EP2156456B1 - Switching device - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an electrical switching device, in particular in the form of a DIN rail mounted device.

An electrical switching device, such as a circuit breaker, a mechanical, electronic or mechatronic switch or a relay, usually has a feed connection via which a mains-side and thus current-carrying power line can be connected, and a load connection, via which a load side outgoing power line can be connected ,

The patent EP-A-1220257 discloses an example of an electrical switching device in the form of a DIN rail mounted device in which the bus bars of the bus bar are inserted directly into the associated terminals.

As a power distribution system is hereinafter generally referred to an electrical installation with several electrical load (current) circles, which is supplied from a common main power line current, and which are connected to a common current return. In the context of such a power distribution system switching devices are usually provided in particular at the branches where the load circuits branch off from the main power line. The switching device serves to electrically isolate the associated load circuit in case of need from the main current supply line. In the sense of a simplified connection of several parallel load circuits, the feed terminal for switching devices, which are designed as DIN rail devices, sometimes a coupling connection, which can be contacted with a multiple switching devices cross-current busbar. The current feedback from the load circuits is usually carried out separately from the switching devices by means of separate circuit elements in such an installation. Although switching devices are often provided with additional signal connections to which information about the switching state of the switching device can be tapped. However, these signal connections are regularly designed for low-power electrical currents and are neither intended nor suitable for current feedback from the load circuits.

The invention has for its object to provide an electrical switching device that allows a rational and simple construction of an electrical system, in particular a power distribution system.

This object is achieved by the features of claim 1. Thereafter, the switching device comprises in a common housing a switching device, a feed terminal, a load terminal and a return port.

The switching device is optionally designed as a mechanical, electronic or mechatronic switch, but preferably as a circuit breaker and generally serves to interrupt an electrically conductive connection between the feed terminal and the load terminal. The feed terminal serves to supply a current to the switching device. Within a power distribution system, the feed terminal is used to connect the switchgear to the main power supply line. For this purpose, it comprises a first coupling contact, which is designed to make contact with a first current-carrying busbar. The load terminal is intended to be connected to the supply line of an electrical load circuit.

The inventively additionally provided return connection is used to derive the load current from the load circuit to the current-carrying main power line. It comprises, on the one hand, a connection terminal to which the (load current-carrying) return line of the load circuit can be connected. The return connection further comprises a second coupling contact, which is designed for contacting a second (current-carrying) current busbar. The connection terminal and the coupling contact of the return connection are short-circuited inside the housing. In the case of an electromechanical (protective) switch, the return connection is preferably electrically insulated from all other electrical functional parts and conductors of the switching device. In contrast, when the switching device is designed as an electronic (protective) switch, the return connection preferably also serves as a ground connection for the electronic functional parts of the switching device.

The integration of the return connection in the switching device makes it possible in a particularly simple manner to build a power distribution system of a number of juxtaposed switching devices, in principle, only the corresponding with the coupling contacts current busbars are needed to implement the power distribution system except the switching devices themselves, in this case as stromzuführende or stromabführende main power line act. An electrical system, in particular a power distribution system, can be realized in this way with very few circuit components, and thus on the one hand efficiently and on the other hand with low installation and space requirements. Regardless, the individual switching device can also be used in the context of a conventional single wiring. The switching device is thus extremely flexible in the context of an electrical system.

The switching device is designed in particular as a so-called DIN rail mounted device. The housing has insofar on a rear side a profiled recording (Aufrastnut) for placing the switching device on a mounting rail. The opposite side of this back side is referred to as (housing) front side and is facing an operator in the intended installation position of the switching device. The profile direction of the receptacle (and the support rail corresponding to it) defines a row direction along which a plurality of switching devices in the assembled state can be lined up as intended. The vertical to this row direction housing sides are referred to as (housing) end faces. The other two sides of the housing are designated according to the intended installation position of the switching device as (housing) top side or (housing) underside.

In a preferred embodiment of the switching device, at least one of the coupling contacts, but preferably each coupling contact, arranged in a respective associated housing slot, which completely passes through the housing in the row direction. If several switching devices are strung together, the or each housing slot is aligned with the associated housing slots of the other switching devices. This allows the use of a power bus designed as a profile busbar, which is pressed into the aligned housing slots and thus shielded by the housing safe to touch.

