EP4235730A1 - Overvoltage protection device with a connection base - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an overvoltage protection device with a connection base for at least one circuit breaker to be arranged thereon, with a first pole connection on the connection base for a first conductor carrying a first current potential, a second pole connection for a second conductor carrying a second current potential and a grounding connection for a third , A conductor carrying ground potential is provided, and wherein the first pole connection and the second pole connection are each designed with a plurality of connection points on the connection base itself and the ground connection is designed with at least one connection point.

Description

Background of the Invention

The invention relates to an overvoltage protection device with a one-part or multi-part connection base with at least one circuit breaker arranged thereon, with a first pole connection for a first conductor carrying a first current potential, a second pole connection for a second conductor carrying a second current potential and a Ground connection is provided for a third conductor carrying a ground potential.

Overvoltage protection devices protect electrical systems and sensitive equipment from dangerous overcurrents, especially transient overvoltages. By means of a protection level (Up), such devices ensure trouble-free operation and thus prevent high downtime costs. In particular, as overvoltage arresters, these protective devices discharge any overcurrent that may occur that exceeds the protection level to a ground connection. The protective devices can be installed advantageously for use as overvoltage protection devices according to VDE 0100 Part 443 and Part 534 as well as for lightning protection, especially in photovoltaic systems at the zone transition (LPZ) 1-2 or on sub-distribution boards.

Underlying Task

The object of the invention is to make such an overvoltage protection device more cost-effective overall while at least maintaining the same functionality.

Solution according to the invention

This object is achieved according to the invention with an overvoltage protection device with a one-part or multi-part connection base with at least one circuit breaker arranged thereon, wherein on the connection base a first pole connection for a first conductor carrying a first current potential, a second pole connection for a second conductor carrying a second current potential Conductors and a ground connection are provided for a third conductor carrying a ground potential, and the first pole connection and the second pole connection are each designed with a plurality of connection points on the connection base itself and the ground connection is designed with at least one connection point.

In the overvoltage protection device according to the invention, two pole connections are provided, each of which is provided for at least one conductor carrying a current potential. According to the invention, such conductors that carry a current potential can, in an application with direct current (DC), have a contact with a positive pole (designation plus, color usually red, pending electron deficiency) and contact with a negative pole (designation minus, color usually black, pending electron surplus ) be. When used with alternating current (AC), such conductors that carry a current potential can be a zero conductor or neutral conductor (designation N, color usually blue), which is electrically connected in particular to a neutral point, as well as a live conductor, a phase or an outer conductor (designation L, color usually brown, gray or black), which is particularly live, be. When the associated device to be protected is in operation, there is an electrical voltage between the poles, which is also referred to as a potential difference.

Furthermore, there is a grounding connection on the overvoltage protection device according to the invention, to which a grounding potential is to be applied. With such a protective conductor or such a ground wire (designation PE, color usually yellow/green), a safe connection is established from the associated electrical equipment to the ground. A distinction is made between protective earthing, functional earthing, lightning protection earthing and operational earthing. The protective grounding prevents the occurrence of dangerous contact voltages in the event of a faulty device function. The functional grounding is intended to reliably discharge interference currents and avoid electrical interference coupling. Lightning protection grounding is intended to safely discharge the lightning current into the ground. The operational grounding is mainly used in power plants and switchgear and is intended to ensure trouble-free operation of the system or the devices.

According to the invention, at least one connection point for current-conducting coupling of a conductor is provided on the one-part or multi-part connection base itself for the ground connection, for the pole connections, on the other hand, several connection points for current-conducting coupling of several conductors are always deliberately provided on the one-part or multi-part connection base itself. The term connection point is understood here to mean a detachable connection of an individual conductor (wire, core, line) for establishing an electrical contact between the connection and the conductor.

Precisely two connection points for each of the pole connections are preferably provided on the one-part or multi-part connection base itself. Precisely four connection points for each of the pole connections are particularly preferably provided on the one-part or multi-part connection base itself. Exactly two are also preferred on the one-piece or multi-piece connection base itself Connection points are provided for the ground connection, and particularly preferably exactly one connection point for the ground connection is provided on the one-part or multi-part connection base itself.

