten Aufnahmen für die ersten Überspannungsschutz-Elemente;

Fig. 3

ein Überspannungsschutz-Magazin mit eingesetztem seitlichen Erdungsbügel in einer Ansicht von oben bei geöffnetem Gehäuse;

Fig. 4

eine Überblicksdarstellung sowie eine Detaildarstellung eines Stanz-Biegeteils als PE-Kontakt für die Grobschutzelemente;

Fig. 5

eine mögliche Ausführungsform des Erdungsbügels, wie er im Überspannungsschutz-Steckerteil als Stanz-Biegestück für den PE-Kontakt zum Einsatz kommen kann;

Fig. 6

ein Stanz-Biegeteil als PE-Leiste für die Steckseite, wie es im Zwischenraum einsetzbar ist;

Fig. 7

verschiedene Darstellungen der Feder-Steckerleisten als Kontakte für die Grobschutzelemente als erste Überspannungsschutz-Elemente zu deren Einsatz innerhalb des Magazins, wobei aus den Darstellungen ersichtlich ist, dass diese Kontakte sowohl dem elektrischen und mechanischen Anschluss und der Arretierung der Überspannungsschutz-Elemente dienen als auch im Bereich des U-förmigen Bügels den zusätzlichen, frei zugänglichen Steckkontakt bilden;

Fig. 8

eine Ausführungsform analog derjenigen nach Fig. 7, jedoch mit längeren Kontaktbügeln für die Grobschutzelemente;

Fig. 9

eine Darstellung von Kontakten für die Grobschutzelemente, und zwar ausgangsseitig;

Fig. 10

eine perspektivische Darstellung des Gehäuseunterteils des Magazins zur Aufnahme der Grobschutzelemente und der entsprechenden Kontakte und Anschlussteile;

Fig. 11

das Oberteil des Magazins als Gehäuseabschluss mit Ausformungen zur Aufnahme der in den Fig. 4, 6 sowie 7 bis 9 gezeigten Kontaktelemente;

Fig. 12

eine perspektivische Darstellung des Zwischenrahmens zum Haltern und Umgreifen einer Vielzahl von Überspannungsschutz-Steckerteilen;

Fig. 13

eine Explosivdarstellung des Überspannungsschutz-Steckerteils mit den beiden Gehäusehälften, dem Erdungsbügel und dem Verdrahtungsträger und

Fig. 14

eine Darstellung des Magazins ohne Gehäuseoberteil, jedoch mit allen Kontaktelementen zur Aufnahme der Überspannungsschutz-Elemente für den Grobschutz und den zugänglichen Steckkontakten, die analog dem Steckergesicht der Steckerkontaktleiste ausgeführt sind.

Hereby show:

Fig. 1

a sectional view through an inventive magazine with befindlichem intermediate frame and a surge protection plug shown in the upper part of the picture;

Fig. 2

a plan view of an arrangement according to Fig. 1 with recognizable central arrangement of the freely accessible plug contacts and respectively adjacent receptacles for the first overvoltage protection elements;

Fig. 3

an overvoltage protection magazine with inserted side earthing bar in a view from above with the housing open;

Fig. 4

an overview and a detailed representation of a stamped and bent part as a PE contact for the coarse protection elements;

Fig. 5

a possible embodiment of the earthing strap, as it can be used in the overvoltage protection plug part as a punched bending piece for PE contact;

Fig. 6

a punched-bent part as a PE bar for the mating side, as it can be used in the intermediate space;

Fig. 7

various representations of the spring-connector strips as contacts for the coarse protection elements as the first overvoltage protection elements for their use within the magazine, it can be seen from the illustrations that these contacts serve both the electrical and mechanical connection and the locking of the overvoltage protection elements as well as in Form the area of the U-shaped bracket the additional, freely accessible plug-in contact;

Fig. 8

an embodiment analogous to that after Fig. 7 but with longer contact straps for the coarse protection elements;

Fig. 9

a representation of contacts for the coarse protection elements, on the output side;

Fig. 10

a perspective view of the lower housing part of the magazine for receiving the coarse protection elements and the corresponding contacts and connecting parts;

Fig. 11

the top of the magazine as a housing closure with formations for receiving the in the Fig. 4 . 6 and 7 to 9 shown contact elements;

Fig. 12

a perspective view of the intermediate frame for holding and embracing a plurality of surge protection connector parts;

Fig. 13

an exploded view of the surge protection connector part with the two housing halves, the grounding bracket and the wiring substrate and

Fig. 14

a representation of the magazine without upper housing part, but with all the contact elements for receiving the surge protection elements for the coarse protection and the accessible plug contacts, which are designed analogously to the plug face of the plug contact strip.

According to the Fig. 1 the overvoltage protection magazine 1 is designed so that on its upper side accessible plug contacts 2 are present. The contacts of the male part 3 are electrically connected to this plug-in contact arrangement accessible from above. So it will be the contacts of the male part 3 not only as in conventional surge protection magazines with the overvoltage protection elements, eg. As gas discharge arresters connected, but also at the same time a corresponding pair of contacts is formed, which corresponds in its execution to the plug face of a conventional LSA PLUS contact strip.

In the plug contacts 2 LSA PLUS plug contacts, as they are for. B. be used for marshalling or other LSA PLUS accessories.

The magazine 1 takes on both sides of the plug contacts located first overvoltage protection elements, eg. B. in the form of two- or three-electrode gas discharge arresters.