By preferably at least one, in particular each coupling contact, and optionally the corresponding housing slot, is arranged on the housing front side, a particularly simple mounting of the busbars is possible, which is particularly easy to make even in confined spaces in a cabinet. In addition, the power busbars are still visible through the arrangement of the coupling contacts on the front side of the housing even when the switching device is installed in a cabinet, which promotes the clarity of a stocked with the switching devices electrical system.

Also in the sense of a particularly simple and clear wiring of the switching device is preferably provided that the load connection and the return connection to a common housing side, in particular the housing bottom, are arranged so that both lines of the switching device associated load circuit are contacted on the same side of the housing with the switching device , In contrast, the feed connection is arranged in an advantageous development of this idea on a housing side opposite the housing side, in particular on the housing upper side. In this way, the current-supplying main power line and the load circuit are particularly clearly separated spatially.

In an expedient embodiment, the feed connection comprises, in addition to the coupling contact, a connection terminal connected in parallel for connecting a conductor. As a conductor here - in contrast to the rigid busbar - a flexible wire or stranded conductor designated.

To increase operating safety, the or each housing slot is expediently dimensioned such that it receives the associated coupling contact finger-safe. This makes it possible in particular to use the switching device in single wiring, ie without the use of a power bus, without having to cover the housing slot for security reasons. The finger-safe design of the housing slot is particularly advantageous if the housing slot is arranged on the housing in the easily accessible housing front side.

In an advantageous further development, the switching device additionally comprises at least one signal terminal, on which a switching signal can be tapped, which is characteristic of the switching state of the switching device, based on which therefore the switching state of the switching device can be determined. As a switching signal, an (active) current or voltage signal can be output, e.g. is fed from the current flowing through the switching device current. As a switching signal but in this case, a low-voltage or low-voltage signal is used, the electrical power is significantly less than the power of the load current. Preferably, however, the switching signal is predetermined by the (passive) switching state of a signal switch, which is coupled to the switching state of the switching device. In this case, two signal connections connected to the signal switch are expediently provided. The signal terminal or at least one of the signal terminals in appropriate embodiment of the switching device in turn comprises a coupling contact for connecting a signal busbar, said coupling contact is in turn preferably arranged in an associated housing slot, which completely penetrates the housing in the row direction. Also, this housing slot is preferably formed finger-safe, in particular in order to exclude a risk of injury to users in the event of a faulty current flashover on the signal circuit. To improve the ease of use, the or each coupling contact of the signal terminal, and optionally the associated housing slot, are arranged on the housing front side. The signal terminals, unlike the feed terminal, the load terminal and the return terminal, are preferably designed for low power electrical currents that are harmless to the human body.

In accordance with the typical design of DIN rail mounted devices, the housing preferably has a stepped profile that includes a comparatively narrow housing head and a housing base that is elongated (and thus overhanging the housing head). The housing head in this case forms a front housing section, while the housing base forms a rear housing section. In a further development of the switching device according to the invention, the feed connection and the return connection are preferably arranged in the housing base, while the load connection is arranged in the housing head. hereby a simple wiring of the switching device is possible in a comparatively small space. In particular, in this way, in the assembled state, the busbars corresponding to the supply terminal and the return terminal are "tidied up" in the housing base, without obstructing the connection of conductors to the terminals of the switching device.

Fig. 1

in perspektivischer Ansicht ein einzelnes Schaltgerät mit einem Einspeisungsanschluss, einem Lastanschluss, einem Rückführungsanschluss sowie zwei Signalanschlüssen,

Fig. 2

in schematischer Darstellung der schaltungstechnische Aufbau des Schaltgeräts gemäß Fig. 1,

Fig. 3

in Darstellung gemäß Fig. 1 vier aneinander gereihte Schaltgeräte gemäß Fig. 1 sowie ein weiteres Schaltgerät ohne Signalanschlüsse,

Fig. 4

in Darstellung gemäß Fig. 1 fünf aneinander gereihte Schaltgeräte gemäß Fig. 1, deren Einspeisungsanschlüsse und Rückführungsanschlüsse durch jeweils eine Stromsammelschiene parallel geschaltet sind, und deren Signalanschlüsse durch Signalstromschienen in Serie geschaltet sind, und

Fig. 5

in Darstellung gemäß Fig. 1 fünf aneinander gereihte Schaltgeräte, deren Einspeisungs- und Rückführungsanschlüsse durch jeweils eine Stromsammelschiene parallel geschlossen sind, wobei in diesem Fall die Signalanschlüsse der Schaltgeräte durch Signalstromschienen parallel geschaltet sind.

