EP3333982B1 - Connection adapter for connecting an electrical device, also system and electrical installation - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a connection adapter for connecting an electrical device to a connection means of an electrical system. Furthermore, the invention relates to a corresponding system and an electrical system with at least one such system.

In powerline communication systems, a power supply network is used to exchange communication signals between the participants in the system. The data to be transmitted is modulated in the higher frequency range on one or more lines of the power supply network, for example, a phase relative to the neutral or between two phases. For example, the broadband version of Powerline Communication - Broadband Powerline (BPL) - usually uses signal components in the frequency range between 1 and 30 MHz. For coupling the communication signals to the lines of the power supply network or for decoupling transmitted via the power supply network communication signals couplers are used, which also keep the high line voltage of the power supply network of the communication unit. The couplers are usually capacitive couplers, which are dimensioned so that the low-frequency network voltage of the power supply network is significantly reduced or even completely blocked and communication signals are passed largely unchanged.

1. 1. Das Gewinde der Anschlussschraube muss ausreichend lang sein, um alle für den Anschluss notwendigen Komponenten tragen zu können.
2. 2. Das überstehende Gewinde muss nach vorne zeigen, d.h. es muss für die Installation des Kopplers zugänglich sein.

To connect such a coupler, it is widely used to connect the connection cable of the coupler with connection means of an electrical system, which in turn is connected to the power supply network. Frequently, a cable lug, usually a ring cable lug, attached to the respective connection cable of the coupler, which is connected to one of the terminals of the electrical system. For example, refer to a low-voltage high-performance fuse load bar - in short NH fuse load bar. Such a connection scenario is in Fig. 1 shown. The connection means is formed here by an M12 screw or an M12 threaded bolt, whereby other screw or thread sizes are common, for example M8. A cable lug (A) of a low-voltage cable (B) is connected to this connection. The cable lug (A) of the low voltage cable (B) is attached to the M12 bolt / M12 threaded bolt with a first nut (C). The connection of a coupler is in Fig. 2 shown. In addition to the first nut (C) Screw a second nut (C) onto the M12 screw / M12 threaded bolt. The connection cable (E) of the coupler has a cable lug (F), which is secured with a special nut (G). All these components, ie the cable lug (A) of the low voltage cable (B), the first and second nuts (C, D), the lug (F) of the coupler connection cable (E) and the special nut (G), are on the M12 -Screw or the M12 threaded bolt arranged. It can be seen that two conditions must be fulfilled for this connection option:

1. 1. The thread of the terminal screw must be long enough to carry all components necessary for the connection.
2. 2. The protruding thread must point to the front, ie it must be accessible for the installation of the coupler.

In many installations, however, not both of these - trivial-sounding - requirements are met. So often the remaining thread is too short to ensure a secure and reliable attachment of the connection cable of the coupler to the screw. The second requirement is not met in many electrical systems, since the screws are installed in the direction of the electrical system and the thread is thus inaccessible for further installation. If only one of the two requirements is not fulfilled, extensive conversion measures are necessary to create the installation prerequisites. These conversion measures are time-consuming and therefore cost-intensive. Furthermore, the usual installation on a live system for safety reasons is excluded for the conversion, so that the electrical system for the renovation work must be turned off, which further increases the cost.

Another problem with using the special nut described above is the need for a relatively large amount of space. In addition to the space for the special nut space for the second nut is required. At the same time, a minimum distance to the housing wall, in the present case usually a housing door, must remain. This installation space is not available in all installation situations.

Even if the above statements relate to the connection of a BPL coupler to a NH fuse load bar, it will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that the problem described above can arise in a wide variety of scenarios in which an electrical device is connected directly or via connection means of an electrical system a power supply network is to be connected. In this case, the power supply network can both low voltage, i. AC voltages up to 1000V, as well as medium voltage, i. AC voltages above 1000V to 52 kV, lead. Also, the connection means need not necessarily be a screw connection, even if this has prevailed in the field of energy supply as a quasi standard. It is usually sufficient if the connection means is substantially prism-shaped, wherein the outer cross-section - to name just a few examples - can be round, hexagonal or square.

From the FR 360 147 A is a pliers-shaped connection terminal with the features of the preamble of claim 1 is known, which is designed especially for the vehicle sector. The connection clamp consists of two legs, which are pivotable about a riveted axis. In a closed state, the connection terminal resembles a ring cable lug. At the opposite end of the riveted axis a survey on one leg and a corresponding recess are formed on the other leg, which engage in the closed state and hold the connection terminal in the closed state.

The US 5,879,202 A and the EP 1 675 221 A1 disclose battery terminals that allow the connection of a connection cable to a battery post.

The present invention has for its object to provide a connection option for an electrical device to a connection means of an electrical system, which avoids complex reconstruction measures, has the smallest possible space and allows a simple and secure connection of the electrical device.

According to the invention the above object is solved by the features of claim 1. Thereafter, the connection adapter in question has at least one group of encompassing elements, which are disc-shaped and mutually are pivotably connected at least in a closing direction by means of a hinge about a hinge axis arranged perpendicular to the encompassing elements,
wherein the encompassing elements each have a recess for partially encompassing the connection means, wherein the recesses of the encompassing elements of a group of encompassing elements together define a receiving region for at least partially receiving the connection means,
wherein at least one encompassing element of a group of encompassing elements has a closure opening which tapers in the closing direction and which has an overlap region for inserting a closure element with a closure opening of another encompassing element of the group of encompassing elements, and
wherein actuation and / or insertion of the closure element in the overlap region causes movement of the encompassing elements about the hinge axis in the closing direction.

