EP1846996B1 - Plug-in combination of appliances for protecting against overvoltages - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a plug-in combination of appliances for protecting against overvoltages, said combination of appliances comprising: a socket-type lower part and at least one plug-in module, which can both receive overvoltage protection elements; contact elements and contact counter elements that are respectively arranged in the lower part and in the plug-in module; and complementary guide rails or guide grooves for inserting or pushing-on and fixing the respective plug-in module. According to the invention, functionally separated, mechanical catch or snap-in elements act between the respective plug-in module and the socket-type lower part independently of the forces which hold together the contact elements and the contact counter elements in a positively fixed and/or non-positively fixed manner when the plug-in module is in use. The catch or snap-in function can be cancelled without any mechanical auxiliary means when the respective plug-in module is to be replaced.

Description

The invention relates to a pluggable device combination for protection against overvoltages, comprising a socket-like lower part and one or more plug-in modules, wherein these receive the overvoltage protection elements, contact elements and contact counter-elements, which are respectively arranged in the lower part and in the plug-in module, and complementary guide rails or guide groove for controlled input. or pushing on and fixing the respective plug-in module, according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

A pluggable device combination, according to the preamble of claim 1 is made WO-A-95/12905 known.

Overvoltage protection devices of the prior art are in many cases designed as pluggable device combinations comprising a lower part and a plug-in module.

In the lower part of terminals for contacting the electrical conductors are arranged and appropriate receptacles for the plug-in module to be used. Furthermore, the lower part receives elements that surround one or more plug contacts of the plug-in module, so that the desired mechanical and electrical contact and the corresponding hold of the plug-in module is given in the lower part.

The plug-in module contains the actual overvoltage protection elements, e.g. Spark gaps, varistors, gas arresters or similar.

The lower parts are formed in many cases as a U-shaped body, wherein the open legs of the U-shaped body laterally engage around the plug-in module, wherein the plug-in module rests on the connecting leg of the U-shaped part. Furthermore, the lower part has on its mounting side receiving elements that allow a so-called DIN rail mounting.

The advantage of the briefly explained function separation between the lower part and plug-in module is that during maintenance or repair the Plug-in module can be removed without the need to open the terminals or the corresponding system must be disconnected from voltage.

The removed and separated plug-in module can then be examined outside the electrical system with the aid of special test equipment and optionally replaced or reused.

With regard to the prior art, for example, also to the DE 36 39 533 C2 . DE 295 19 313 U1 . DE 100 01 667 C1 and the DE 20 2004 006 227 U1 directed.

As a particular problem in the design of the plug contact arrangement between the lower part and plug-in module is to be noted that this is interpreted constructive for the surge in the flow over them surge current of the waveform 10/350 microseconds and 8/20 microseconds or power frequency short-circuit current.

In particular, in the case of overvoltage lightning arresters, as required by the market, in some cases considerable surge currents of up to 100 kA must be passed over these contacts almost free of burn-off and wear. Corresponding tests are anchored in the product standards for surge protection devices.

In order to control such large surge currents safely, therefore, the contact force between the individual contact elements must be very large. This has the consequence that the plug-in modules according to the prior art can be removed only with increased effort and in most cases only with the aid of a special tool. So this requires an additional tool and is a significant disadvantage for the application of the devices. Furthermore, there is an additional risk that may occur when handling the tool within the arrester for accidental triggering an arc fault with resulting danger to people and equipment.

In the case when the contact force between the contact elements is designed to be smaller, thereby the removal of the plug-in modules can be facilitated, however, there is a risk that under the influence of the electrodynamic force effects during the surge current process there will be an unwanted jumping out of the plug-in module from the lower part can, so that a proper overall function of the device is not given without further protective measures.

From the foregoing, it is therefore an object of the invention to provide a further developed pluggable device combination for protection against overvoltage, comprising a socket-like lower part and one or more plug-in modules, the device combination on the one hand can cause the considerable surge currents erosion and wear, but on the other hand in the socket-like Lower part plug-in module readily, ie can be solved and removed without tools or special tools.