An embodiment of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to a drawing. Show:

Fig. 1

a perspective view of a single switching device with a feed connection, a load connection, a return connection and two signal connections,

Fig. 2

in a schematic representation of the circuit design of the switching device according to Fig. 1 .

Fig. 3

in illustration according to Fig. 1 four juxtaposed switching devices according to Fig. 1 as well as another switching device without signal connections,

Fig. 4

in illustration according to Fig. 1 five juxtaposed switching devices according to Fig. 1 whose feed terminals and return terminals are connected in parallel by a respective bus bar, and whose signal terminals are connected in series by signal bus bars, and

Fig. 5

in illustration according to Fig. 1 five juxtaposed switching devices whose feed and return connections are closed in parallel by a respective busbar, in which case the signal terminals of the switching devices are connected in parallel by signal busbars.

Corresponding parts are always provided with the same reference numerals in all figures.

This in Fig. 1 initially shown in the view from the outside switching device 1 comprises a housing 2 made of insulating material. The switching device 1 is designed as a modular device and has a typical for such devices, stepped housing shape with a housing head 3 and on the other hand on both sides extended housing base 4. The housing base 4 forms a housing section adjoining a housing rear side 5, the housing head 3 a housing section adjoining a housing front side 6.

The switching device 1 is designed for a defined mounting position, in which the housing 2 faces the rear side of the housing 5 of the rear wall of a control cabinet, while the housing front side 6 facing an operator in the installed position when looking into the cabinet. For mounting, the switching device 1 on the rear side of the housing 5 on a Aufrastnut 7, with which the switching device 1 on a (dotted lines in the illustration) support rail 8 can be snapped.

The profile axis of the support rail 8, and associated with this Aufrastnut 7 defines a row direction 9, along which several switching devices 1 - as in the Fig. 3 to 5 shown - by snapping onto the mounting rail 8 can be lined up aligned.

The vertical to the row direction 9 side surfaces of the housing 2 are referred to as housing end faces 10. The housing sides perpendicular to the housing end faces 10, the housing front side 6 and the housing rear side 5 are designated as the housing upper side 11 or as the housing underside 12, in accordance with the intended installation position of the switchgear 1.

For supplying a current, the switching device 1 comprises a feed terminal 13, which is arranged in the region of the housing upper side 11. The feed terminal 13 comprises a terminal 14 designed as a screw terminal, to which a flexible wire or stranded conductor for supplying power can be connected. The feed terminal 13 furthermore comprises a coupling contact 15 which is connected in parallel to the connection terminal 14 and to which a current busbar 16 (FIG. 4 and 5 ) can be brought into contact. The coupling contact 15 is in this case arranged within a housing slot 17 which opens to the housing front side 6, and which extends in the row direction 9 over the entire housing width and thus also to the housing end faces 10 is open. The housing slot 17 is dimensioned such that the power bus 16 is pressed into it accurately.

The switching device 1 further comprises a load output 18 to which a load 18a (FIG. Fig. 2 . 4 ) load circuit (or load circuit) 18b (or Fig. 2 . 4 ) with an associated supply line 18c ( Fig. 2 . 4 ) is connectable. The load output 18 includes for connection of the supply line 18c accessible from the housing bottom 12 from terminal 19, which is also designed as a screw.

Inside the housing 2, the feed terminal 13 and the load terminal 18 are connected via a (in Fig. 2 shown in detail) switching device 20 interconnected. In the illustrated embodiment, the switching device 20 has a circuit breaker function, that is configured to separate the current path formed between the feed terminal 13 and the load terminal 18 in the event of an overcurrent. The switching device 20 comprises for this purpose a switching contact 21 and an overcurrent release 22. The switching contact 21 is coupled to the overcurrent release via a switching mechanism 23 in the form of a switching mechanism, so that the overcurrent release 22 opens the switching contact 21 via the switching mechanism 23 in the event of an overcurrent. The overcurrent release 22 is based here in particular according to conventional technology on a magnetic, thermal and / or pneumatic action principle.

The switching mechanism 23 is in turn coupled to a manual operating element 24 - here in the form of a sliding or tilting lever. The manual operating element 24 is accessible from the outside on the housing front side 6 and makes it possible to manually and reversibly open and close the switching contact 21 via the switching mechanism 23.