The above object is further achieved by a system according to claim 11, comprising a corresponding connection adapter and a connection means.

Furthermore, the above object is achieved by an electrical system according to claim 14, which comprises at least one system according to the invention, wherein the / the connection means is connected to an electrical functional group of the electrical system and is preferably designed to connect the functional group with a power supply network.

In accordance with the invention, it has first been recognized that there is always sufficient space for handling the connection means, even in very tight installation situations. In the case of an M12 screw or an M12 nut, this means that at least as much space is available that a suitable socket of a socket set can be placed on the M12 nut and thus the nut can be tightened or loosened. Since this space only has to be freely accessible when changes are made to the low or high voltage cables connected to the connection means, this space is available for the connection of an electrical device. According to the invention, therefore, a connection adapter is provided which uses this space and allows connecting the electrical device to the connection means.

In order to achieve a connection adapter that is easy to manufacture, the connection adapter according to the invention comprises at least one group of disk-shaped encompassing elements, which are connected to one another with at least one hinge. As a result, the encompassing elements are movable about a hinge axis formed by a hinge and arranged perpendicular to the Umgreifelementen, wherein at least one movement should be made possible in a closing direction. Each encompassing element has a recess which can partially embrace a male connection means. Together, the recesses of the encompassing elements of a group of encompassing elements delimit a receiving area that leads to the at least partially receiving the connection means is formed. A "partial reception of the connection means" will be expected in particular when the connection means is large. Thus, for example, in the case of an M12 screw, only part of the screw head should be received in the receiving area as connection means.

In order to bring about a movement in the closing direction during the installation of the connection adapter on the connection means, at least one of the encompassing elements of a group of encompassing elements has a specially designed closure opening. According to the invention, this specially designed closure opening tapers in the closing direction and forms an overlap region with a closure opening of another encompassing element of the group of encompassing elements. The closure opening of the other encompassing element can likewise be designed to be tapered or non-tapered. It is important that through the overlap region an opening is formed by the encompassing elements involved, through which a closure element can be guided. As a result of the tapering design of at least one closure opening of the overlapping region, upon actuation and / or insertion of the closure element, a movement of the encompassing elements of the group of encompassing elements in the closing direction is produced. This results from the fact that the closure element is urged as a result of the taper of the closure opening during its actuation or introduction in the direction opposite to the closing direction. In this way, a closing movement arises in the group of encompassing elements, so that the receiving area delimited by the recesses of the encompassing elements decreases and a frictional connection between the connection adapter and the connection means can occur. Thus, the connection adapter according to the invention can be safely installed on a connection means and can be easily constructed at the same time. If several groups of encompassing elements are used, the overlapping area can extend through the closure openings of all encompassing elements involved in the closing movement.

"At least one hinge" means that the encompassing elements of the group of encompassing elements can perform a movement about at least one axis in at least one direction. When a single hinge is formed, each two Umgreifelemente are connected by a hinge about an axis movable. If the group of encompassing elements has a plurality of hinges, the encompassing elements of the group form a type of chain whose chain links are each movably connected to one of the hinges about an axis. The two end members of this chain are then connected by the previously described closure opening.

"Disc-shaped" means that the dimensions of the encompassing elements are significantly larger in at least one direction than in the direction of the thickness. However, the term should not be understood as limiting the shaping of the encompassing elements to a very flat cylinder. Although the Umgreifelemente are often formed in practice as a section of a cylinder or a prism with elliptical base, so the outer cross section of the Umgreifelemente is not necessarily limited to a circle or an ellipse. Rather, the Umgreifelemente can represent sections of basically arbitrarily shaped flat objects. It is not even necessary that the Umgreifelemente have a substantially constant height in the longitudinal and transverse directions.

For the operation of the connection adapter according to the invention, it is in principle irrelevant how many groups of Umgreifelementen has the connection adapter. The connection adapter must have at least one group of encompassing elements, so that this forms a lower limit. Too many groups are impractical because such a terminal adapter would be impractically large in size. If, for example, the connection adapter had 100 groups of encompassing elements, then the connection adapter would reach a barely manageable thickness. In practice, an upper limit is expected to be 10 groups, and this will usually depend on the thickness of the individual encompassing elements.

The thickness of the disk-shaped encompassing elements will essentially be based on the material used. The Umgreifelemente should be thick enough that they do not deform when mounting the connection adapter on the connection means. This means that the Umgreifelemente must be capable of the material used and the thickness used to absorb the forces occurring during assembly and during use of the connection adapter largely without deformation. At the same time the Umgreifelemente should be thin enough so that they can still be considered as "disc-shaped" within the meaning of the present invention. In practice, the thickness of the Umgreifelemente between 0.2 mm and 4 mm will move. Preferably, the thickness is between 0.8 mm and 2 mm.

With regard to the material of the Umgreifelemente few conditions are required. It is essential that the Umgreifelemente are made of a conductive material or that at least the inside of the recess or parts thereof is / are electrically conductive. By way of example, but not limited to this list, attention is drawn to the use of steel, in particular 8.8 steel, aluminum or brass. In particular, when used with a BPL coupler or other electrical device that is to receive and / or transmit higher frequency signals, it is recommended to avoid a jump in the characteristic impedance that the conductivity of the material of the Umgreifelemente is approximately as large as the conductivity of the connection means. The conditions are particularly favorable if the encompassing elements consist of the same material as the connection means. Since the connection adapter will usually be manufactured for known connection scenarios, the expected material of the connection means is usually known and thus easy to realize these conditions in practice. A similar material between connection means and encompassing elements is also recommended for the prevention of galvanic corrosion, especially if the electrical system, for example, can be found in the outdoor area of a road distributor and a high humidity is expected. In addition, the encompassing elements are preferably produced in one piece.

