EP3477774B1 - Current guiding profile connector and current guiding arrangement - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a current-carrying profile connector with plug-in contacts and an insulating material housing, the receiving chambers for receiving a respective plug-in contact, conductor entry openings on a first end face of the insulating material housing, which open into each receiving chamber, and plug-in openings on a second end face of the insulating material housing, which is the first end face diametrically opposite and provides access to a respective receiving chamber. On the side facing a conductor entry opening, the plug-in contacts have a spring connection contact with a clamping spring for connecting an electrical conductor and on the side facing a plug-in opening a fork contact formed from at least one pair of spring arms with two opposing spring arms or a blade contact formed from a contact tab protruding in the insertion direction.

The invention further relates to a current carrying arrangement with a plurality of current carrying profiles which have a carrier profile with a base surface, webs extending parallel to one another on the base surface and grooves and electrical conductors in such grooves bounded by a pair of webs, and with the above-mentioned current carrying profile Connectors.

For the distribution of electrical energy in a building and for connecting lights to optionally selected positions, busbar systems with current-carrying profiles are known which have a comb-like cross-section with webs and grooves formed by them and electrical conductors received in the grooves. In such current-carrying profiles, these electrical conductors are received in the grooves, for example on the side walls of the webs, and can be connected to a tap connector electrically conductive contact is made with contacts projecting into the grooves. The current-carrying profiles usually have a carrier profile made of plastic material that is installed in a metal trough. They have a relatively large extension length. With the usual thermal load, the electrical conductors made of metal, the metal trough and the support profile made of plastic expand differently. This can lead to significant changes or shifts in length during operation. This is particularly relevant if several current-carrying profiles are arranged in line one behind the other and the electrical conductors inserted therein are to be connected to one another in an electrically conductive manner with plug-in contacts.

DE 10 2011 056 043 B4 discloses a busbar system with a current carrying profile and a current tapping element which is placed on the current carrying profile. An electrical connection of power-carrying profiles arranged one behind the other can be realized by flying electrical conductors that are clamped to such power tapping elements. The flexibility of the electrical conductor ensures the necessary length compensation in the event of thermal expansion. However, such an arrangement is very bulky.

EP 1 284 033 B1 shows a current carrying profile with a wire holding element with grooves in which electrical wires are received. The wire holding elements have projections at their ends which, when two wire holding elements are brought together, overlap one another. The projections in this case form a composite channel for the wire in the transition area between two wire holding elements and allow, for example, temperature-related length compensation of the wire holding elements to one another.

From the EP 2 626 954 A1 a connection unit for a light band is known. From the US 2008/108241 A1 an electrical connector with a spring-loaded terminal connection for an electrical conductor is known.

On the basis of this, it is the object of the present invention to create an improved current-carrying profile connector and a current-carrying arrangement which allows a reliable length compensation with the simplest and most compact structure possible.

The object is achieved with the current-carrying profile connector with the features of claim 1, by the current-carrying profile connector set according to claim 11 and by the current-carrying arrangement with the features of claim 12. Advantageous embodiments are described in the subclaims.

In the case of a current-carrying profile connector of the type mentioned at the outset, it is proposed that the plug contacts be accommodated in a respective receiving chamber so as to be displaceable in a plug-in direction extending from the first end to the second end of the insulating material housing. The plug contacts have a stop between the clamping spring of the spring connection contact and the fork or blade contact for the contact of an electrical conductor clamped to the spring connection contact, the clamping spring pointing towards the stop and inclined with respect to the plugging direction.

The electrical connection of electrical conductors of current carrying profiles arranged one behind the other in an alignment is made with such current carrying profile connectors. The electrical conductors of the current-carrying profiles can then each be inserted into a conductor entry opening and clamped to the spring connection contacts there. Two such current-carrying profile connectors can be plugged together at their plug-in openings, a blade contact of a first current-carrying profile connector interacting with a fork contact of a second current-carrying profile connector.

A current-carrying profile connector does not necessarily have to have the same type of plug-in contacts as either only blade contacts or only fork contacts. Different types of plug contacts can also be present in a mixed manner in a current-carrying profile connector, such as blade contacts and fork contacts.

Because the plug contacts are arranged displaceably on a respective receiving chamber of the insulating material housing, they can move in their plugging direction with a different length expansion of the clamped-on electrical conductor and the carrier profile. Since two current-carrying profile connectors are plugged into one another with their plug-in opening and a sliding knife-fork contact is provided there, the knife contact can move relative to the fork contact during such a movement without the electrically conductive connection between the knife and fork contact being impaired becomes. The relative movement of a connector when the clamped electrical conductor extends in length to the stationary insulating material housing while ensuring a spring clamp contact resting against the clamped electrical conductor is achieved in that the electrical conductor abuts the stop of the plug contact with its end face and is fixed in position by the clamping spring Plug contact is clamped. This is achieved in that the clamping spring points towards the stop and is inclined with respect to the insertion direction. In this way, the electrical conductor of the current-carrying profile clamped to a plug contact is prevented from moving relative to the plug contact on one side by the stop and on the other side by the clamping spring. A sliding movement is still possible due to the pairing of a fork contact with a blade contact of the plug-in current-carrying profile connector in order to ensure the length compensation in this way.

For this purpose, the knife contact and / or the fork contact can have a surface coating, at least on the contact surfaces, which ensures an even better sliding movement with constant contact resistance. Such a surface coating can be provided by a noble metal coating, e.g. can be realized by gold plating, by silver coating or the like.

The plug contacts can be formed in one piece from a sheet metal part and have a bottom surface and side walls protruding from the opposite sides of the bottom surface. A ladder guide tunnel is provided by these side walls, which are spaced apart from one another and project from the floor surface in the same direction. The plug contact has at least one clamping spring, each is released from a side wall. For this purpose, the side wall can be cut or punched free from the base plate in the area of the clamping spring and the side wall can be separated transversely to the plane of the base surface. Such a clamping spring formed integrally with the side wall and connected to it can then be bent out of the plane of the side wall in the direction of the opposite side wall. But it is also conceivable that a separate clamping spring is connected to a side wall, for example by soldering, welding, caulking or other joining.

Such a plug contact is very simple and has a stable and compact structure due to the protruding side walls.

