EP2955798B1 - Module with a mechanical and electrically lock for a terminal module - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a module with a mechanical and electrical locking for a terminal module.

Modules in the sense of the present invention are in particular motor starters. Motor starters can have either direct or indirect, that is, hardwired wiring. If the motor starter is switched on with a direct wiring system, it is possible for the operator to release under load, that is to say under voltage, the plug connection or the connections of the motor. At the connection of the motor output there are usually higher voltages and currents. Therefore, it is possible that an arc may occur which may cause personal injury or equipment damage.

Motor starters with indirect, that is, fixed wiring, are plugged into a base unit or on a terminal module. The terminal module is a rail system that carries the wiring of the motor starter to be locked. Through this indirect or fixed wiring, it is possible to deduct the motor starter from the rail system without having previously solved the wiring. The operator can plug the motor starter onto the rail system or disconnect it from the rail system without having to loosen the wiring. When removing the motor starter, an unlocking must be actuated. This can also lead to an arc that leads to personal injury or equipment damage.

A warning is therefore placed on the devices in the manual or directly on the device, which indicates that the device or a cable may not be removed under load. The technical solution used so far provides that the supply voltage of the switching element interrupted will be to initiate a shutdown. This can be achieved for example by a pivoting movement of the motor starter, in which solve the connectors.

The disadvantage of the solution known from the prior art for a reliable electrical separation from a terminal module or for switching off the device is that these solutions do not offer the desired security. The warning on a device can be overlooked. It is also conceivable that the mechanical release of the rail system is not carried out correctly and thereby a voltage applied to the device.

The US 2004/002249 A1 describes a module with a mechanical or electrical locking for a terminal module, wherein on the module and the terminal module, an interlocking locking device is arranged, which is designed such that three different Kontaktierungsstati between module and terminal module can be implemented.

From the GB 2 469 855 A a locking device for an electrical connector is shown in which a spring acted upon screw is inserted into a sleeve with a guide groove.

Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to provide a module with a mechanical and electrical locking for a terminal module, which allows a secure electrical separation of the two modules from each other.

This object is achieved by a module with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and developments, which can be used individually or in combination with each other, are the subject of the dependent claims.

According to the invention this object is achieved by a module with a mechanical and electrical locking for a terminal module according to claim 1. According to the invention, a module, in particular a motor starter, is placed on a wiring or terminal module and contacted with it electrically. This motor starter module must also be mechanically stable connected to the terminal module. The motor starter module should have three different ones Take status on the terminal module. At the first contacting status, the motor starter module is placed on the terminal module, but neither a mechanical interlocking nor an electrical contact is provided. In the second contacting state, the motor starter module is mounted on the terminal module, mechanically locked, but not electrically connected. This contact status is a parking position for maintenance when it is necessary to disconnect the electronics assembly. The user does not have to completely remove the device from the terminal. In the third contacting status, the motor starter module is locked to the terminal module. That is, it is mechanically and electrically connected. The third contacting status corresponds to the operating position.

The mechanical lock is made by a bayonet mechanism. The customer can turn an operating knob on the front of the motor starter module, which converts the rotational movement by means of a link in a hub. This actuator knob is connected to an axle, which in turn has a pin at its other end. This pin dives into a bayonet mechanism. Thus, the rotational movement of the axis is converted into a translational movement of the entire starter module. By thus initiated stroke movement, the electrical plug contacts, which are located between terminal module and starter module, solved. The electrical connection is thus interrupted and safely disconnected.

In a specific embodiment of the invention, a concept may consist in that in the first contacting state the module is placed on the terminal module, the module being connected to the terminal module neither mechanically nor electrically. In this status there is a complete mechanical and electrical separation of the modules from each other.

An inventive continuation of this concept may consist in that in the second Kontaktierungsstatus the module is placed on the terminal module, wherein the module with the terminal module is not mechanically, but electrically connected. This contact status is a park position that can be used for maintenance when it is necessary to disconnect the electronics assembly. The user does not have to completely remove the device from the terminal.