An overvoltage protection plug part 6 has a wiring carrier 20, which receives fine protection elements and decoupling impedances 7. The overvoltage protection plug part 6 consists, as in Fig. 13 recognizable, from two plastic housing halves, which receive the wiring support 20 and a grounding bracket 21 inside.

The housing 22 has an opening 23 oriented in the direction of the insertion web, which may be formed as the end of the wiring support 20, in order to ensure electrical contact with the grounding strap 21 located in the housing.

The grounding bracket 21 is connected via a ground connection part 9 with the in Fig. 4 shown PE contact in electrical contact.

An intermediate frame 8 according to Fig. 1 or 12 also consists of a plastic injection molding or plastic part and can accommodate several overvoltage protection connector parts 6, embrace and mechanically fix.

The fine protection elements and the decoupling impedances in the overvoltage protection plug part 6 are energetically coordinated to the coarse protection elements, which act as first overvoltage protection elements, so that a simple adaptation to the respective protection requirements becomes possible.

In the surge protection connector parts corresponding overvoltage protection elements are available for each a double core. On a surge protection system that z. B. is designed for ten pairs, so for example ten surge protection connector parts 6 can be attached.

Fig. 2 shows a view of the magazine Fig. 1 from above, with recognizable receiving areas 5, which the electrical contacting and mechanical retention of three-electrode gas arresters or two-electrode gas arresters.

An overvoltage protection magazine 1 without housing cover, but with a grounding strap 11 is in the Fig. 3 shown.

The in the Fig. 7 and 9 shown contacts for the input side of the coarse protection elements in the form of stamped and bent parts perform a dual function such that on the one hand acting as coarse protection first overvoltage protection elements can be contacted and mechanically fixed and on the other hand, the additional, freely accessible from above plug contacts, through the U-shaped tongue parts.

The in the 4 and 6 to 9 shown contact elements, as in the Fig. 14 visible, in corresponding recesses and openings of the magazine lower part ( Fig. 10 ) are used and locked, so that the production and installation of the overvoltage protection arrangement can be realized with low cost and high degree of automation.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

magazine

2

additional, freely accessible plug contacts

3

plug

4

first overvoltage protection elements (coarse protection)

5

Recording areas of the overvoltage protection magazine

6

Surge protection plug part

7

second overvoltage protection elements (fine protection)

8th

intermediate frame

9

Ground connection part

10-11

frame-like grounding strap

20

Wiring carrier or insertion bar of the overvoltage protection plug part

21

Earthing bar in the overvoltage protection plug part

22

Housing of the surge protection plug part

23

Opening in the housing 22

Claims (9)

1. Pluggable surge protection assembly for contact strips that are designed to connect components and lines without soldering, cutting or stripping, in particular in the field of telecommunications and data systems technology, comprising a magazine including electric contact elements for producing a connection to the contact strip and separating the respective current path and inserting the surge protection elements into the respective current path, and a ground bus or ground terminal, wherein the magazine (1) comprises a plug-in part (3) and a housing body, the housing body receiving the surge protection elements (4) and the plug-in part (3) engaging in the contact strip,
   characterized in that
   the upper side of the magazine (1), which is visible when plugged into the contact strip, comprises plug contacts (2) that are directly accessible and each correspond to the face of the plug of the plug contact strip and are connected to the same, that further first surge protection elements (4) are located at the respective sides of the plug contacts (2) of the magazine (1),
   an electrical coupling in the form of a contact bridge or a contact part is provided between the respective contact elements of the plug-in part (3) and the respective first surge protection elements (4), and an intermediate frame (8) can be placed on and locked on the magazine (1), wherein the intermediate frame (8) receives and fixes or encompasses a plurality of surge protection plug parts (6).
2. Pluggable surge protection assembly according to claim 1,
   characterized in that
   a surge protection plug part (6) is provided, which comprises second surge protection elements (7), wherein this plug part (6) comprises an insertion pin (20) which when placed on the magazine (1) engages from above in the plug contacts (2) thereof.
3. Pluggable surge protection assembly according to claim 2,
   characterized in that
   the surge protection plug part (6) comprises a two-part housing (22) having a wiring carrier for the second surge protection element(s) (7), wherein a free end of the wiring carrier projecting out of the housing forms the insertion pin (20).
4. Pluggable surge protection assembly according to claim 2 or 3,
   characterized in that
   a grounding clip (21) is provided in the surge protection plug part (6).
5. Pluggable surge protection assembly according to claim 3 and 4,
   characterized in that
   the housing (22) includes an opening (23) oriented in the direction of the insertion pin (20) so as to ensure an electrical contact to the grounding clip (21).
6. Pluggable surge protection assembly according to one of claims 1 to 5,
   characterized in that
   the grounding clip (21) can be contacted with the ground bus by means of a ground connection part (9).
7. Pluggable surge protection assembly according to claim 1,
   characterized in that
   the ground connection part (9) is held in the intermediate frame (8).
8. Pluggable surge protection assembly according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the first surge protection elements (4) are configured as two- or three-electrode gas discharge tubes each being electrically connected and mechanically fixed by clip contacts or spring contacts, wherein the magazine body is designed such that the gas discharge tubes are accessible from the side and/or from above for the purpose of installation and control.
9. Pluggable surge protection assembly according to one of claims 2 to 5,
   characterized in that
   the second surge protection elements (7) in the surge protection plug part (6) comprise a protection circuit of surge protection and decoupling impedance coordinated with the first surge protection elements (4).

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