The connection means of the electrical system can be formed in various ways. In principle, any electrically conductive body that is part of the electrical system and is connected to a conductor of a power supply network would be suitable as a connection means. However, prism-shaped connection means are particularly well suited, since a large contact surface between connection means and connection adapter can be realized there, which in turn favors the frictional connection between connection means and connection adapter. In this case, this prism-shaped connection means may have smooth surfaces or be structured. The prism-shaped connection means can in principle even be formed by a threaded portion. The base of the prism-shaped Connection means may be round, square or hexagonal or have a different polygonal shape. However, particularly preferred connection means are formed by hexagonal screw heads, cylindrical screw heads (for example, hexagon socket screws) or hexagonal nuts. Such a screw or nut may have a variety of dimensions. Metric screws are usable as well as Zöllische. Most preferably, however, the screws are metric screws, most preferably a M12 or M8 screw is used.

The electrical system can be formed by a variety of systems. In this case, the electrical system should be connected to a power supply network, wherein the power supply network can be both a geographically widespread network and an island network. The power supply network may be a low voltage network or a medium voltage network. Particularly preferably, the electrical system is a system that is used in the distribution of electrical energy, such as a NH fuse load bar, a switchgear or a transformer.

Also with regard to the connectable electrical device, there is hardly any restriction. However, with regard to the current that flows through the terminal crown to or from the electrical device, a restriction makes sense. Usually the flowing streams should not be too big. Thus, for example, currents in the double-digit ampere range should be unfavorable in many application scenarios, especially since in such cases significant field peaks should occur at the contact surfaces between the encompassing elements and the connection means. The connection adapter according to the invention is preferably used for connecting a coupler, in particular a BPL coupler, or a measuring device. There, the flowing streams are relatively small and usually move well below one ampere.

Due to the arrangement of the hinge axis perpendicular to the disc-shaped Umgreifelementen the receiving area of the connection adapter is limited by the narrow edges of the Umgreifelemente. Therefore, after the installation of the connection adapter on the connection means, a part of the narrow edge of the encompassing elements will always be in contact with the connection means. This the recess The limiting edge of the encompassing elements can be designed in various ways. For example, the edge could be smooth. Preferably, however, the edge is profiled. This profiling can consist of both a relatively fine structuring and a coarse structure. Fine structuring may be formed, for example, by relatively arbitrarily shaped lines in the surface of the edge, thereby creating a roughened surface. It would also be conceivable for the fine structuring to be formed by teeth which, in the mounted state of the connection adapter, are in direct contact with the connection means on the connection means. Such a fine structuring makes it possible to improve the frictional connection arising between connection means and connection adapter. Furthermore, the fine structure can contribute to the penetration of a corrosion layer possibly present on the connection means.

A coarse structure can be formed by an adaptation of the edge of the encompassing elements bounding the recess to the connection means. Although the connection adapter without such a coarse structure in a relatively arbitrary orientation about an axis parallel to the hinge axis can be arranged. However, in individual application scenarios, the contact area between connection adapter and connection means could not be sufficiently large, so that the connection between connection adapter and connection means would not be sufficiently loadable. Therefore, in a preferred development, a coarse structure is present on the edge bounding the recess.

In a simple embodiment of this coarse structure, the edge bounding the recess can be modeled on the course of the male connection means to be received. In particular, in the case of non-rotationally symmetrical connection means, this would result in a receiving area in which the connection means can be accommodated in discrete orientations. In this case, the edge delimiting the recess can be profiled by projections and / or recesses. This results in roughly textured teeth that would at least partially be in contact with a received connection means. In particular, when the recess is adapted to a male connection means, these projections and / or recesses may be formed such that a larger number of discrete orientations can be realized. If, for example, the connection means is formed by a hexagonal screw head, so in a simple embodiment This coarse structure of the connection adapters are mounted in six discrete orientations on the connection means. In a corresponding embodiment over projections and / or recesses, for example, twelve discrete orientations may be provided.

In principle, the shaping of the encompassing elements does not require too great a requirement. However, in order to simplify the production of the connection adapter, the individual encompassing elements forming the connection adapter are preferably constructed essentially identical to one another. "Substantially identical" means that the encompassing elements are constructed identically in the essential shaping features. However, it is conceivable that there are minor differences between the individual encompassing elements, such as additional or missing openings, additional eyelets or other minor deviating elements. By substantially identical design encompassing a particularly inexpensive to produce connection adapter can arise.

Preferably, the individual encompassing elements are arranged in mutually parallel planes. In this case, not every encompassing element has to be arranged in its own parallel plane. In particular, when using more than two Umgreifelementen per group of encompassing elements, it is conceivable that several Umgreifelemente the group are arranged in the same plane. By arranging the encompassing elements in a plurality of mutually parallel planes, a hinge can be formed in a particularly simple manner. For a hinge may be formed in this embodiment by a hinge pin which is guided by hinge openings in the Umgreifelemente.