A flap of material can protrude from the base plate to form a stop. This material flap can be arranged in a space between the opposing side walls. The tunnel for inserting an electrical conductor is thus delimited laterally by the two side walls, from below by the base plate and in the insertion direction by the material flap. An electrical conductor of the current-carrying profile introduced into the conductor-routing tunnel between the side walls can then be routed to the material flap in order to rest there. The electrical conductor is clamped to the plug contact by the clamping spring protruding from the side wall and not only contacted in an electrically conductive manner, but also held in a fixed position on the plug contact.

The side walls can be aligned obliquely to one another at the transition to the fork or knife contact. In this way, the connector is tapered further in the plug-in direction of the spring connection contact. This area formed by the mutually inclined side walls is preferably located in the area in which the stop is formed. Thus, the side walls at the transition from the spring connection contact to the fork or knife contact can be aligned obliquely to one another.

The side wall sections which are aligned obliquely to one another can form the spring arms of a fork contact in a section separated from the base plate.

The spring arms of the fork contact thus connect to the side walls of the plug contact and are held in a stable manner by the one-piece connection. In addition, a sufficiently large current cross-section is ensured in this way.

The pair of spring arms can then have a contact area at the spring arm ends remote from the spring connection contact, to which insertion sections bent away from one another are connected. An insertion funnel is thus provided for inserting a knife contact into the fork contact and a contact area adjoining the inclined insertion sections with a small contact surface is realized. In this way, the contact pressure of the fork contacts is concentrated on this contact area with a reduced surface and in this way the surface pressure is increased and the contact resistance is reduced.

The side wall sections aligned obliquely to one another can merge into contact lugs which run next to one another, extend parallel to one another and form a blade contact. In this way, too, a direct current transmission is achieved via the side wall sections into the blade contact with the largest possible current cross-section and a stable structure. The contact lugs running next to one another, which preferably rest against one another, reduce the risk of the blade contacts bending. The increased knife thickness is also advantageous with regard to the contact forces that can be achieved on the fork contacts, since they therefore do not require any pretensioning.

A ground contact can be slidably plugged into the plug contact and protrude from the plug contact.

This embodiment is in principle independent of the specific design of current-carrying profile connectors.

Because a separate grounding contact is slidably and thus slidably plugged into a plug-in contact, the grounding contact can remain connected in a fixed position to the grounding potential of the metal trough, for example, even if the carrier profile is located or move the electrical conductors built into it. Due to the sliding plug contact of the earthing contact on a plug contact that is used to connect two current-carrying profiles, movement of the connector does not affect the fixing of the earth contact, since these are slidably plugged into one another.

The ground contact can have a socket contact into which the contact tab of a connector described above is inserted. This contact lug of the connector can also be connected to a fork contact of a complementary connector in order to provide continuous wiring and at the same time an earth connection to protective earth (PE).

In the case of a current-carrying arrangement of the type mentioned at the outset, it is proposed that a current-carrying profile connector is plugged into each of the end faces of two carrier profiles arranged one behind the other in an alignment. The electrical conductors of the support profile protruding from the end face are each clamped to a spring connection contact of a plug-in contact of the current-carrying profile connector. The electrical conductor strikes the stop of the plug contact and is clamped to the plug contact with the clamping spring. The current-carrying profile connectors plugged into the adjacent end faces of the two carrier profiles interlock. A blade contact of a plug contact of a current-carrying profile connector is slidably contacted with a fork contact of a plug-in contact of the other current-carrying profile connector.

In this way, two carrier profiles arranged one behind the other in alignment are connected by a pair of complementary current-carrying profile connectors which are each plugged into one end face of the two carrier profiles adjacent to one another. The electrical conductors protruding from the carrier profiles are inserted into the conductor entry openings of the current-carrying profile connector in order to be clamped with a spring connection contact. In the event of a shift in length, the plug contacts of the complementary current-carrying profile connector can move move relative to each other, the knife and fork contact arrangement ensuring a sliding contact, which can be linearly displaced in the plug-in direction, of the two complementary current-carrying profile connectors and thus of the carrier profiles that are aligned one behind the other.

A first current-carrying profile connector can be plugged into an end face of a carrier rail. This first current guiding profile connector is then plugged together with a second complementary current guiding profile connector by engaging in one another in the area of their plug-in openings. A blade contact of a plug-in contact of one of these current-carrying profile connectors dips into a fork contact of a plug-in contact of the other current-carrying profile connector. In this way, a sliding contact, which is displaceable in the plugging direction, of the two plug contacts connected to one another is ensured.

With such a pair of complementary current-carrying profile connectors, not only two carrier profiles arranged one behind the other can be connected to one another in an electrically conductive manner. An electrical tap or an electrical supply line for energy or data can also be provided on one end face. For this purpose, electrical connection lines can be inserted into conductor entry openings of the second current-carrying profile connector and each clamped to a spring connection contact of a plug contact of the second current-carrying profile connector. The conductor entry openings of the current-carrying profile connector can therefore not only be used to clamp the electrical conductors of the carrier profiles. They are equally suitable for connecting electrical connection cables that are independent of the carrier profiles. This can be rigid or flexible, multi-wire electrical connection lines.

The insulating material housing of the current-carrying profile connector can have an outer contour that is matched to the front side contour of the front sides of the carrier rail and can be inserted flush into the front side contour. In this way, the current-carrying profile connector is fixed in position on the area of the end face of the carrier profile and a relative movement of the current-carrying profile connector relative to the carrier profile is prevented or at least greatly restricted.

The front side contour of the carrier profile and the outer contour of the current-carrying profile connector can have locking elements for locking the current-carrying profile connector on the carrier profile. In this way, it is still possible to lock the current-carrying profile connector on the carrier profile after it has been plugged onto the end face of the carrier profile and to secure it from being pulled out. This locking can be so strong that the current-carrying profile connector rests precisely against the carrier profile and is held firmly on the carrier profile by means of a form fit.