In a further inventive continuation of this concept, it can be provided that in the third contacting status the module is locked onto the terminal module, wherein the module is mechanically and electrically connected to the terminal module. This contacting status is the operating position. According to the invention the locking device is formed on the module as an axis which is convertible at a first end via a rotary knob in a rotational movement, and which has a locking pin at the second end. In this case, it is preferably provided that the customer can turn the rotary knob on the front side of the motor starter module, which converts the rotational movement by means of a link in a hub. This knob is connected to the axle, which in turn carries the locking pin at its other end. This pin immersed in a bayonet mechanism, thus the rotational movement of the axis is converted into a translational movement of the whole module. By thus initiated stroke movement, the electrical plug contacts, which are located between terminal module and starter module, solved. The electrical connection is thus interrupted and safely disconnected. According to the locking device is formed on the terminal module as a sliding groove, via which the axis including locking pin from a first position to a second position can be transferred. Go berserk of the rotary knob, the axle, including the locking pin, rotates into the sliding groove and slides down the gate to the end position.

An inventive continuation of this concept may consist in that the transfer from the first position to the second position and vice versa is designed as a vertical movement. According to the invention, it is provided that the sliding groove is located in a slot of the terminal module and moves depending on the positioning of the module on the terminal module either on this slide up or down.

In a further specific continuation of this inventive concept, it can be provided that the terminal module has recesses into which the locking pin engages. These recesses mark the end position for the first and second position after the axis including the locking pin has passed through the sliding groove.

It can also be provided according to the invention that the module is a motor starter.

The module according to the invention is preferably cuboid with four side parts, a front side and a bottom. At the front a knob is arranged. From the bottom protrudes an axle, on which a locking pin is arranged at the end. The terminal module is preferably designed as a rail, from which two mutually parallel and spaced-apart insertion contours are arranged, which facilitate the proper positioning of the module on the terminal module. Between the Einführkonturen a backdrop is arranged, which is preferably cylindrical. On the inside of the gate is a sliding groove, which has a preferably helical course. According to the invention, it is provided that by turning the knob the axis including the locking pin slides on the Gleitmut up or down.

Further advantages and embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail by means of embodiments and with reference to the drawing.

• Fig. 1 in einer Explosionsdarstellung ein erfindungsgemäßes Modul mit Terminalmodul;
• Fig. 2 in einer perspektivischen Darstellung eine erfindungsgemäße Arretierungsvorrichtung zur Verriegelung und Entriegelung des Moduls am bzw. vom Terminalmodul:
• Fig. 3 in einer perspektivischen Darstellung das Modul aufgesetzt auf das Terminalmodul in einem ersten Kontaktierungsstatus;
• Fig. 4 in einer perspektivischen Darstellung das Modul aufgesetzt auf das Terminalmodul in einem zweiten Kontaktierungsstatus;
• Fig. 5 in einer perspektivischen Darstellung das Modul aufgesetzt auf das Terminalmodul in einem dritten Kontaktierungsstatus.

Here are shown schematically:

• Fig. 1 in an exploded view of an inventive module with terminal module;
• Fig. 2 in a perspective view of an inventive locking device for locking and unlocking the module on or from the terminal module:
• Fig. 3 in a perspective view of the module placed on the terminal module in a first contacting state;
• Fig. 4 in a perspective view of the module placed on the terminal module in a second contacting state;
• Fig. 5 in a perspective view of the module placed on the terminal module in a third contacting status.

Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a module according to the invention, which is preferably parallelepiped-shaped with four side panels 1, a front side 2 and a bottom 3. On the front side 2, a knob 4 is arranged. From the bottom 3 protrudes an axis 5, on which at the end of a locking pin 6 is arranged. The terminal module 7 is designed as a rail, from which two mutually parallel and spaced-apart insertion contours 8 are arranged, which facilitate the proper positioning of the module on the terminal module 7. Between the Einführkonturen 8 a gate 9 is arranged, which is preferably cylindrical. On the inside of the gate 9 is a sliding groove 10, which has a preferably helical course. According to the invention it is provided that by rotating the knob 4, the axis 5 including the locking pin 6 slides on the sliding groove 10 up or down.

In Fig. 2 an embodiment of a locking device according to the invention for locking and unlocking the module is shown by the terminal module. Fig. 2 shows the axis 5 including the locking pin 6, which is inserted into the preferably cylindrical gate 9 of the terminal module 7. The locking pin 6 is located in a recess 11 which marks the first end position of the axis 5. Slides the locking pin 6 including the axis 5, the sliding groove 10 downwards, ie in the vertical direction, the locking pin 6 reaches the second end position, which is characterized by the recess 12. Moreover, in Fig. 2 illustrated the electrical contact 13 of the terminal module.

In Fig. 3 the module placed on the terminal module 7 is shown in a first contacting status. In this Kontaktierungsstatus the module is placed on the terminal module 7, wherein there is neither a mechanical nor an electrical connection.

Fig. 4 shows the module including terminal module 7 in a second contacting state. In this second Kontaktierungsstatus the module is placed on the terminal module 7, wherein a mechanical lock is present, but no electrical connection. This second contacting status is the parking position for maintenance when it is necessary to disconnect the electronics assembly. The user does not have to completely remove the device from the terminal.

In Fig. 5 the third contacting status between module and terminal module 7 is shown. In this contacting status, the module is locked to the terminal module 7. There is both a mechanical, as well as an electrical lock. This contacting status is the operating position.

The present invention is characterized in that the locking device provides for a conversion of a rotary motion into a stroke. This hub produces a guided electrical shutdown of the main voltage of the module. The solution presented here is a linear movement which requires less space than, for example, a pivoting movement. The guided electrical shutdown can be triggered by a button, a read contacts, an optical detection, for example by a fork light barrier, a Hall transmitter or by inductive or capacitive sensors.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

side panel

2

front

3

bottom

4

knob

5

axis

6

locking pin

7

terminal module

8th

Einführkontur

9

scenery

10

slide groove

11

recess

12

recess

13

contact

Claims (7)

1. Module comprising a mechanical and electrical lock for a terminal module (7), wherein an interengaging arresting apparatus is arranged on the module and on the terminal module (7) and is designed in such a way that three different contact-making states can be implemented between the module and the terminal module (7), wherein the arresting apparatus is formed on the module as a shaft (5) which, at a first end, can be made to execute a rotary movement by means of a rotary knob (4) and which, at the second end, has a locking pin (6), characterized in that the arresting apparatus is in the form of a sliding groove (10) on the terminal module (7), it being possible for the shaft (5), including the locking pin (6), to be moved from a first position to a second position by means of the said sliding groove, and wherein the terminal module (7) is in the form of a rail from which two insertion contours (8) which are arranged parallel to one another and are at a distance from one another are arranged, wherein a slotted guide (9) is arranged between the insertion contours (8), the sliding groove (10) being located on the inside of the said slotted guide.
2. Module according to Claim 1, characterized in that, in the first contact-making state, the module is fitted onto the terminal module (7), wherein the module is neither mechanically nor electrically connected to the terminal module (7).
3. Module according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, in the second contact-making state, the module is fitted onto the terminal module (7), wherein the module is not mechanically, but electrically, connected to the terminal module (7).
4. Module according to Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, in the third contact-making state, the module is arrested on the terminal module (7), wherein the module is mechanically and electrically connected to the terminal module (7).
5. Module according to Claim 1, characterized in that the movement from the first position to the second position, and vice versa, is a vertical movement.
6. Module according to Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the terminal module (7) has recesses (11, 12) into which the locking pin (6) engages.
7. Module according to Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the module is a motor starter.

Images