If the hinge is formed by a hinge pin in hinge openings, the hinge pin can also be used as a connection point for a connecting cable of the electrical device. For this purpose, a corresponding connection option would have to be created on the hinge pin. It would be conceivable, for example, that at one end of the hinge pin an eyelet is formed on which the connecting cable can be attached. It would also be conceivable that a thread is formed at one end of the hinge pin to which a cable lug of the connecting cable can be attached. A specialist will have different options recognize how such a pin can be used as a connection point for a connection cable of an electrical device.

The closure opening of a Umgreifelements can be formed in various ways. Thus, it is irrelevant, for example in many embodiments, whether the taper in the closing direction is symmetrical to an axis arranged parallel to the closing direction. Furthermore, the shape of the closure opening is largely irrelevant, as long as the mold used is adapted to bring about a sufficient closing movement upon actuation and / or insertion of the closure element in the overlap region. In this sense, for example, a closure opening with a simple circular cross-section may not be suitable, since a sufficient closing movement is not expected. In particularly preferred embodiments, the closure opening is drop-shaped or formed by two differently sized eccentrically arranged openings or a slot with a subsequent bore.

In one or more of the encompassing elements, in a development, a connection region can be formed, which can be designed to connect a connection cable of the electrical device. This connection region can be designed in various ways, as long as connectability of the connection cable to the connection region can be realized. It is conceivable, for example, an opening in one of the Umgreifelemente to which a cable lug of a connecting cable can be attached with a screw. In a preferred embodiment of the connection region, this consists of a connection lug formed on the encompassing element, on which a connector can be plugged onto a connecting cable of the electrical device. In this case, the connecting lug can be arranged at various times relative to the plane of the encompassing elements. Thus, the terminal lug can be arranged in a plane with the Umgreifelemente, so that the terminal lug would represent an extension of the Umgreifelements in one direction. However, it is also conceivable that the connection tracks is bent at an angle to the Umgreifelemente. The angle and the direction of the bend will depend on the particular application scenario. In principle, it is also conceivable that the terminal lug is bent such that the Aufsteckbereich for the connector is arranged in a plane parallel to the Umgreifelement. Regardless of the arrangement, angulation and other Design of the terminal lug this is preferably designed for plugging a flat connector.

As already stated, a group of encompassing elements may in principle consist of a larger number of encompassing elements. To achieve a particularly simple connection adapter, however, a group of encompassing elements preferably consists of two encompassing elements, which are arranged like scissors to each other and movable about a hinge axis. As a result, the connection adapter can be realized with only one hinge and one closure element. In most application scenarios, this simple configuration is sufficient to create a stable connection between connection means and connection adapter.

Also with regard to the closure element, several embodiments are conceivable, which can bring about the effect to be achieved in the connection adapter according to the invention. It is essential that the closure element is able to interact with the closure opening in such a way that a sufficient closing movement is made possible. In a preferred embodiment, the closure element is formed by a screw, preferably a self-tapping sheet metal screw. In this case, the insertion of the closure element consists of screwing the screw into the overlapping area. This embodiment has the advantage that a particularly favorable closure element is used, which also allows a stable and reliable connection and is particularly easy to install.

In another preferred embodiment, the closure element consists of a mandrel which is inserted into the overlap region. The operation is very similar to a screw, wherein the insertion of the mandrel is not caused by a rotational movement, but by a longitudinal force acting on the mandrel force. This force can be generated for example by a nut or by simple mechanical impressions.

In a further preferred embodiment, the closure element can be formed by a spreading element, which is actuated in the overlapping region. Upon actuation of the expansion element, a force acts on the outer walls of the expansion element, so that move parts of the outer walls of the expansion element to the outside. This can be achieved, for example, in that a sleeve with longitudinal slots is forced apart by the action of force on the end sides. The action of force can be effected for example by a screw which is turned into a nut. It is also conceivable that such a spreading element works like a dowel and in this way a broadening of the expansion element is achieved in at least one transverse direction.

In a further development of the connection adapter, this has an insulating body which at least partially surrounds the encompassing elements. In this way, a conductive part of the connection adapter can be secured against unintentional contact. The insulating body can be made of a variety of insulating materials. It is essential that the material withstands the respective electrical and mechanical requirements of the application. For example, silicone which is widely used as an insulating material in the medium-voltage range is suitable for this purpose.

In addition to a function for insulating the conductive regions of the connection adapter, the insulating body can additionally assist in the assembly of the connection adapter. In a further development, an assembly area can be formed in the insulating body, which can interact with a mounting tool during assembly of the connection adapter. In a particularly simple embodiment of the mounting area this is formed by a threaded portion on which the mounting tool can be screwed. The threaded portion may be formed as a left-hand thread to avoid a torque in the opening direction of the connection means after assembly when removing the mounting tool from the mounting area.

For a connection adapter that can be produced in a particularly cost-effective manner, the encompassing elements can be formed by cutouts of a sheet metal. The cutouts can advantageously be produced by punching, water jet cutting or laser cutting. In the present application, these production methods have the additional advantage that the edges of the encompassing elements are sharp-edged. This usually undesirable circumstance has the advantage in the present application scenarios that any existing corrosion layers be penetrated better and a more reliable contact between encompassing elements and connection means can be produced.

When using the connection adapter according to the invention in a system of connection adapter and connection means, the material of the connection adapter is preferably adapted to the material of the connection means. It is recommended that the material of the encompassing elements is the same hardness or harder than the material of the connection means. This choice of material favors that a reliable electrical and mechanical contact between the connection adapter and connection means can be produced.