Figur 1 -

perspektivische Ansicht von zwei komplementären Stromführungsprofil-Verbindern;

Figur 2 -

perspektivische Ansicht eines Stromführungsprofils mit einem ersten Stromführungsprofil-Verbinder;

Figur 3 -

perspektivische Ansicht des Stromführungsprofils aus Figur 2 mit einem zweiten Stromführungsprofil-Verbinder;

Figur 4 -

Schnittansicht von komplementären Stromführungsprofil-Verbindern in der Draufsicht im an Stromführungsprofile aufgesteckten Zustand;

Figur 5 -

Schnittansicht in einer zweiten Höhenebene der komplementären Stromführungsprofil-Verbinder;

Figur 6 -

perspektivische Ansicht eines ersten Steckkontaktes mit einer Kombination von Leiteranschlusskontakten und Messerkontakten;

Figur 7 -

perspektivische Ansicht eines zweiten Steckkontaktes mit einer Kombination aus Leiteranschlusskontakt und Gabelkontakt;

Figur 8 -

Draufsicht auf einen Schnitt durch eine Stromführungsanordnung mit ineinandergesteckten Steckkontakten ohne Isolierstoffgehäuse des Stromführungsprofil-Verbinders;

Figur 9 -

Schnittansicht einer Stromführungsanordnung mit nur einem Paar ineinandergesteckten Steckkontakten in einer ersten Schiebeposition;

Figur 10 -

Draufsicht auf die Steckkontaktanordnung auf Figur 9 in einer zweiten Verschiebeposition;

Figur 11 -

Seiten-Schnittansicht von zwei ineinandergesteckten komplementären Stromführungsprofil-Verbindern;

Figur 12 -

Seiten-Schnittansicht der Stromführungsprofil-Verbinder aus Figur 11 im Schnitt durch die Steckkontakte;

Figur 13 -

perspektivische Schnittansicht der Stromführungsprofil-Verbinder aus Figur 11 im Schnitt;

Figur 14 -

perspektivische Ansicht der Stromführungsprofil-Verbinder aus Figur 12 ohne umgebenes Isolierstoffgehäuse;

Figur 15 -

Seiten-Schnittansicht durch die Stromführungsanordnung mit Blick auf zwei Höhenebenen der Steckkontakte;

Figur 16 -

perspektivische Ansicht einer Stromführungsanordnung mit Metalltrögen und Endeinspeisung über einen Stromführungsprofil-Verbinder;

Figur 17 -

perspektivische Ansicht eines kombinierten Steckkontaktpaares für einen Stromführungsprofil-Verbinder;

Figur 18 -

perspektivische Ansicht des kombinierten Steckkontaktpaares aus Figur 17 mit Blick auf die Leiteranschlusskontakte;

Figur 19 -

perspektivische Ansicht einer zweiten Ausführungsform eines kombinierten Steckkontaktpaares;

Figur 20 -

perspektivische Ansicht des kombinierten Steckkontaktpaares aus Figur 19 mit Blick auf den Leiteranschlusskontakt;

Figur 21 -

perspektivische Ansicht eines Steckkontaktes mit zusätzlichem Erdungskontakt;

Figur 22 -

perspektivische Ansicht des Steckkontaktes aus Figur 21 mit Blick auf den Leiteranschlusskontakt;

Figur 23 -

Teilschnittansicht des Steckkontaktes aus Figuren 21 und 22 mit dem an einen Metalltrog angeklemmten Erdungskontakt;

Figur 24 -

Draufsicht auf einen Schnitt durch eine Stromführungsanordnung mit ineinandergesteckten Steckkontakten;

Figur 25 -

Seiten-Schnittansicht der Stromführungsanordnung aus Figur 24;

Figur 26 -

Seitenansicht auf eine in einem Metalltrog eingebaute Stromführungsanordnung mit Vordach an den Stromführungsprofil-Verbindern;

Figur 27 -

perspektivische Ansicht der Stromführungsanordnung aus Figur 26;

Figur 28 -

perspektivische Teilschnittansicht der Stromführungsanordnung aus Figur 27.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

Figure 1 -

perspective view of two complementary power guide profile connectors;

Figure 2 -

perspective view of a current guiding profile with a first current guiding profile connector;

Figure 3 -

perspective view of the current carrying profile Figure 2 with a second power conduction profile connector;

Figure 4 -

Sectional view of complementary current-carrying profile connectors in plan view in the state attached to current-carrying profiles;

Figure 5 -

Sectional view in a second height plane of the complementary current-carrying profile connector;

Figure 6 -

perspective view of a first plug contact with a combination of conductor connection contacts and blade contacts;

Figure 7 -

perspective view of a second plug contact with a combination of conductor connection contact and fork contact;

Figure 8 -

A plan view of a section through a current-carrying arrangement with plug-in contacts plugged into one another without an insulating housing of the current-carrying profile connector;

Figure 9 -

Sectional view of a power supply arrangement with only one pair of plug contacts plugged into one another in a first sliding position;

Figure 10 -

Top view of the plug contact arrangement Figure 9 in a second shift position;

Figure 11 -

Side sectional view of two complementary current-carrying profile connectors plugged into one another;

Figure 12 -

Side sectional view of the current carrying profile connector Figure 11 in section through the plug contacts;

Figure 13 -

perspective sectional view of the current carrying profile connector Figure 11 on average;

Figure 14 -

perspective view of the current carrying profile connector Figure 12 without enclosed insulating material housing;

Figure 15 -

Side sectional view through the power supply arrangement with a view of two height levels of the plug contacts;

Figure 16 -

perspective view of a power supply arrangement with metal troughs and end feed via a power supply profile connector;

Figure 17 -

perspective view of a combined plug-in contact pair for a current-carrying profile connector;

Figure 18 -

perspective view of the combined pair of plug contacts Figure 17 with a view of the conductor connection contacts;

Figure 19 -

perspective view of a second embodiment of a combined plug contact pair;

Figure 20 -

perspective view of the combined pair of plug contacts Figure 19 with a view of the conductor connection contact;

Figure 21 -

perspective view of a plug contact with an additional ground contact;

Figure 22 -

perspective view of the plug contact Figure 21 with a view of the conductor connection contact;

Figure 23 -

Partial sectional view of the plug contact Figures 21 and 22 with the ground contact clamped to a metal trough;

Figure 24 -

Top view of a section through a power supply arrangement with plug contacts plugged into one another;

Figure 25 -

Side sectional view of the power supply assembly Figure 24 ;

Figure 26 -

Side view of a power supply arrangement installed in a metal trough with a canopy on the power supply profile connectors;

Figure 27 -

perspective view of the power supply assembly Figure 26 ;

Figure 28 -

perspective partial sectional view of the power supply arrangement Figure 27 .

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of two complementary current-carrying profile connectors 1a, 1b, each of which has an insulating housing 2a, 2b.