The object of the invention is achieved with the feature combination according to the teaching of claim 1, wherein the dependent claims include at least expedient refinements and developments.

Accordingly, the basic idea of the invention is to carry out a functional separation between the assemblies of the electrical plug-in contact system, a latch unit and release elements, in such a way that the plug-in module when inserted into the base-like base one or more mechanical energy storage, e.g. biased in the form of leaf or coil springs.

The latching unit locks the plug-in module in the desired end position.

In the event that the plug-in module is to be removed, the lock on the Verrasteinheit is canceled by simple manual force. With mechanical force, the plug-in module can then be moved out of the lower part without appreciable tensile forces.

The design of the above-mentioned functional groups can be varied over a wide range and thus optimized. So it is in principle conceivable to interpret the disengagement forces so that the plug-in module is automatically pushed out of the plug contacts. Likewise, the mechanical tuning can be brought about such that only with a significant force, the plug-in modules can be pulled out.

A significant advantage of the invention is that the actual contact system, i. the constructive design of the contact elements and contact counter-elements, can be optimally adapted to the function of surge current dissipation.

In implementation of the inventive concept is thus independent of the forces which hold the contact and contact counter-elements positively and / or non-positively connected with inserted plug-in module, functionally separated an arrangement of mechanical snap-in or snap-in elements made which between the respective plug-in module and act the base-like base.

The snap-in or snap-in function can be canceled without mechanical aids for the desired replacement or for checking the respective plug-in module.

Furthermore, ausgestaltend between the lower part and plug-in module, a spring-like, mechanical energy storage is provided, which is stretched at the onset of the respective plug-in module and releases mechanical energy for releasing the plug-in module from the socket-like lower part when canceling the snap or snap-in function.

The plug-in module comprises a carrier unit with a bottom group, wherein a plurality of large-area contact elements are arranged on the bottom group. Furthermore, the bottom group has a trough-like underside, from which stop edges, stop surfaces and / or stop pins extend downwards in the direction of the base-like lower part.

The carrier unit is enclosed by a hood, wherein the hood on opposite sides has a hinge surface which merges into a pressure plate, at the end locking lugs or locking cams are provided, which in the inserted state, the latching or snap-in function based on the lower part fulfill.

The hood can be realized as a plastic molded part, wherein the hinge surface may be a so-called foil hinge joint. The hinge surface with pressure plate is usually biased such that the latching lugs or locking cams occupy a maximum outer position. By applying a slight force to the pressure plate, the detents or detents may approach each other, i. be moved towards the inside of the hood and from complementary recesses, which are located in the base-like base, leak and released.

The aforementioned carrier unit receives the actual overvoltage protection elements. Below the pressure plate of the hood, a movement of the pressure plate limiting surface or edge is formed on the carrier unit.

In the area of the bottom group of the carrier unit locking projections are provided, which engage in complementary recesses of the hood, this locking.

The hood has two respective opposite broad sides and two opposite narrow sides, wherein the pressure plates are located on the narrow sides.

The recesses of the hood are preferably arranged in the lower region of the broad sides.

For easier actuation of the printing plates and for removing the plug-in module from the lower part, the outer surface of the printing plate is structured.

The locking lugs or locking cams of the pressure plate may have a wedge-shaped sliding surface, wherein the respective wedge tips are oriented in the insertion direction. During the insertion process, the wedge-shaped sliding surfaces slide along the surface of the base-like lower part and then snap into recesses provided there under relaxation of the pressure plate.

At the bottom group coding pins and / or a telecommunication contact triggering element may be provided.

In one embodiment of the invention, the hood has a wedge shape extending over its width in the lower region. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the hood has on its upper side a spherical or arcuate shape.

The lower part of the device combination has a U-shape, wherein in the open legs of the lower part latching or snap-in elements are arranged and the connecting leg recesses for or the spring-like mechanical energy storage and their operation includes.