The switching device 20 with the associated switching contact 21, overcurrent release 22, switching mechanism 23 and manual operating element 24 may also be replaced by an electronic switching element. In the switching device 1, a signal circuit 25 is further integrated. The signal circuit 25 comprises two signal contacts 26 and 27 and a signal switch 28 interposed therebetween. Each of the signal contacts 26 and 27 in this case comprises a terminal 29 or 30 in the form of a screw and a respective parallel coupling contact 31 and 32. The terminals 29 and 30 are in this case for connecting a conductor of the housing top side 11 accessible (so that in the illustration Fig. 1 of these terminals 29 and 30, only the recordings for the clamping screws are visible). The coupling contacts 31 and 32 are arranged in (each a coupling contact 31,32 assigned) housing slots 33,34, wherein each housing slot 33,34 in turn extends in the row direction 9 over the entire housing width. Each of the housing slots 33 and 34 serves to receive a signal bus bar 35, 35 '(as in FIGS 4 and 5 shown).

In addition to the described connections 13, 18, 26 and 27, the switching device 1 comprises a return connection 36, which is used to connect a return line 36 a (FIG. Fig. 2 . 4 ) of the load circuit 18b is used. For this purpose, the return connection 36 comprises a connecting terminal 37 again designed as a screw terminal, which is accessible from the housing underside 12. The feedback terminal 36 further comprises a housing internally connected to the terminal 37 coupling contact 38. The coupling contact 38 is disposed in a near the housing bottom 12 housing slot 39, which in turn extends in the row direction 9 over the entire width of the housing, and for receiving a with the Coupling contact 38 corresponding current busbar 40 ( 4 and 5 ) opens towards the housing front 6.

Overall, how are Fig. 1 can be seen, the feed terminal 13 and the return terminal 36 in the housing base 4, the load terminal 18 and the signal terminals 26 and 27 disposed in the housing head 3, which allows a clear and user-friendly wiring of the switching device 1.

Fig. 3 shows several juxtaposed switching devices 1 of the type described above and a contrast simplified switching device 1 ', in which the signal circuit 25, and accordingly the associated signal terminals 26 and 27, are omitted. The modified switching device 1 'can also be used as (comparatively low-cost) connection module for contacting a number of switching devices 1 are used in the context of a power distribution system.

In the context of such a power distribution system, as in the 4 and 5 is shown, the feed terminals 13 of the juxtaposed switching devices 1 (or 1 ') connected in parallel by the power bus 16 is pressed into the aligned housing slots 17 of the switching devices 1 (or 1'), and so contacted with the coupling contacts 15. In this case, the current busbar 16 is dimensioned with respect to its length such that it extends over the entire width of all switching devices 1 (or 1 ') to be integrated into the power distribution system. The connection of the thus connected in parallel switching devices 1 (or 1 ') to an external power source takes place here by conventional wiring of any switching device 1 (or 1') via its terminal 14th

Likewise, the return terminals 36 of the juxtaposed switching devices 1 (or 1 ') are connected in parallel by pressing the bus bar 40 in the housing slot 39, wherein the busbar 40 or the terminal 37 with an electrical return potential, in particular ground, are connected. Each of the switching devices 1 (or 1 ') is preferably associated with a load circuit 18b within the scope of the power distribution system. In Fig. 4 the connection of the load circuits 18b is shown by way of example for one of the switching devices 1. Optionally - as mentioned above - another switching device 1 (or 1 ') is provided, which serves only for contacting the busbars 16 and 40 with the external power supply or ground, and therefore no separate load circuit is assigned. The individual load circuits 18b, the respectively associated switching device 1 (or 1 ') connected by the supply line 18c of the respective load circuit 18b to the load terminal 18 of the switching device 1 (or 1'), and the return line 36a of the load circuit 18b to the terminal 37 of the switching device 1 (or 1 ') are connected.

By different wiring of the coupling contacts 31 and 32 of the signal terminals 26 and 27 with the signal busbars 35 and 35 ', the signal circuits 25 of the juxtaposed switching devices 1 with each other in different ways be interconnected. Fig. 4 shows in this regard a configuration of an existing five switching devices 1 power distribution system in which the signal circuits 25 of the switching devices 1 are connected in series with each other. Fig. 5 shows an alternative configuration of the distribution system, in which the signal circuits 25 are connected in parallel. In addition, any combinations of parallel and series circuits of the signal circuits 25 are possible. In addition, one or more signal circuits 25 can also be individually wired via the connection terminals 29 and 30.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1,1 '

switchgear

2

casing

3

housing head

4

housing base

5

Case back

6

Housing front side

7

Aufrastnut

8th

rail

9

row direction

10

Body face

11

Housing top

12

Housing bottom

13

feed tab

14

terminal

15

coupling contact

16

Busbar

17

housing slot

18

load connection

18a

load

18b

Load circuit

18c

feed pipe

19

terminal

20

switching device

21

switching contact

22

Overcurrent release

23

switching mechanism

24

Manual actuator

25

Signal circuit

26

signal connection

27

signal connection

28

signal switches

29

terminal

30

terminal

31

coupling contact

32

coupling contact

33

housing slot

34

housing slot

35.35 '