Fig. 1

eine typische Installationssituation an einer NH-Sicherungslastleiste gemäß Stand der Technik,

Fig. 2

eine bekannte Anschlussmöglichkeit eines elektrischen Geräts mit einer Spezialschraube gemäß Stand der Technik in der Installationssituation nach Figur 1,

Fig. 3

eine Draufsicht (Teilfigur 3A) und eine Seitenansicht (Teilfigur 3B) eines Umgreifelements eines ersten Ausführungsbeispiels eines erfindungsgemäßen Anschlussadapters,

Fig. 4

eine Draufsicht auf das Umgreifelement gemäß Fig. 3 mit einem in der Aussparung des Umgreifelements angeordneten Anschlussmittel,

Fig. 5

eine Draufsicht ähnlich Fig. 4 mit einem um 30° gedrehten Anschlussmittel,

Fig. 6

eine Seitenansicht (Teilfigur 6A) und eine Draufsicht (Teilfigur 6B) eines ersten Ausführungsbeispiels eines erfindungsgemäßen Anschlussadapters mit einer Gruppe aus zwei Umgreifelemente,

Fig. 7

eine Draufsicht (Teilfigur 7A) und eine Seitenansicht (Teilfigur 7B) eines zweiten Ausführungsbeispiels eines erfindungsgemäßen Anschlussadapter mit vier Gruppen aus jeweils zwei Umgreifelemente,

Fig.

8 eine Schrägansicht von oben (Teilfigur 8A) und eine Schrägansicht von unten (Teilfigur 8B) des Anschlussadapters gemäß Fig. 7,

Fig. 9

eine Draufsicht (Teilfigur 9A), eine Seitenansicht (Teilfigur 9B) und eine Schrägansicht (Teilfigur 9C) eines Umgreifelements mit einer abgewickelten Anschlussfahne,

Fig. 10

eine Draufsicht auf ein Umgreifelement mit einer gerade ausgeführten Anschlussfahne,

Fig. 11

eine Seitenansicht (Teilfigur 11A), eine Draufsicht von oben (Teilfigur 11B), eine andere Seitenansicht (Teilfigur 11C), eine Draufsicht von unten (Teilfigur 11D) und ein Schnitt durch einen Isolierkörper für einen erfindungsgemäßen Anschlussadapter,

Fig. 12

eine Seitenansicht (Teilfigur 12A), eine Draufsicht von oben (Teilfigur 12B) und eine andere Seitenansicht (Teilfigur 12C) eines Isolierkörpers entsprechend Fig. 11 mit einem Verschlussdeckel am Boden des Isolierkörpers,

Fig. 13

eine Draufsicht von unten (Teilfigur 13A), eine Seitenansicht (Teilfigur 13B) und ein Schnitt (Teilfigur 13C) durch den Isolierkörper gemäß Fig. 12,

Fig. 14

eine Schrägansicht (Teilfigur 14A), eine Draufsicht von oben (Teilfigur 14B) und ein Schnitt (Teilfigur 14C) durch den Isolierkörper gemäß Fig. 12,

Fig. 15

eine Seitenansicht eines erfindungsgemäßen Anschlussadapters in einem Isolierkörper und einem Anschlusspunkt an einem Scharnierstift,

Fig. 16

weitere Ansichten des Anschlussadapters gemäß Fig. 15, nämlich eine andere Seitenansicht (Teilfigur 16A), eine Schrägansicht von unten (Teilfigur 16B) und eine Schrägansicht von oben (Teilfigur 16C),

Fig. 17

eine Draufsicht auf (Teilfigur 17A) und einen Schnitt (Teilfigur 17B) durch den Anschlussadapter gemäß Fig. 15,

Fig. 18

eine Draufsicht von unten auf einen Anschlussadapter gemäß Fig. 15 mit einem geschlossenen Verschlussdeckel (Teilfigur 18A) und ohne Verschlussdeckel (Teilfigur 18 B),

Fig. 19

eine Draufsicht von unten (Teilfigur 19A) und eine Schrägansicht (Teilfigur 19B) auf einen Anschlussadapter mit einer gerade ausgeführten Anschlussfahne,

Fig. 20

eine Seitenansicht (Teilfigur 20A), eine Draufsicht von oben (Teilfigur 20B) und einen Schnitt durch ein Installationswerkzeug (Teilfigur 20C),

Fig. 21

eine Schrägansicht (Teilfigur 21A) und eine Seitenansicht (Teilfigur 21B) auf den Anschlussadapter gemäß Fig. 19 gemeinsam mit dem Installationswerkzeug nach Fig. 20,

Fig. 22

eine Ansicht auf einen typischen Mittelspannungsschaltschrank (Teilfigur 22A) und eine Detailansicht der Anschlussklemmen (Teilfigur 22B) mit einem installierten erfindungsgemäßen Anschlussadapter und

Fig. 23

eine Schrägansicht auf die Detailansicht gemäß Teilfigur 22B.

There are now various possibilities for designing and developing the teaching of the present invention in an advantageous manner. For this purpose, on the one hand to the subordinate claims subordinate claims and on the other hand to refer to the following explanation of preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the drawings. In conjunction with the explanation of the preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the drawings, also generally preferred embodiments and developments of the teaching are explained. In the drawing show

Fig. 1

a typical installation situation on a NH fuse load bar according to the prior art,

Fig. 2

a known connection option of an electrical device with a special screw according to the prior art in the installation situation FIG. 1 .