Furthermore, the open legs may have longitudinal guide rails for easier insertion of the plug-in module. These guide rails can also have a coding function to allow a defined plugging, so that a mismatch of corresponding lower parts can be avoided.

The connecting leg of the lower part has a complementary shape to the underside of the bottom group, wherein below the connecting leg receptacles are provided for each spring unit, which include an access for the stop edges, stop pins or stop surfaces of the bottom group.

Preferably, the respective spring units are supported against the bottom of the base-like base. The springs of the spring unit are interchangeable, so that in a uniform constructive design of the lower part in an easy way to adapt to the particular application with respect to the bias and Ausrückkrafte can be made.

At least one recess for a coding pin or access to a telecommunications contact is provided in the connecting leg.

The latching or snap-in elements and the mechanical energy storage are provided several times and are preferably arranged symmetrically.

The connecting leg of the lower part has on both sides depending on a molded web, which stabilizes the opposite open leg parts, without any drifting apart of these parts is to be feared when inserting the plug-in module.

According to the invention, the respective plug-in module with the hood top and the printing plates located there is in the inserted state and thus remains accessible for actuating the printing plates for the purpose of removing the plug-in module.

The contact and contact counter-elements, which are located on the one hand in the plug-in module and the other part in the lower part are designed as shock current carrying plug contacts with large contact holding force, but the contact holding force has not primarily or simultaneously to perform a mechanical locking of the plug-in module in the lower part.

The invention will be explained below with reference to an embodiment and with the aid of figures.

Fig. 1

eine dreidimensionale Darstellung eines erfindungsgemäßen Steck- moduls mit aufgesetzter Haube (linker Bildteil) sowie mit Ansicht der Trägereinheit ohne Haube (rechter Bildteil);

Fig. 2

eine Darstellung des U-förmigen Unterteils mit Detaildarstellung der Federeinheit und

Fig. 3

eine Darstellung der kompletten steckbaren Gerätekombination mit eingesetztem Steckmodul und Detaildarstellung der mechanischen Energiespeicherung beim im Sockelteil befindlichen, vollständig ein- gesteckem Modul.

Hereby show:

Fig. 1

a three-dimensional representation of a plug-in module according to the invention with attached hood (left part of the image) and with view of the carrier unit without hood (right image part);

Fig. 2

a representation of the U-shaped base with detail of the spring unit and

Fig. 3

a representation of the complete plug-in device combination with inserted plug-in module and detailed representation of the mechanical energy storage in the base part located, fully inserted module.

Like from the Fig. 1 it can be seen, the plug-in module 1 consists of a carrier unit 4 and a hood. 5

Under the hood 5 or on the support unit 4, the actual active components of the surge arrester are located and in electrical connection to the plug contacts 2 standing.

The plug contacts 2 are designed as large-area metallic blocks, preferably arranged symmetrically on the opposite sides.

At the hood 5 are located at the two end faces as printing plates 6 running actuating surfaces 6 '.

These can be inexpensively integrated into the construction of the hood element, since they are movably arranged on the upper side via a mechanically designed hinge surface 7.

With mechanical force acting on the actuating surfaces 6 ', they are moved inward, wherein a stop plate 8 of the carrier unit 4 acts as a travel limit.

The available way the pressure plate 6 is tuned so that the arranged in the lower part locking lugs 9 from its counterpart 9 '(see Fig. 2 ), so that the locking is released.

Overall, two locking lugs 9 are mounted in the embodiment shown on the front pages, so that the plug-in module 1 has a total of four fixed points and thus balanced accordingly and is held without delay in the desired position.

The surface of the actuating surface 6 'is provided with a structure, so that an easy removal of the plug-in module 1 without excessive force is possible.

Furthermore, the underside of the carrier unit 4, which is designed as a trough-like base group, a coding pin or telecommunications actuation contact 100 have.

Stop edges, stop surfaces or stop pins 10 which extend as pressure points relative to those associated spring unit 11 extend from the underside of the aforementioned bottom group. Fig. 2 ) Act.