On a first end face 3 of the insulating material housing 2a, 2b, conductor entry openings 4 are made, which lead into receiving chambers for plug contacts. The insulating material housings 2a, 2b have plug-in openings 6 on a second end face 5, which is diametrically opposite the first end face 3, which likewise provide access for a respective receiving chamber.

The insulating material housings 2a, 2b are contoured on their second end face 5 and the plug area surrounding this second end face 5 so that the complementary current-carrying profile connectors 1a, 1b can be plugged into one another.

Figure 2 shows a perspective partial sectional view of a power supply arrangement with a power supply profile 7, which is formed from a support profile 8 and electrical conductors 9 built into the support profile. The carrier profile 8 has a number of webs 10 which extend parallel to one another and each delimit a groove 11 for receiving an electrical conductor 9. It becomes clear that alternating grooves with different depths are provided, so that the electrical conductors 9 are arranged on two height levels. The electrical conductors 9 protrude from the end faces of the carrier profile 8 in order to be contacted in an electrically conductive manner.

On the front side, the carrier profile 8 has a platform 12 for supporting a current-carrying profile connector 1a, 1b.

It becomes clear that the current guiding profile connector 1 a, 1 b is plugged with its first end face 3 onto the end face of the current guiding profile 7. The plug-in direction S is sketched with an arrow. In this case, the electrical conductors 9 of the current-carrying profile 7 dip into respectively assigned conductor entry openings 4 of the current-carrying profile connector 1b in order to connect to a non-visible conductor connection contact in the interior.

Figure 3 shows the diametrically opposite end face of the carrier profile 7 from FIG. 2. There, too, the electrical conductors 9 protrude from the carrier profile 8 at two levels. A current-carrying profile connector can also be installed on this end face 1a with its end face 3 having the conductor entry openings 4 and resting on the platform 12.

It becomes clear that the contour of the current-carrying profile connectors 1a, 1b in the area of the conductor entry openings 4 or the first end face 3 is adapted to the current-carrying profile 8 so that the current-carrying profile connectors 1a, 1b are pushed onto the platform 12 with their side walls in order to be positioned in the correct position in relation to the electrical conductors 9 and the associated conductor insertion openings 4 in this way. The platform 12 has lateral, vertically protruding side walls, the side walls engaging in recesses on the respective current carrying profile connector 1a, 1b when the current-carrying profile connector 1a, 1b is plugged on.

It can also be seen that the plug-in openings 6 on the second end face 5 of the current-carrying profile connectors 1a, 1b enable access to plug-in contacts 13 which are accommodated in the interior of the current-carrying profile connectors 1a, 1b in respective receiving chambers. In this way, an electrically conductive contact can be made between a pair of plug contacts 13 of the first and second current-carrying profile connector 1a, 1b when they are plugged into one another.

Figure 4 shows a plan view of a section of a power supply arrangement with the two power supply profile connectors 1a, 1b plugged into one another. It is clear that the current-carrying profile connectors 1a, 1b have a two-part insulating material housing 2a, 2b, each of which has a base body 14 and a cover part 15. The conductor entry openings 4 are made in the cover part 15 and each lead to a receiving chamber 16 in the interior of the base body 14. A plug contact 17a, 17b, which is longitudinally displaceable in the plugging direction S, is introduced into each of these receiving chambers 16. This is clearly one of the varying positions of the plug contacts 17a, 17b in relation to the adjoining cover part 15. It can be seen that the distances between the cover part 15, which delimits a receiving chamber 16, and the plug contact 17a, 17b arranged therein can vary.

A first type of plug-in contacts 17a each has a conductor connection contact 18 for clamping an electrical conductor 9 of a current-carrying profile 7 and at the other end area a blade contact 19 to form a plug-in contact connection for the second plug-in contact 17b of the complementary current-carrying profile connector 1b.

This second type of plug-in contacts 17b also have a conductor connection contact 18 for clamping the electrical conductor 9 of a current-carrying profile 7 and at the other end a fork contact 20. This is also formed by two spring arms that are inclined to each other, which take up a blade contact 19 between them and by spring force clamp. It becomes clear that the blade contact 19 slides in the insertion direction S relative to the fork contact 20, so that the insertion depth of the blade contact 19 in the fork contact 20 can vary.

It is also clear that the plug contacts 17a, 17b each have a stop 21 in the transition between the conductor connection contact 18 and the blade contact 19 or the fork contact 20, which is arranged in line with a conductor entry opening 4 in the insertion direction. When an electrical conductor 9 is inserted into a current-guiding profile connector 1a, 1b, the electrical conductor 9 is inserted so far into the conductor connection contact 18 of the respective connector 17a, 17b that the front end of an electrical conductor 9 hits the stop 21. In this case, however, the electrical conductor 9 is fixed in position by the conductor connection contact 18 on the respective plug connector 17a, 17b and can also no longer retreat. With the help of the combination of the conductor connection contact 18 and the stop 21, the electrical conductor 9 is fixed in position on a respective plug contact 17a, 17b. When the electrical conductor 9 expands in length, the plug contact 17a, 17b clamped thereon moves back and forth in the plugging direction relative to the insulating material housing 2a, 2b of the current-carrying profile connector. This is achieved in that the plug contacts 17a, 17b are arranged displaceably in a respective receiving chamber 16 and by the sliding contact between the blade contact 19 and the fork contact 20 connected therewith a relative displacement of the two complementary first and second plug-in connectors 17a, 17b that are plugged together is possible.

Figure 5 FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of the power supply arrangement from FIG Figure 4 in the second mating level. Compared to the cut out Figure 4 It becomes clear that the first plug connectors 17a and the second plug connectors 17b are alternately vertically offset transversely to the plug-in direction S, so that a plug connector 17a or 17b of a first plug level is arranged on a second plug level between two plug connectors 17a and 17b.

From this sectional view it is also clear that the conductor connection contacts 18 of the plug connectors 17a, 17b are each formed by a spring connection contact with two opposing clamping springs 22. These clamping springs 22 are each protruded from the plane of a side wall 23 into the interior of the plug contact 17a, 17b and point in the direction of the stop 21. They are integrally formed with the side walls 23 and claw into the clamped-on electrical conductor 9 so that the latter cannot be easily pulled away from the stop 21. The stop 21 thus limits the degree of freedom of movement of a clamped-on electrical conductor 9 in the plug-in direction S, while the conductor connection contact 18 with the two clamping springs 22 restricts the degree of freedom of movement in the opposite direction.