Fig. 3

a top view (part of 3A) and a side view (part of Figure 3B) of a Umgreifelements a first embodiment of a connection adapter according to the invention,

Fig. 4

a plan view of the Umgreifelement according to Fig. 3 with a connecting means arranged in the recess of the encompassing element,

Fig. 5

a top view similar Fig. 4 with a connection means rotated by 30 °,

Fig. 6

3 a side view (part of FIG. 6A) and a plan view (part of FIG. 6B) of a first exemplary embodiment of a connection adapter according to the invention with a group of two encompassing elements,

Fig. 7

a top view (part of Figure 7A) and a side view (part of Figure 7B) of a second embodiment of a connection adapter according to the invention with four groups of two Umgreifelemente,

FIG.

8 is an oblique view from above (part of Figure 8A) and an oblique view from below (part of Figure 8B) of the connection adapter according to Fig. 7 .

Fig. 9

a top view (part of Figure 9A), a side view (part of Figure 9B) and an oblique view (part of Figure 9C) of a Umgreifelements with a developed terminal lug,

Fig. 10

a top view of a Umgreifelement with a straight running terminal lug,

Fig. 11

a side view (part figure 11A), a top view (part figure 11B), another side view (part figure 11C), a bottom plan view (part Figure 11D ) and a section through an insulating body for a connection adapter according to the invention,

Fig. 12

a side view (part of Figure 12A), a top view (part of Figure 12B) and another side view (part of Figure 12C) of an insulating body accordingly Fig. 11 with a closure lid at the bottom of the insulating body,

Fig. 13

a bottom plan view (part of Figure 13A), a side view (part of Figure 13B) and a section (part of Figure 13C) through the insulator according to Fig. 12 .

Fig. 14

an oblique view (part of Figure 14A), a top view from above (part of Figure 14B) and a section (part of Figure 14C) through the insulator according to Fig. 12 .

Fig. 15

a side view of a connection adapter according to the invention in an insulating body and a connection point on a hinge pin,

Fig. 16

further views of the connection adapter according to Fig. 15 namely, another side view (partial figure 16A), an oblique view from below (part Figure 16B ) and an oblique view from above (partial figure 16C),

Fig. 17

a plan view (part of Figure 17A) and a section (part of Figure 17B) through the connection adapter according to Fig. 15 .

Fig. 18

a plan view from below of a connection adapter according to Fig. 15 with a closed cover (part of figure 18A) and without cover (part of figure 18 B),

Fig. 19

a bottom view (part of Figure 19A) and an oblique view (part of Figure 19B) on a connection adapter with a straight running terminal lug,

Fig. 20

a side view (partial figure 20A), a top view (partial figure 20B) and a section through an installation tool (partial figure 20C),

Fig. 21

an oblique view (part of Figure 21A) and a side view (part of Figure 21B) on the connection adapter according to Fig. 19 together with the installation tool Fig. 20 .

Fig. 22

a view of a typical medium-voltage cabinet (part of Figure 22A) and a detailed view of the terminals (part of Figure 22B) with an installed terminal adapter according to the invention and

Fig. 23

an oblique view of the detail view according to part of Figure 22B.

The FIGS. 3 to 5 show various views of a Umgreifelements, which can be used in connection with the connection adapter according to the invention. It shows Fig. 3A a top view of the encompassing elements, Fig. 3B a Side view and the FIGS. 4 and 5 a plan view of the Umgreifelemente with different orientations of a hexagonal connection means.

The Umgreifelemente 1 is disc-shaped and is formed by a cutout with oval outer boundary of a metal sheet. In Fig. 3B It can be seen that the thickness d is significantly smaller than the extension in the longitudinal direction (in Fig. 3A top - bottom) or the transverse dimension (in Fig. 3A Left Right). The encompassing element 1 has a recess 2, which is designed for the partial reception of a connection means 3. The recess 4 delimiting edge has projections 5 and recesses 6, which allows for a recorded in the recess connection means various discrete orientations of the connection means relative to the connection adapter. In Fig. 5 Two of these possible orientations are exemplified. It can be seen that the connection means can be accommodated in a total of twelve different orientations.

At the one end of the Umgreifelements 1, this has a hinge opening 7, in which a hinge pin ( FIGS. 3 to 5 not shown) can be recorded. On the hinge opening 7 opposite side of the Umgreifelements 1 a closure opening 8 is formed, which tapers in the closing direction (indicated by arrow 9). In the in the FIGS. 3 to 5 In the embodiment shown, the tapered closure opening 8 is formed by two eccentrically arranged circular openings of different diameter (hereinafter also referred to as "smaller opening" and "larger opening").