The support unit 4 has in the region of the bottom group latching projections 110, which in complementary recesses 111 of the hood 5, this locking, engage.

The locking lugs 9 of the pressure plate 6 have a wedge-shaped sliding surface 112, wherein the respective wedge tips are oriented in the insertion direction.

As can be seen from the figurative representation, the hood 5 is designed running wedge-shaped in the lower region, wherein the top of the hood 5 has a spherical or arcuate shape.

Each plug-in module 1 is provided with preferably two or four symmetrically arranged plug contact elements 2. By the design of the plug contact elements 2 as a moving part or fixed part, it is possible to carry relatively large surge currents almost wear-free over the large-area contact elements. The uniform, distributed at the bottom arrangement of Einzelsteckkontakten ensures a uniform, homogeneous force distribution, so that it does not come to a deformation or tilting of the plug-in module within the lower part, even with large electrodynamic forces.

The lower part of the device combination has as shown Fig. 2 and 3 a U shape. Here, the lower part 12 has two open U-shaped legs 120 and a connecting leg 121.

In the open legs 120 of the lower part 12, the aforementioned recesses 9 'are formed for the latching lugs 9 of the plug-in module 1.

The connecting leg 121 has recesses 122 for the spring-like or mechanical energy storage and the operation thereof.

The open legs 120 have in one embodiment of the invention guide rails 13 for easier and correct insertion of the respective plug-in module. 1

Furthermore, the connecting leg 121 has on its upper side a complementary to the bottom of the bottom group of the plug-in module 1 shape, below the connecting leg receptacles 123 are provided for each spring unit 11, which include an access for the stop edges 10 of the bottom group of the plug-in module 1 upwards.

Like from the Fig. 2 and 3 can be seen, the respective spring units 11, comprising at least one coil spring, are supported against the bottom of the base-like base.

Furthermore, at least one recess 124 for a coding pin or as access to a telecommunications contact is provided in the connecting leg 121. To reinforce and stabilize the overall arrangement of the lower part of the connecting leg 121 on both sides each have a molded web 125.

In the inserted state (see Fig. 3 ) remains the plug-in module 1 with the hood top and the printing plates located there accessible.

During insertion of the plug-in module 1 in the lower part 12, guided by the guide rails, and producing the desired electrical contact between the corresponding plug contacts 2 and counterparts in the lower part, the applied mechanical force is used to the located in the lower part 12 mechanical energy storage. 3 or 11 to bias.

This is realized by the corresponding stop edges, stop pins or stop surfaces and pressure points provided there.

For example, four spring units 11 are preferably integrated in each lower part 12. The number and symmetrical positioning ensure optimum homogeneity of the force.

About the specific structural design of the mechanical energy storage 3, in particular the selection of a suitable spring element and its spring characteristic, the release force to be set and the associated Ausrückweg can vary over a wide range.

When releasing the detents 9 from the recesses 9 'by exerting a compressive force on the pressure plate 6 and the actuating surface 6' come the locking lugs 9 out of contact with the recesses 9 '. As a result, the plug-in module 1 can be easily removed using the stored mechanical energy in the spring units without further mechanical aids or tools.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

plug-in module

2

plug contacts

3

mechanical energy storage

4

support unit

5

Hood

6

printing plate

6 '

actuating surface

7

hinge surface

8th

stop plate

9

locking lugs

9 '

Recess for locking lugs in the lower part

10

Stop edges or pressure points of these

11

spring unit

12

lower part

13

guide rails

100

Coding pin and / or telecommunications contact

110

Locking elements on the bottom group of the carrier unit

111

Recesses in the hood

112

wedge-shaped sliding surfaces of the locking lugs

120

open leg of the lower part 12

121

Connecting leg of the lower part

122

Recess as access to the spring unit

123

Recording for the spring unit

124

Recess for coding pin and / or access to telecommunications contact

125

web

Claims (14)