Signal busbar

36

Return port

36a

Return line

37

terminal

38

coupling contact

39

housing slot

40

Busbar

Claims (13)

1. Electric switching device (1, 1') in the form of a top hat rail-mounted device having a housing (2) as well as, contained therein,

   - a switching unit (20) for the interruption of an electrical circuit

   - a feed port (13) for the supply of a load current to the switching device (20), which comprises a first coupling contact (15) for contacting an electric busbar (16),

   - a load connection (18) for contacting the supply line (18c) of a load circuit (18b) with the switching device (20), and a feedback connection (36), which comprises a terminal (37) for contacting the feedback line (36a) of the load circuit (18b) as well as a second coupling contact (38) connected to the terminal (37) in the interior of the housing for contacting a second electric busbar (40).
2. Switching device (1, 1') according to claim 1,
   characterised in that,
   at least one of the coupling contacts (15, 38) is arranged in an allocated housing slot (17, 39) that completely pushes through the housing (2) in the direction of the array (9).
3. Switching device (1, 1') according to claim 1 or 2,
   characterised in that,
   at least one of the coupling contacts (15, 38) is arranged on a front side of the housing (6).
4. Switching device (1, 1') according to one of claims 1 to 3,
   characterised in that,
   the load connection (18) and the feedback connection (36) are arranged on a mutual side of the housing (12).
5. Switching device (1, 1') according to claim 4,
   characterised in that,
   the feed port (13) on one side and the feedback connection (36) as well as the load connection (18) on the other side are arranged on correspondingly opposite sides of the housing (11, 12).
6. Switching device (1, 1') according to one of claims 1 to 5,
   characterised in that,
   the feed port (13) has a terminal (14) connected in parallel to the first coupling contact (15) for connecting a conductor.
7. Switching device (1, 1') according to one of claims 2 to 6,
   characterised in that,
   the or every housing slot (17, 39) is dimensioned in such a way that it receives the allocated coupling contact (15, 38) in a touch-safe manner.
8. Switching device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7,
   characterised by
   at least one signal connection (26, 27), at which a switching signal that is characteristic for the switching status of the switching unit (20) can be determined.
9. Switching device (1) according to claim 8,
   characterised in that,
   the signal connection (26, 27) has a coupling contact (31, 32) for the connection of a signal power rail (35, 35').
10. Switching device (1) according to claim 9,
    characterised in that,
    the coupling contact (31, 32) of the signal connection (26, 27) is arranged in an allocated housing slot (33, 34), which completely pushes through the housing (2) in the direction of the array (9).
11. Switching device (1) according to claim 9 or 10,
    characterised in that,
    the coupling contact (31, 32) of the signal connection (26, 27) is arranged on a front side of the housing (6).
12. Switching device (1, 1') according to one of claims 1 to 11,
    characterised in that,
    the housing (2) has a stepped profile, having a housing head (3), which borders a front side of the housing (6), and having a housing base (4) protruding over the housing head (3), which borders a rear side of the housing (5), wherein the feed port (13) and the feedback connection (36) are arranged in the housing base (4) and the load connection (18) is arranged in the housing head (3).
13. Electricity distribution system, wherein at least two switching devices (1, 1') according to one of claims 1 to 12 are strung together in an array (9), wherein the coupling contacts (15) of the feed ports (13) are short-circuited by means of the first electric busbar (16), and wherein the coupling contacts (38) of the feedback connections (36) are short-circuited by means of the second electric busbar (40), wherein the respective supply line (18c) of a load circuit (18b) corresponding to this switching device (1, 1') is connected to the load connection (18) of each of these switching devices (1, 1'), and wherein the respective feedback line (36a) of the corresponding load circuit (18b) is connected to the terminal (37) of the feedback connection (36) of this switching device (1, 1').

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