In the FIGS. 6 to 8 the use of the Umgreifelements 1 is shown in various embodiments of a connection adapter. The In Fig. 6 shown connection adapter 10 is formed by a single group of two identically constructed Umgreifelementen 1 and a hinge pin 11. The two encompassing elements 1 are oriented in such a way that the hinge openings 7 lie one above the other and in this way make it possible to receive the hinge pin 11 perpendicular to the encompassing elements 1. The two recesses 2 of the encompassing elements 1 together define a receiving area 12, in which the connection means can be at least partially accommodated. The two tapered closure openings of the encompassing elements 1 have an overlap region 13, in which a not shown here closure element can be added. It can nevertheless be seen that a closure element accommodated in the overlap region 12 will move the two encompassing elements 12 about the hinge axis formed by the hinge pin in the closing direction 9. For example, if a self-tapping sheet metal screw is used as a closure element, the tapping screw when screwing into the overlap region 13 will tend to reach from the overlap region 13 forming the smaller opening of the closure opening 8 in the region of the larger, eccentric opening of the closure opening 8. This automatically leads to the Umgreifelemente 1 are moved about the hinge axis in the closing direction. If a connection means is at least partially accommodated in the receiving region 12 and the dimension of the receiving region 12 is sufficiently adapted to the connection means, a frictional connection will be created between the edge of the encompassing elements 1 delimiting the receiving region 12 and the connection means. Specifically, the projections 5 will come into contact with the connection means. In this way, the force generated during the closing movement will act very punctually on the connection means, so that any existing corrosion on the connection means can be effectively broken.

In Fig. 7 are a plan view from below (part of Figure 7A) and a side view (part figure 7B ) represents another embodiment of a connection adapter 14. This connection adapter 14 consists of four groups of two identically constructed encompassing elements. In principle, the in Fig. 6 port adapter shown or its encompassing four times stacked. The functional principle of the connection adapter 14 is thus essentially identical to the mode of operation of the connection adapter 10, so that further explanations are largely unnecessary for this purpose.

In the FIGS. 7 In addition, a closure element 15 - a tapping screw - and a formed on the hinge pin 11 connection point for the electrical device is shown. As already explained above, the closure element 15 is inserted into the overlapping region 13 of the groups of encompassing elements 1 and is screwed into the closure opening of the encompassing elements when the connection adapter is fastened on the connection means. The connection point formed on the hinge pin 11 is in the illustrated example at one end of the hinge pin arranged. The connection point may for example be formed by nut-like elements 16 which are screwed onto a thread on the hinge pin 11. Between these nut-like elements 16, a ring cable lug 30 is clamped, which is connected to a connecting cable of the electrical device, not shown here. Instead of the nut-like elements, for example, a press-in connector can be used.

In the subfigures of Fig. 8 further views of this connection adapter 14 are shown, namely in sub-figure 8A is an oblique view from below and in sub-figure 8B is an oblique view from above.

The Figures 9 and 10 represent developments of a Umgreifelements, in which at a connection area a connector can be attached to a connection cable of an electrical device. In Fig. 9 a connection region 17 is shown, which is bent by 90 ° relative to the plane of the Umgreifelemente. Here, part of Figure 9A shows a plan view of the Umgreifelements, part of Figure 9B is a side view and part of Figure 9C is an oblique view of the Umgreifelements. The connection region 17 is designed as a connection lug, which adjoins the "remainder" of the encompassing element and onto which a flat connector can be plugged.

In Fig. 10 is a plan view of a Umgreifelement shown, in which a connection portion 18 and the "rest" of the Umgreifelements are arranged in a plane. Incidentally, this connection region 18 is also designed as a connection lug, so that a flat connector can be plugged onto the connection region 18.

Based on FIGS. 11 to 14 will be discussed various embodiments of an insulating body, which protects the conductive components of the connection adapter, in particular the Umgreifelemente, against contact. In Fig. 11 is the insulating body 19 in a side view (part of Figure 11A), a top view (part of Figure 11B), another side view (part of Figure 11C), a bottom view (part of Figure 11D) and a section along the line A - A (part of Figure 11E) represents. The insulating body is preferably made of silicone, which is widely used in the low and medium voltage range. In the lower region 20 of the insulator 19, the encompassing elements 1 can be accommodated. A central, substantially cylindrical region 21 serves to receive a possibly protruding screw of the connection means. At the end remote from the lower region 20 of the cylindrical region 21, a mounting region 22 in the form of a thread is formed. At this mounting portion 22, a mounting tool can be mounted during assembly. This will be discussed in more detail below. On one side of the cylindrical region 21, a further region 23 is formed, which provides space for the closure element in its interior. On the lower side of the insulating body, a closure lid 24 is formed, which is pivotable and can close the region in the interior of the insulating body downwards.

In Fig. 12 and 13 this closure cap 24 is shown again in more detail. part Figure 12A shows a side view of the insulating body 19 with the lid open 24, part of Figure 12B is a plan view and part of Figure 12C is a side view of this insulator 19. In Figure 13A is a plan view from below and in Figure 13B is an oblique view. Partial figure 13C shows a section along the line B - B shown in figure 13A. Further views of the insulating body 19 with closed cover 24 are in the subfigures of Fig. 14 displayed.

The FIGS. 15 to 18 show a connection adapter with insulating body and formed on the hinge pin connection point for an electrical device. Fig. 15 16A shows a side view, partial FIG. 16B shows an oblique view from below, partial FIG. 16C shows an oblique view from above, partial FIG. 17A shows a plan view and partial FIG. 17B shows a section along the line D-D. In these figures the function of the individual elements is again shown to recognize the connection adapter. In particular in Fig. 17B can clearly be found in the positioning of the individual elements of the connection adapter within the insulator.

Fig. 19 shows another embodiment of the connection adapter, in which additionally a terminal lug 18 is guided for attaching a flat connector 25 from the insulating body 19 to the outside.