It is thus possible according to the invention for the overvoltage protection device with its one-part or multi-part connection base itself to serve at the same time as a wiring aid for wiring a plurality of conductors of the associated electrical device. Thus, according to the invention, in particular further wiring panels or wiring terminals that would otherwise be necessary can be dispensed with.

The overvoltage protection device according to the invention is preferably provided as an arrester for use in photovoltaic power generation systems. According to their protection level, overvoltage protection devices according to the invention can also be used as the ideal protective device for particularly sensitive equipment. They can also be used as backup.

The connection base according to the invention is preferably designed as a complete unit that is ready for wiring. Such a complete unit is designed in particular as a single base or as a base made up of several base parts, in particular arranged next to one another, whose external dimensions are matched to specified, in particular standardized spatial conditions of use. The complete unit with a single base or a plurality of base parts arranged next to one another is also preferably dimensionally and technically compatible with installation devices of various, in particular standardized, series.

The complete unit with a single base or from a plurality of base parts arranged next to one another is also preferably designed with a rail clamp, by means of which such a complete unit is then can be permanently installed, in particular on a rail system, as is usual with switch cabinets and/or switch boxes. The complete unit with a single base or from a plurality of base parts arranged next to one another can advantageously be slid on the associated rail and/or clamped in place there.

Advantageously, the complete unit with a single base or from a plurality of base parts arranged next to one another also has a specific longitudinal extension and the rail clamp is arranged eccentrically from this longitudinal extension. With the arrangement of the attachment of the overvoltage protection device according to the invention on a rail system offset from the center in this way, it is possible for the several connection points of the pole connections provided there according to the invention to also be offset towards the center and thus there is more freedom for them to connect conductors there results.

The at least one circuit breaker of the overvoltage protection device according to the invention is preferably designed as at least one protection module plugged into the one-part or multi-part connection base. With such pluggable protection modules, the device according to the invention can be easily adapted to existing conditions of use with regard to its protection circuit. In particular, the pluggable protection module can be removed very easily in order to carry out an insulation measurement. Furthermore, such protective modules can be designed to be fully compatible with the installation devices of various series.

Preferably, three protection modules are provided--in particular a single protection module being plugged into a single base part--by means of which in particular a three-stage DC voltage protection device is designed. In particular, a multi-pole DC overvoltage protection with a Y circuit can be created according to the invention. Such a Surge protection can combine the function of lightning current arrester and surge arrester in a combination device. According to the invention, overvoltage protection devices can be designed, in particular, of the so-called type 1, type 2 or type 3. This achieves highly effective end device protection.

According to the invention, the individual connection point is advantageously designed as a clamp. A clamp is understood here to mean a mechanical fixing of a conductor to a conductive body by means of a screw or a spring. A distinction is made between screw terminals and screwless terminals.

Furthermore, the multiple connection points of a pole connection on the connection base are preferably arranged on at least two floors or heights. In this way, space-optimized tiers of connection points can be formed, to which the associated conductors can then be connected in series.

Furthermore, in the overvoltage protection device according to the invention, the first pole connection, the second pole connection and the grounding connection are advantageously arranged on one side of the connection base, with the at least one connection point of the grounding connection being arranged between the plurality of connection points of the first pole connection and the plurality of connection points of the second pole connection. A clear spatial and visual separation of the connection areas is thus possible.

A plurality of first pole connections, each with a plurality of first connection points, and a plurality of second pole connections, each with a plurality of second connection points, are also advantageously provided. These are each advantageously provided with an associated, in particular plugged-in circuit breaker. The number of necessary connection points can thus be provided in just one overvoltage protection device, even for complex electrical systems and end devices.