1. Plug-in combination of appliances for protection against overvoltages, comprising a socket-type lower part and one or several plug-in modules which accommodate the overvoltage protection elements, contact elements and contact counter elements which are respectively arranged in the lower part and in the plug-in module, as well as complementary guide rails or guide grooves for the controlled insertion or sliding-on and fixing of the respective plug-in module, wherein functionally separated mechanical catch or snap-in elements are provided which act between the respective plug-in module and the socket-type lower part, regardless of the forces which keep the contact elements and counter contact elements positively and/or non-positively connected with the plug-in module inserted, wherein the catch or snap-in function may be canceled without any mechanical auxiliary means when a replacement of the respective plug-in module is desired, characterized in that
   the plug-in module comprises a carrier unit with a bottom group, with several large-area contact elements being arranged on the bottom group, the bottom group further comprising a trough-type lower side from which stop edges, stop faces, and/or stop pins extend downwards in the direction of the socket-type lower part,
   the carrier unit is enclosed by a hood, the hood having a hinge face at two opposite sides, which continues into a pressure plate at the end of which catch projections or catch cams are provided which in the inserted condition fulfill the catch or snap-in function with respect to the lower part, and further a spring-type mechanical energy store is provided between the lower part and the plug-in module, which upon insertion of the respective plug-in module is biased and upon canceling the catch or snap-in function releases mechanical energy for removing the plug-in module from the socket-type lower part, wherein the plug-in module with the upper hood part and the pressure plates located thereon protrudes in the inserted condition and remains freely accessible for the actuation of the pressure plates.
2. Plug-in combination of appliances according to claim 1,
   characterized in that
   the carrier unit accommodates the overvoltage protection elements and a face or edge which limits the movement of the pressure plate is formed at the carrier unit below the pressure plate of the hood.
3. Plug-in combination of appliances according to claim 1 or 2,
   characterized in that
   catch projections are provided in the area of the bottom group of the carrier unit, which engage complementary recesses in the hood locking it.
4. Plug-in combination of appliances according to one of claims 1 to 3,
   characterized in that
   the catch projections or catch cams of the pressure plate have a wedge-shaped sliding surface, with the respective wedge tips being oriented in the direction of insertion.
5. Plug-in combination of appliances according to one of claims 1 to 4,
   characterized in that
   the hood comprises a wedge shape in its lower portion, which extends over its width.
6. Plug-in combination of appliances according to one of claims 1 to 5,
   characterized in that
   the hood is spherically or arc-shaped at its top.
7. Plug-in combination of appliances according to one of claims 1 to 6,
   characterized in that
   the lower part has a U-shape, with catch or snap-in elements being arranged in the open legs of the lower part, and with recesses being provided in the connecting leg for the spring-type mechanical energy store(s) and their actuation.
8. Plug-in combination of appliances according to claim 7,
   characterized in that
   the open legs comprise longitudinally extending guide rails to facilitate the insertion of the respective plug-in module.
9. Plug-in combination of appliances according to claim 1 and claim 7 or 8,
   characterized in that
   the connecting leg has a shape which is complementary to the lower side of the bottom group, with receptacles being provided for one spring unit each below the connecting leg, which provide an upward access for the stop edges, stop pins, or stop faces of the bottom group.
10. Plug-in combination of appliances according to claim 9,
    characterized in that
    the respective spring units bear against the bottom of the socket-type lower part.
11. Plug-in combination of appliances according to one of claims 7 to 10,
    characterized in that
    at least one recess for a coding pin or the access to a telecommunication contact is provided in the connecting leg.
12. Plug-in combination of appliances according to one of claims 1 to 11,
    characterized in that
    the catch or snap-in elements as well as the mechanical energy stores are multiple-provided and are preferably arranged symmetrically.
13. Plug-in combination of appliances according to one of claims 7 to 12,
    characterized in that
    the connecting leg comprises one integrally formed web each at both sides,
    which stabilizes the opposite open leg portions.
14. Plug-in combination of appliances according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that
    the contact elements and the counter contact elements are designed as plug contacts with a high contact holding force, which are capable of carrying surge currents.

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