Here, too, the different displacement positions of the first and second plug contacts 17a, 17b make it clear that they are relatively displaceable to one another in the plugged-in state due to the knife and fork contacts 19, 20 and the resulting sliding contact. Different linear expansions of the electrical conductors 9 relative to the carrier profiles 8 and the insulating material housings 2a, 2b of the current-carrying profile connector can thus be compensated for in a simple and reliable manner.

Figure 6 shows a perspective view of a first plug contact 17a with a blade contact 19 at one end. It becomes clear that the first plug contact 16a is formed in one piece from a sheet metal part. It has a bottom surface 24 from which the side walls 23 protrude from mutually opposite sides. It can be seen that a clamping spring 22 is exposed from a side wall 23 on each of the opposing side walls 23. For this purpose, the clamping spring 22 is cut or punched free from the sheet metal material of the side wall 23 towards the bottom surface 24 and transversely to the bottom surface 24. The clamping springs 22 are bent out of the plane of that side wall 23 with which they are integrally connected. The two clamping springs 22 are bent obliquely into the interior of the respective plug contact 17 a and aligned with the stop 21. There is a clamping distance between the free ends of the clamping spring 22 and the stop 21. The stop 21 is bent out of the bottom surface 24, so that the stop 21 protrudes from the bottom surface 24 in the same direction as the side walls 23 and the clamping springs 22 formed thereon. With the help of the bottom surface 24 and the side walls 23, a conductor entry tunnel for a conductor to be clamped is created electrical conductor provided, which is then guided to the clamping point formed by the clamping ends of the clamping springs 22 and can abut the stop 21 with its end face.

It is also clear that the side walls 23 are aligned obliquely to one another in the transition to the blade contact 19. These side wall sections 25, which are aligned obliquely to one another, merge into knife sections of the knife contact 29 which each run parallel to one another and which together form the two-layer knife contact 19.

The stop 21 is arranged in the area between the side wall sections 25, which are aligned obliquely to one another, and the clamping end of the clamping springs 22.

It can be seen in the exemplary embodiment that on the side of the stop 21 which is diametrically opposite the clamping springs 22 (ie the spring tongues), material tongues 36 are exposed from the side wall sections 25 and are bent inward toward the stop 21. With these optional material tongues 36, the stop 21 is stabilized and the risk of kinking due to a force acting on the stop 21 when an electrical conductor 9 is inserted is reduced.

The blade contact can optionally have a partial surface coating O in order to reduce the sliding friction and thus improve the sliding properties. This surface coating can e.g. can be realized by silver-plating or gold-plating the contact area.

Figure 7 shows a perspective view of the second type of plug contact 17b. These plug contacts 17b are also formed in one piece from a sheet metal part and have a bottom surface 24 from which side walls 23 protrude on the opposite sides of the bottom surface 24. As in the case of the first type of plug-in contacts 17a, the conductor connection contact 18 is again formed by clamping springs 22 which protrude obliquely from the side walls 23. In turn, the pair of clamping springs 22 provide a funnel-shaped conductor clamping connection in which the electrical conductor is clamped by the clamping springs 22, which are spring-loaded towards one another. It becomes clear that in the case of the second type of plug-in contacts 17b, the side wall sections 25 which adjoin the clamping springs 22 and are aligned obliquely to one another form the spring arms 26 of a fork contact 20. These spring arms 26 have, at their spring arm ends remote from the conductor connection contact 18, a contact area 27, to which insertion sections 28 bent away from one another are connected. These insertion sections 28 point obliquely away from one another in order to provide an insertion funnel for inserting a blade contact 19 between the spring arms 26 of the fork contact 20.

Here, too, the optional material tongues 36 are provided, which are exposed from the side wall sections 25 and bent inwards towards the stop 21 out of the plane of the respective side wall section 25.

Figure 8 shows a plan view of the power supply arrangement without the base body 14 of the insulating material housing 2a, 2b, but with the remaining cover part 15. It can be seen even more clearly that the nested pairs of first and second plug contacts 17a, 17b are relatively displaceable to one another in the plugging direction S, so that between the respective blade contact 19 and the assigned, Fork contacts 20 formed by the spring arms 26 a sliding contact is made. The blade contacts 19 and / or fork contacts 20 can be surface-coated in order to improve the current transfer between the blade contact 19 and the fork contact 20 attached to it. The depth of insertion of the blade contacts 19 into an associated fork contact 20 can thus change to compensate for changes in length of the electrical conductors 9 connected to one another or to compensate for length tolerances.

It is again very clear that the front ends of the electrical conductors 9 abut a stop 21 of the first and second plug contacts 17a, 17b and are clamped in a fixed position on the first and second plug contacts 17a, 17b with the aid of the clamping springs 22 of the conductor connection contact 18 .

Figure 9 shows a sectional view of the power supply arrangement with only one pair of first and second plug-in contacts 17a, 17b inserted into the receiving chambers 16 of the base body 14 of a first and second insulating material housing 2a, 2b. It can be seen that the receiving chambers 16 are accessible from the first end face 3 of the two current-carrying profile connectors 1 a, 1 b via the conductor entry openings 4 made in the cover part 15. The grooves 11 of the support profiles 8 of a current-carrying profile 7 are aligned with a conductor entry opening 4 of the front-side adjoining current-carrying profile connector 1a, 1b, and this conductor entry opening 4 is aligned with a receiving chamber 16.

It becomes clear that the base body 14 of the first insulating material housing 2a of the current-carrying profile connector 1a designed with a blade contact has a receiving slot 29 for receiving a blade contact 19. This receiving slot 29 is diametrically opposite the conductor insertion opening 4 for the same receiving chamber 16. This receiving slot 29 is adapted to the blade contact 19 in such a way that it can be displaced into the receiving slot 29, but cannot be inclined in a direction other than the insertion direction. The receiving slot 29 forms part of the plug-in opening 6, which provides access to the knife and fork contacts 18, 19 for plugging in a complementary current-carrying profile connector 1a, 1b and opens into the associated receiving chambers 16. The receiving chamber 16 in the base body 14 of the second insulating material housing 2b also has two guide slots 31 spaced from one another by a web 30, which are each adapted to receive a spring arm 26 of a fork contact 20.