The overall width of the overvoltage protection device according to the invention is advantageously limited to an odd number of module widths, in particular with regard to the overall width of the entire connection base or with regard to the overall width of its individual base parts. In electrical installation and switch cabinet construction, the pitch unit describes the width of built-in devices such as miniature circuit breakers or residual current circuit breakers. The width of a pitch unit is 18 mm. The division unit is sometimes also called space unit (PLE). According to the invention, in particular one pitch unit is used for the at least one connection point of the ground connection and one pitch unit is used for each of the multiple connection points of a pole connection.

The overvoltage protection device according to the invention is also preferably designed in such a way that the connection base as such is designed in multiple parts with or made up of at least two base parts and a base connector is provided for electrically conductively connecting the base parts.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1

eine Vorderansicht einer Überspannungsschutzeinrichtung mit zugeordneten Verdrahtungsklemmen gemäß dem Stand der Technik,

Fig. 2

eine perspektivische Draufsicht der Überspannungsschutzeinrichtung gemäß Fig. 1,

Fig. 3

einen Schaltplan der Überspannungsschutzeinrichtung gemäß Fig. 1,

Fig. 4

eine perspektivische Draufsicht eines ersten Ausführungsbeispiels einer Überspannungsschutzeinrichtung gemäß der Erfindung,

Fig. 5

eine perspektivische Unteransicht der Überspannungsschutzeinrichtung gemäß Fig. 4 und

Fig. 6

eine perspektivische Rückansicht eines zweiten Ausführungsbeispiels einer erfindungsgemäßen Überspannungsschutzeinrichtung.

Exemplary embodiments of the solution according to the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings. It shows:

1

a front view of a surge protection device with associated wiring terminals according to the prior art,

2

a perspective top view of the overvoltage protection device according to FIG. 1,

3

a circuit diagram of the overvoltage protection device according to FIG. 1,

4

a perspective top view of a first embodiment of an overvoltage protection device according to the invention,

figure 5

a perspective bottom view of the overvoltage protection device according to FIG. 4 and

6

a perspective rear view of a second embodiment of an overvoltage protection device according to the invention.

Detailed description of the embodiment

1 to 3 show an overvoltage protection device 10 according to the prior art, which is formed with an overvoltage protection 12 as a central element. The surge protector 12 is designed with a connector base 14 serving as a module receptacle. The connection base 14 serving as a base in this way has a width extension 16 and a length extension 18 and is essentially U-shaped when viewed in cross section. A first circuit breaker 20 and next to it a second circuit breaker 22 and a third circuit breaker 24 are plugged into the connection socket 14 of this type, each of which acts as a protection module and each contains a circuit arrangement (shown in more detail in FIG. 3). The three circuit breakers 20, 22 and 24 are snapped into place on the connection base 14, electrically contacted (not shown) there on their underside (related to FIG. 2) and each held back or secured thereon by means of a folding holder 26. They each have a function display 28 on their upper side (relative to FIG. 2).
the connection base 14 is in turn held on a rail 30, a rail clamp 32 being designed on the underside of the connection base 14 by means of a stationary or rigid retaining lug 34 and a displaceable sliding lug 36, between which a recess serves as a rail receptacle 38. This rail mount 38 is located in the center 40 of the underside in relation to the longitudinal extension 18.

A first pole connection 44, a second pole connection 46 and a ground connection 48 in between are located on a front connection area 42 on the front of the connection base 14. The first pole connection 44 is provided with a socket-like, first connection point 50, the second pole connection 46 designed with a socket-like, second connection point 52 and the grounding connection 48 with a socket-like, third connection point 54 . There is also a terminal opening 56 on each of the pole connections 44 and 46 and the grounding connection 48 for coupling and decoupling a first conductor 58 at the first connection point 50, a second conductor 60 at the second connection point 52 and a third conductor 62 at the third connection point 54

A first wiring terminal box 64 , a second wiring terminal box 66 and a grounding wiring terminal box 68 are arranged in a stationary manner on the rail 30 to the right and left next to the overvoltage protection device 12 . The first wiring terminal box 64 is provided with a coupling point 70 to which the first conductor 58 is connected in a conductive manner. The second wiring terminal panel 66 is configured with a coupling point 72 to which the second conductor 60 is electrically connected, and the ground wiring terminal panel 68 is configured with a coupling point 74 to which the third conductor 74 is electrically connected. Each of the coupling points 70, 72 and 74 is designed with a clamping opening 76 for decoupling the respective conductor 58, 60 and 62, respectively. There is also a further coupling point 74 on the grounding wiring terminal field 68 to which a further, continuing third conductor 62 is connected.