Fig. 20 shows various views of a mounting tool 26, which can be screwed onto the mounting portion 22 of the insulating body 19. Sub-figure 20A shows a side view, sub-figure 20B is a top view and sub-figure 20C is a section taken along the line E-E. A gripping area 27 allows the assembly tool 26 to be gripped. In addition, another area 28 is provided into which a handle can be inserted. It would be conceivable, for example, that this area 28 is designed to accommodate an extension of a socket wrench set. Accordingly, this area has 28 recesses for receiving the detent balls of the extension.

Fig. 21 shows the connection adapter according to Fig. 19 together with an installation tool according to Fig. 20 ,

Figure 22A shows a view of a typical medium voltage cabinet. In the lower part of the inside of the control cabinet, the connections of the medium voltage cables as well as the connection means used for this purpose - M12 screws or M12 nuts - can be recognized. Part Figure 22B shows a detail view of this area. On one of the connection means - here for conductor L2 - a connection adapter according to the invention is attached, according to the FIGS. 15 to 18 is designed. In the oblique view Fig. 23 this is again to recognize more precisely.

With regard to further advantageous embodiments of the device according to the invention, reference is made to avoid repetition to the general part of the specification and to the appended claims.

Finally, it should be expressly understood that the above-described embodiments of the device according to the invention are only for the purpose of discussion of the claimed teaching, but not limit these to the embodiments.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1. 1 encompassing element
2. 2 recess
3. 3 connection means
4. 4 the edge bounding the recess
5. 5 projections
6. 6 returns
7. 7 hinge opening
8. 8 shutter opening
9. 9 closing direction
10. 10 connection adapter
11. 11 hinge pin
12. 12 recording area
13. 13 overlap area
14. 14 connection adapter
15. 15 closure element
16. 16 mother-like elements
17. 17 connection area
18. 18 connection area
19. 19 insulating body
20. 20 area for encompassing elements
21. 21 cylindrical area
22. 22 mounting area
23. 23 area for closure element
24. 24 cap
25. 25 flat connectors
26. 26 assembly tool
27. 27 grip area
28. 28 area for extension
29. 29 deepening
30. 30 ring cable lug

Claims (14)

1. Connection adapter for connecting an electrical device to a connection means of an electrical installation, wherein the connection adapter (10, 14) has at least one group of engagement elements (1) which are constructed in the manner of a disc and which are connected to each other by means of a hinge so as to be able to be pivoted about a hinge axis which is arranged perpendicularly to the engagement elements (1) at least in a closing direction (9),
   wherein the engagement elements (1) each have a recess (2) for partially engaging round the connection means (3), wherein the recesses (2) of the engagement elements of a group of engagement elements (1) together delimit a receiving region (12) for at least partially receiving the connection means (3),
   characterised in that at least one engagement element (1) of a group of engagement elements has a closure opening (8) which tapers in the closing direction (9) and which has an overlapping region (13) with a closure opening (8) of another engagement element (1) of the group of engagement elements (1) for introducing a closure element (15), and
   in that an actuation and/or introduction of the closure element (15) in the overlapping region (13) brings about a movement of the engagement elements (1) about the hinge axis in the closing direction (9).
2. Connection adapter according to claim 1, characterised in that an edge of the engagement elements (1) which delimits the recess (2) is profiled by means of protrusions and/or recesses (5, 6), wherein the protrusions and/or recesses (5, 6) are preferably adapted to the shape of a connection means which is intended to be received.
3. Connection adapter according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the recesses (2) of the engagement elements (1) are constructed in such a manner that a connection means (3) can be received in the receiving region (12) in a plurality of preferably discrete positions.
4. Connection adapter according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the engagement elements (1) are constructed substantially identically to each other and/or are arranged in planes which are arranged parallel with each other.
5. Connection adapter according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the closure opening (8) of an engagement element (1) is formed in a drop-like manner or by means of two differently sized eccentrically arranged holes or a slot with an adjacent hole.
6. Connection adapter according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the hinge is formed by a hinge pin (11) which is guided through hinge openings (7) of the engagement elements (1), wherein the hinge pin (11) is preferably constructed in such a manner that a region of the hinge pin (11) can be used as a connection location for a connection cable of the electrical device.
7. Connection adapter according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that in one of the engagement elements (1) a connection region (17, 18) for connecting a connection cable of the electrical device is constructed, wherein the connection region is preferably constructed in the form of a connection lug, on which a plug connector of the connection cable, preferably a flat plug connector (25), can be fitted.
8. Connection adapter according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a group of engagement elements comprises two engagement elements (1) which are arranged in a scissor-like manner and which can be moved about a hinge axis.
9. Connection adapter according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by an insulation member (19) which at least partially surrounds the engagement elements (1), wherein there is formed on the insulation member (19) preferably one assembly region (22) to which an assembly tool (26) for the assembly of the connection adapter can be secured.
10. Connection adapter according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the engagement elements (1) are formed from a cut-out of a metal sheet which is preferably produced by means of punching, water jet cutting or laser cutting.
11. System for connecting an electrical device comprising a connection adapter (10, 14) according to any one of claims 1 to 10 and a connection means (3).
12. System according to claim 11, characterised in that the material of the engagement elements (1) is adapted to the material of the connection means (3), wherein the material of the engagement elements (1) is equally hard or harder than the material of the connection means (3).
13. System according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the movement of the engagement elements (1) when the closure element (15) is actuated or introduced is carried out in such a manner that engagement elements (1) of at least one group of engagement elements form a non-positive-locking connection with the connection means.
14. Electrical installation having at least one system according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the connection means (3) is/are connected to an electrical function group of the electrical installation and is/are preferably constructed to connect the function group to an energy supply network.

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