Figure 10 FIG. 10 shows the sectional view of the power supply arrangement from FIG Figure 9 with the difference that the position of the plug contacts 17a, 17b in the respective receiving space 16 is changed by the length expansion of the electrical conductors 9. It becomes clear that the fork contact 20 with its insertion sections 28 abuts the boundary walls of the guide slots 29 of the complementary current-carrying profile connector 1a. This is an end position for the second plug contact 17b, which as in FIG Figure 9 shown in the other end position rests against the cover part 15 without a gap.

The first plug contact 17a is shown in FIG Figure 10 in a position in which it rests against the cover part 15 with its end leading to the conductor connection contact 18 without a gap.

In the Figure 9 however, this first plug contact 17a is in a different end position in which the blade contact 19 dips maximally into the guide slot 29 and protrudes from it.

Figure 11 shows a side sectional view through a complementary pair of nested current-carrying profile connectors 1a, 1b. It becomes clear that the cover parts 15 are each inserted into the base body 14 and latched into the base body 14 by means of locking lugs 32. The locking lugs 32 dip into locking openings 33 of the base body 14.

It can also be seen that the conductor entry openings 4 in the cover part 15 are arranged on two levels and are alternately offset from this.

It is also clear that the first and second plug contacts 17a, 17b plugged into one another are arranged in alignment with the diametrically opposite conductor entry openings 4 of the two current-carrying profile connectors 1a, 1b. In this way, with a very flat structure, the electrical conductors 9 of two current-carrying profiles 7 arranged in an alignment adjacent to one another can be connected to one another.

Figure 12 FIG. 11 shows the side sectional view of the current guiding profile connector 1a, 1b from FIG Figure 11 It becomes clear that the current-carrying profile connectors 1a, 1b are each supported on a platform 12 of a current-carrying profile 7, with the electrical conductors 9 protruding from a current-carrying profile 7 through a conductor receiving opening 4 in the first end face 3 into a associated receiving chamber 16 are introduced. It can be seen that the free end of the electrical conductors 9 abut the stop 21 of the plug contact 17a, 17b arranged in the receiving chamber 16. It can also be seen that the clamping spring 22 of the conductor connection contact 18 rests laterally on the electrical conductors 9 and digs into the electrical conductor 9.

It is also clear that the two nested first and second plug contacts 17a, 17b are aligned in such a way that the blade contact 19 is acted upon laterally by a spring arm 26 of the fork contact 20 of the second plug connector 17b.

Figure 13 shows a perspective view of two nested current-carrying profile connectors 1a, 1b. It becomes clear that the electrical conductors, after exiting a conductor entry opening 4 in the cover part 15, reach a receiving chamber 16 and are guided there from a conductor routing tunnel of the conductor connection contact 18 to a clamping point formed by the clamping springs 22. It is also clear that the blade contact 19 is encompassed on both sides by the spring arms 26 of the fork contact 18.

Figure 14 shows a perspective view of the nested pair of current-carrying profile connectors 1a, 1b without the base body 14. It is clear that the plug contacts 17a, 17b are partially in direct contact with the adjacent cover part 15 or are spaced apart from it by a gap. This depends on the respective length expansion of the electrical conductor 9 clamped thereon.

Furthermore, it is clear that the conductor entry openings 4 in the cover parts 15 are each arranged in a row on two height levels. Between two conductor entry openings 4 of a row, a further conductor entry opening 4 is arranged alternately offset in a plane which is offset in height relative to this and which form a second row.

Figure 15 shows a side sectional view through the power supply arrangement. It becomes clear that the conductor entry openings 4 are located on several, here for example two height levels and the plug contacts 17a, 17b are also arranged alternately offset on these two height levels.

It is also clear that the front free end of the electrical conductors 9 abut a stop 21.

Figure 16 FIG. 11 shows a perspective partial sectional view of a power supply arrangement in which a power supply profile 7 is built into a metal trough 34. It becomes clear that a first current guiding profile connector 1 a is plugged onto the end face of the current guiding profile 7. In the same or in an adjoining metal trough 34, a complementary second current-carrying profile connector 1b is provided, which is plugged together on the second end face 6 of the first current-carrying profile connector 1a. In the exemplary embodiment shown, this second current-carrying profile connector 1b now serves as a feeder and is connected to connection lines 35 which are inserted into the conductor entry openings 4 on the first end face 3 in the second current-carrying profile connector 1b and connected to the plug contacts 17b there. Such connecting lines 35 can be voltage supply lines for voltage potential L, the neutral conductor N. and ground potential PE or data lines, for example for a communication bus.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the current-carrying profile 7 has two connection areas separated from one another by a wider groove, either for two voltage circuits or on the one hand for a voltage supply and on the other hand for a communication bus.

Figure 17 shows a perspective view of a pair of plug contacts 17a, 17b, which are used together in a common insulating housing 2a, 2b of a current-carrying profile connector 1a, 1b. Again there is one in connection with Figure 6 already described first type of plug contact 17a with blade contact 19 is provided at one end. A fork contact of a second plug contact 17b of the second type is plugged onto this blade contact 19. The two plug contacts 17a, 17b can be displaced relative to one another when the electrical conductors clamped to them each expand differently.

A further fork contact 20 of a plug contact 17b of another current-carrying profile connector 1a, 1b can then still be plugged onto the blade contact 19, as has already been shown in detail above.

With such a combination of two plug contacts 17a, 17b for a common current-carrying profile connector 1a, 1b, the current path can be divided between two electrical conductors 9 of a common current-carrying profile 8 to be clamped. This allows the power line cross-section to be increased.

Figure 18 shows the pair of first and second connectors 17a, 17b Figure 17 in the perspective view with a view of the conductor connection contacts 18. These are again designed as a spring clamp contact for clamping an electrical conductor and have at least one pair of spring arms formed from two opposing spring arms 22 for this purpose.

It becomes clear that the fork contacts 20 have a transverse web lying between the spring arms 26 and the contact area 27. The contact area 27 is thus out of the mating plane of the second plug contact 17b for the electrical conductor, i.e. the plane of the clamping springs 22 into the mating plane of the first plug contact 17a, i.e. the mating plane of the blade contact 19 is offset.