The wiring terminal fields 64 and 66 are also provided with four additional connection points 78 and 80, respectively, for connecting additional conductors to the first pole connection 44 and the second pole connection 46, respectively. The ground wiring terminal box 68 is provided with another connection point 82 for connecting another conductor to the ground terminal 48 . There, too, on the wiring terminal fields 64, 66 and 68, the further connection points 78, 80 and 82 are each provided with a terminal opening 84 for possible decoupling of the respectively connected conductor.

3 shows a circuit diagram 86 in which the internal structure of the overvoltage protection device 10 designed in this way with the three protective switches 20, 22 and 24 according to the prior art can be seen.

4 and 5 show an overvoltage protection device 88 according to the invention. This is designed as a complete unit 90, in which the connection base 14 is provided with a somewhat further or greater length extension 92. A first circuit breaker 20, a second circuit breaker 22 and a third circuit breaker 24 are plugged into the connection base 14 of this type, also as modules, and are held there by means of a folding holder 26 each.

On the underside of the connection base 14 according to FIGS. 4 and 5 there is also a rail clamp 32 formed by means of a retaining lug 34 and a sliding lug 36, with the associated rail receptacle 38 being located at the same point on the front side of the connection base 14 as in the connection base 14 according to FIGS. 1 and 2. Due to the greater longitudinal extension 92, there is a projection 94 on the back of the connection base 14 according to FIGS. 4 and 5 and for the circuit breakers 20, 22 and 24 or for the center 40 the connection base 14 is offset 96 to the rear in relation to the design shown in FIGS. This creates more space on the front of the connection base 14, namely for a sloping connection area 98 there.

The connection area is designed with a lower level 100 and an upper level 102 in front of the first circuit breaker 20 and the second circuit breaker 24 . There are two first connection points 104 for the first pole connection 44 on the lower level 100 in front of the first circuit breaker 20 and two further first connection points 104 on the upper level 102, also for the first pole connection 44. In front of the second circuit breaker 22 there are on the lower level Level 100 two second connection points 106 for the second pole connection 46 and on the upper level 102 two further second connection points 106 also for the second pole connection 46. There is a connection point 108 for the ground connection 54 in front of the third circuit breaker 24. In an alternative embodiment, not shown, there is a connection point 108 for the ground connection 54 in front of the third circuit breaker 24 on the lower floor 100 and in the upper floor 102 another connection point 108 for the ground connection 54. Each of the connection points 104, 106 and 108 is in turn provided with a clamping opening 110 for decoupling a conductor connected there.

6 shows an exemplary embodiment of an overvoltage protection device 88 in which the connection base 14 is formed in multiple parts from a total of three base parts arranged next to one another, namely a first base part 112, a second base part 114 and a third base part 116. The individual base part 112 , 114 or 116 has a third of the entire width 16 of the connection base 14 . On its front side, the individual base part 112, 114 or 116 is also designed with an inclined connection area 98, with (not visible in Fig. 6) four connection points 104 for first pole connections 44 on the first base part 112 and one on the second base part 114 Connection points 108 for a ground connection 48 and on the third base part 116 four connection points 106 for second pole connections 46 are located.

The base parts 112, 114 and 116 are to be connected to one another in an electrically conductive manner by means of a base connector 118. For this purpose, an insertion slot 120 with a screw opening 122 located above it is formed on the back of the individual base part 112, 114 or 116. The base connector 118 is to be inserted into the three insertion slots 120 of this type by means of insertion lugs 124 formed thereon and these are then to be fixed there by means of the respective screw openings 122 . The three thrust lugs 124 are in turn electrically conductively connected to one another by means of a lug connector 126 in the form of a conductor track inside the base connector 118 .