Figure 19 shows another embodiment of such a pair of plug contacts 17a, 17b for a common insulating material housing 2a, 2b of a current-carrying profile connector 1a, 1b. In contrast to the in Figures 17 and 18 illustrated embodiment, the fork contact 20 angled from the spring arms 26 to the plane of the blade contact 19 above. The spring arms 26 extending in the direction of extent of the clamping springs 22 of the plug contact 17b are thus adjoined by a spring arm section of the fork contacts 20 which is angled transversely thereto and which carries the contact area 27 at its free end area. This is then not again as in the first exemplary embodiment in FIG Figures 17 and 18 Angled in mating direction S.

In the first embodiment according to Figures 17 and 18 the contact area 27 thus rests linearly transversely to the extension direction of the blade contact 19 on the blade contact 19, while the contact area 27 in the second exemplary embodiment follows Figures 19 and 20 linearly in the direction of extension of the blade contact 19 rests on this.

Figure 20 shows a perspective view of the pair of plug contacts 17a, 17b from Figure 19 with a view of the conductor connection contacts 18. These are as in the previous in connection with Figures 6 and 7 described embodiments configured. With the aid of the fork contact 20 of the plug contact 17b angled in the direction of the plane of the blade contact 19, the two plug contacts 17a, 17b can be contacted with one another in a sliding, electrically conductive manner.

Figure 21 shows a perspective view of a first plug contact 17a with blade contacts 19 at one end. This plug contact 17c has a one-piece ground contact formed with it (PE contact / Protective Earth). This grounding contact 37 is molded onto a side wall 23. The grounding contact 37 is formed from a piece of sheet metal in the plane of this side wall 23 and has two clamping tongues 39 which are separated from one another by a slot 38 and which merge into a common root region 40.

The front edges of the clamping tongues 39 have teeth 41 facing one another, with which the grounding contact 37 is attached to a piece of sheet metal, e.g. a metal trough can be clawed.

Furthermore, a combination of a protruding tooth 42 with an opposing recess 43 can be provided in order to deform the sheet metal piece into the recess 43 and in this way fix the grounding contact 37 on the sheet metal piece with regard to its position.

This is what the Figure 22 again more clearly, which shows a perspective view of the plug contact 17c with a view of the conductor connection contact 18. It can be seen that the grounding contact 37 adjoins the left side wall 23 there and is aligned with the plane of the side wall 23. The two clamping tongues 39 located in this plane can claw into a sheet metal section of the metal trough with a relatively large spring force through the common root area and through the subsequent piece of sheet metal merging into the side wall 23 in order to ensure a grounding connection in this way.

This is in the perspective partial sectional view in FIG Figure 23 shown. There the grounding contact 37 is pushed onto a sheet metal section of the metal trough 34. It becomes clear that the piece of sheet metal is only guided as far as the stop tooth 42. The metal trough 34 is clawed on the teeth 41 at a distance from this stop tooth 42, so that the grounding contact 37 can always move relative to the metal trough 34.

Figure 24 shows a plan view of a section through a power supply arrangement with two power supply profile connectors 1a, 1b plugged into one another. In the insulated housing 2a, 2b of the current guiding profile connector 1a, 1b, the plug contacts 17a of the first type described above and 17b of the second type are introduced. It is clear that the electrical conductors 9 inserted in the current-carrying profiles 8 are each clamped to the conductor connection contacts 18 of the plug contacts 17a, 17b. The electrical conductors 9 are led to the respective stops 21 and are not only electrically contacted by a pair of spring contacts with two opposing spring arms 20, but are also clawed at the respective plug contact 17a, 17b.

When the electrical conductor 9 expands in length, the plug contact 17a, 17b clamped thereon moves with it relative to the insulating material housing 2a, 2b.

In the illustrated embodiment, the plug contacts 17a of the first type of the current-carrying profile connector 1a are not displaced. The plug-in contacts 17b of the complementary current-carrying profile connector 1b, on the other hand, are spaced apart from the cover part 15 by a gap and thus somewhat e.g. The electrical conductor 9 is displaced by a linear expansion.

Figure 25 FIG. 11 shows a side sectional view of the power supply arrangement from FIG Figure 24 . There it becomes even clearer that the plug contact 17a of the first type with the blade contact 19 does not adjoin the cover part 15 or only adjoins it with a very small gap.

It can also be seen that the complementary current-carrying profile connectors 1a, 1b are plugged into one another with their insulating-material housings 2a, 2b. The fork contacts 20 of the plug contact 17b of the second type encompass the blade contact 19 of the plug contact 17a of the first type. The fork contacts 20 can, for example, also be formed by two or more spring arms that are independently resilient and separated by a gap.

In any case, it becomes clear that the two plug contacts 17a, 17b can be displaced relative to one another in the plugging direction S in the respective insulating material housing 2a, 2b.

Figure 26 shows a side partial sectional view through a metal trough 34. In this metal trough 34 current-carrying profiles 8 are installed. The electrical conductors 9 of the current-carrying profiles 8 are connected to one another with the aid of the current-carrying profile connectors 1a, 1b plugged into one another.

It is clear that the current guiding profile connectors 1a, 1b each have a canopy 44 on the end face facing the adjacent current guiding profile 8. This partially covers the adjacent current-carrying profile 8 and provides contact protection for the electrical conductors 9 underneath. This canopy 44, which can also be referred to as a collar, opens the gap between the current-carrying profile 8 and the insulating material housing 2a, 2b of the respective current-carrying profile connector 1a, 1b covered and a finger security between the insulating material housing 2a, 2b of the current-carrying profile connector 1a, 1b and the current-carrying profile 8 is ensured. This is particularly advantageous when the gap is quite large.

Figure 27 FIG. 13 shows a perspective view of the power supply arrangement from FIG Figure 26 . It becomes clear that the canopy 44 of the current-guiding profile connector 1a, 1b each covers the top of the adjacent current-guiding profile 8 and rests laterally with side wall sections on the current-guiding profile 8. The canopy 44 thus surrounds the respective current-carrying profile 8. The canopy 44 can be formed in one piece with the insulating housing 2a, 2b from the insulating material. However, it can also be attached to the insulating housing 2a, 2b as a separate part.

Figure 28 FIG. 11 shows a partial sectional view of the power supply arrangement from FIG Figure 27 . There it becomes clear that the gap between the insulating material housing 2a or 2b and the adjoining current-carrying profile 8 is covered with the canopy 44. It is therefore no longer possible to accidentally touch the electrical conductors 9 underneath.