Finally, it should be noted that all the features that are named in the application documents and in particular in the dependent claims, despite the formal reference made to one or more specific claims, should also be entitled to independent protection, either individually or in any combination.

Reference List

10

State-of-the-art overvoltage protection device

12

Overvoltage protection

14

connector socket

16

latitude

18

length extension

20

first circuit breaker

22

second circuit breaker

24

third circuit breaker

26

folding holder

28

function display

30

rail

32

rail clamp

34

holding lug

36

sliding nose

38

rail mount

40

center

42

front connection area

44

first pole connection

46

second pole connection

48

ground connection

50

Connection point for first pole connection

52

Connection point for second pole connection

54

Connection point for earth connection

56

clamp opening

58

first leader

60

second leader

62

third leader

64

first wiring terminal box

66

second wiring terminal box

68

Ground Wiring Terminal Panel

70

Coupling point for first conductor

72

Coupling point for second conductor

74

Coupling point for third conductor

76

clamp opening

78

further connection point for first pole connection

80

further connection point for second pole connection

82

further connection point for earth connection

84

clamp opening

86

circuit diagram

88

Overvoltage protection device according to the invention

90

complete unit

92

length extension

94

Got over

96

offset

98

inclined connection area

100

lower floor

102

upper floor

104

Connection point for first pole connection

106

Connection point for second pole connection

108

Connection point for earth connection

110

clamp opening

112

first base part

114

second base part

116

third base part

118

socket connector

120

slot

122

screw hole

124

insertion flag

126

flag connector

Claims (11)

Overvoltage protection device (88) with a one-part or multi-part connection base (14) with at least one protective switch (20, 22, 24) arranged thereon, with a first pole connection (44) for a first current potential carrying a first current on the connection base (14). Conductor (58), a second pole connection (46) for a second conductor (60) carrying a second current potential and a ground connection (48) for a third conductor (62) carrying a ground potential are provided,
characterized in that on the connection base (14) itself the first pole connection (44) and the second pole connection (46) are each designed with a plurality of connection points (104, 106) and the grounding connection (48) is designed with at least one connection point (108). . Overvoltage protection device according to claim 1,
characterized in that the connection base (14) is designed as a complete unit (90) ready for wiring. Overvoltage protection device according to claim 2,
characterized in that the complete unit (90) is designed with a rail clamp (32). Overvoltage protection device according to claim 2 or 3,
characterized in that the complete unit (90) is designed with a longitudinal extension (92) and the rail clamp (32) is arranged eccentrically from the longitudinal extension (92). Overvoltage protection device according to one of claims 1 to 4,
characterized in that the circuit breaker (20, 22, 24) is designed as at least one protection module plugged into the connection base (14). Overvoltage protection device according to claim 5,
characterized in that three protection modules are provided, by means of which in particular a three-stage DC voltage protection device is designed. Overvoltage protection device according to one of Claims 1 to 6,
characterized in that the single connection point (104, 106, 108) is designed as a clamp. Overvoltage protection device according to one of Claims 1 to 7,
characterized in that the multiple connection points (144, 106, 108) of a pole connection (44, 46, 48) are arranged on the connection base (14) in at least two tiers (100, 102). Overvoltage protection device according to one of claims 1 to 8,
characterized in that the first pole connection (44), the second pole connection (46) and the grounding connection (48) are arranged on one side of the connection base (14), the at least one connection point (108) of the grounding connection being between the plurality of connection points (104 ) of the first pole connection (44) and the plurality of connection points (106) of the second pole connection (46). Overvoltage protection device according to one of Claims 1 to 9,
characterized in that a plurality of first pole connections (44) with a plurality of first connection points (104) and a plurality of second pole connections (46) each with a plurality of second connection points (106) are provided. Overvoltage protection device according to one of claims 1 to 10,
characterized in that the connection base (14) is designed in multiple parts with at least two base parts (112, 114, 116) and a base connector (118) is provided for electrically conductively connecting the base parts (112, 114, 116).

Images