Claims (15)

1. Current-carrying profile connector (1a, 1b) comprising plug-in contacts (17a, 17b) and an insulating-material housing (2a, 2b) which has receiving chambers (16) for receiving in each case one plug-in contact (17a, 17b), conductor insertion openings (4) on a first end side (3) of the insulating-material housing (2a, 2b), which conductor insertion openings open out into in each case one receiving chamber (16), and plug-in openings (6) on a second end side (5) of the insulating-material housing (2a, 2b), which second end side is situated diametrically opposite the first end side (3) and provides access into in each case one receiving chamber (16), wherein the plug-in contacts (17a, 17b) have, on that side which faces a conductor insertion opening (4), a conductor connection contact (18) with a clamping spring (22) for clamping-on an electrical conductor (9) and, on that side which faces a plug-in opening (6), a fork contact (20), which is formed from at least one pair of spring arms with two spring arms (26) which are situated opposite one another, or a blade contact (19), which is formed from a contact lug which protrudes in a plug-in direction (S), characterized

   - in that the plug-in contacts (17a, 17b) are received in a respective receiving chamber (16) such that they can be displaced in a plug-in direction (S) which extends from the first end side (3) to the second end side (5) of the insulating-material housing (2a, 3b), and

   - in that the plug-in contacts (17a, 17b) have a stop (21) between the clamping spring (22) of the conductor connection contact (18) and the fork or blade contact (19, 20) for an electrical conductor (9) which is clamped to the conductor connection contact (18) to bear against, wherein the clamping spring (22) is positioned obliquely with respect to the plug-in direction (S) so as to point towards the stop (21).
2. Current-carrying profile connector (1a, 1b) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the plug-in contacts (17a, 17b) are integrally formed from a sheet-metal part and have a base surface (24) and side walls (23) which protrude from sides of the base surface (24) which are situated opposite one another, wherein at least one clamping spring (22) is released in each case from a side wall (23) and is bent out of the plane of the side wall (23) in the direction of the opposite side wall (23) .
3. Current-carrying profile connector (1a, 1b) according to Claim 2, characterized in that a material tab for forming a stop (21) protrudes from the base surface (24).
4. Current-carrying profile connector (1a, 1b) according to Claim 3, characterized in that the material tab is arranged in the intermediate space between the side walls (23) which are situated opposite one another.
5. Current-carrying profile connector (1a, 1b) according to one of Claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the side walls (23) are oriented obliquely in relation to one another at the transition to the fork or blade contacts (19, 20).
6. Current-carrying profile connector (1a, 1b) according to Claim 5, characterized in that the side wall sections (25) which are oriented obliquely in relation to one another, in a section which is separated from the base surface (24), form spring arms (26) of a fork contact (20) .
7. Current-carrying profile connector (1a, 1b) according to Claim 6, characterized in that the pair of spring arms (26), at their spring arm ends which are remote from the conductor connection contact (18), have a contact region (27), insertion sections (28) which are bent away from one another adjoining the said contact region.
8. Current-carrying profile connector (1a, 1b) according to Claim 5, characterized in that the side wall sections (25) which are oriented obliquely in relation to one another merge with contact lugs which run next to one another and extend parallel in relation to one another and form a blade contact (19).
9. Current-carrying profile connector (1a, 1b) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an earthing contact is plug-connected in a displaceable manner to a plug-in contact (17a, 17b) and protrudes from the plug-in contact (17a, 17b).
10. Current-carrying profile connector (1a, 1b) according to Claim 9, characterized in that the earthing contact is a socket contact into which the contact lug of a plug-in connector (17a, 17b) is inserted.
11. Current-carrying profile connector set comprising a first current-carrying profile connector (1a) and a second current-carrying profile connector (1b), wherein at least one of the current-carrying profile connectors (1a, 1b) is designed according to one of Claims 1 to 10.
12. Current-carrying arrangement comprising a plurality of current-carrying profiles (7), which have a carrier profile (8) with a base surface, webs (10) which extend parallel to one another on the base surface and grooves (11), which are each delimited by a pair of webs (10), and electrical conductors (9) in grooves (11) of this kind, and comprising current-carrying profile connectors (1a, 1b), characterized in that in each case one current-carrying profile connector (1a, 1b) is plug-connected to the end side of two carrier profiles (8) which are arranged in alignment one behind the other, and at least one of these current-carrying profile connectors (1a, 1b) is designed according to one of Claims 1 to 10, wherein the electrical conductors (9) of the carrier profile (8) which protrude from the end side are each clamped to a conductor connection contact (18) of a plug-in contact (17a, 17b) of the current-carrying profile connector (1a, 1b), wherein the electrical conductors (9) each butt against the stop (21) of the plug-in contact (17a, 17b) and are fixedly clamped to the plug-in contact (17a, 17b) by way of the clamping spring (22), and in that the current-carrying profile connectors (1a, 1b) which are plug-connected to the adjacent end sides of the two carrier profiles (8) engage one in the other by way of their openings, and a blade contact (19) of a plug-in contact (17a) of a current-carrying profile connector (1a) is contacted in a displaceable manner into a fork contact (20) of a plug-in contact (17b) of the other current-carrying profile connector (1b).
13. Current-carrying arrangement according to Claim 12, characterized in that a first current-carrying profile connector (1a) is plug-connected to an end side of a carrier rail (8) and plugged together with a second complementary current-carrying profile connector (1b) by way of their plug-in openings (6), wherein a blade contact (19) of a plug-in contact (17a) of one of these current-carrying profile connectors (1a) enters a fork contact (20) of a plug-in contact (17b) of the other current-carrying profile connector (1b), and in that electrical lines (9) or connection lines (35) are inserted into conductor insertion openings (4) of the second current-carrying profile connector (1b) and are each clamped to a conductor connection contact (18) of a plug-in contact (17b) of the second current-carrying profile connector (1b).
14. Current-carrying arrangement according to Claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the insulating-material housing (2a, 2b) of the current-carrying profile connectors (1a, 1b) has an outer contour which is matched to the end-side contour of the end side of the carrier profile (8) and can be inserted flush into the end-side contour.
15. Current-carrying arrangement according to Claim 14, characterized in that the end-side contour of the carrying profile (8) and the outer contour of the current-carrying profile connectors (1a, 1b) have latching elements for locking the current-carrying profile connectors (1a, 1b) to the carrier profile (8).

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