GB1582880A

GB1582880A - Arrangement for fixing at least one contact rail to a support rail

Info

Publication number: GB1582880A
Application number: GB5128277A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Licentia Patent Verwaltungs GmbH
Current assignee: Licentia Patent Verwaltungs GmbH
Priority date: 1976-12-14
Filing date: 1977-12-09
Publication date: 1981-01-14
Also published as: NL185252C; NL7713278A; NL185252B

Description

(54) AN ARRANGEMENT FOR FIXING AT LEAST ONE CONTACT RAIL TO A SUPPORT RAIL (71) We, LICENTIA PATENT VER WALTUNGS G.m.b.H., of 1 Theodor Stern-Kai, 6 Fr-ankfurt/Main 70, Federal Republic of Germany, a German body corporåte, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us,'and the method by which it is to be performed. to 'be particularly de scribes in 'and by the following statement: The invention relates to an arrangement for fixing at least one contact rail to a support rail with the aid of an insulating support element. These arrangements have the object of fixing one or more contact rails so that they withstand all of the current forces arising during operation.

-In a known arrangement of this type; fixing of the support takes place in the following form: separate screws are neces sary for fixing'the support on the one hand and the contact rail on the other hand.

The invention seeks to increase the strength of the support element, above all in two or more phase embodiments and to simplify assembly.

According to the invention. there is pro vided an arrangement for fixing a contact rail to a support rail comprising a support element in at' least two parts for location of the support rail therebetween and a com mon fixing element for fixing the contact rail to the support element and the support element to the support rail.

As" a result of the fact that the support element comprises two parts and includes the support rail between them, a consider able strengthening of this support element is achieved by this support rail. Moreover.

simultaneous fixing of the support element and of the support rail by one and the same fixing element. for example by means of a 'screw, represents a considerable -simplifica- tion of assemblv. In refinement of the invention the two parts of the support element may inter-engage through the support rail, whereby strengthening of the support element is increased still further.

This may take place, for example, in that the carrier part of the support element carrying the contact rail is provided with.a recess on its rear side into which a projection of the inset part of the support element; projects. Thus the support rail is provided with an opening for the passage of the projection. The projections of the inset part may, for example, have a tower-shaped configuration with an oval cross-section and may be matched to the openings in the support rail and to the recesses in the carrier part. In preferred manner, a screw serves as the fixing element whereby the support element is provided with bores for accommodating this fixing screw in the region of the recess or of the projection. The type of arrangement of the fixing screw in this region ensures reliable insulation with respect to the support rail. In further refinement of the invention, the carrier part of the support element may be provided with elevated support edges for the contact rail in order to give this contact rail better seating.

The support element preferably comprises insulating material. The support rail can have a belt-shaped angular or U-shaped configuration and is preferably manufactured from metal.

The support element can be manufactured, in further refinement of the invention, in single or multi-phase embodiment.

Thus above all with two or more phase embodiment there can be an increase in the strength of the support element since the support rail is now enclosed over a fairly large area of the two parts of the support element and fixing takes place by means of two or more screws.

In further refinement. of the invention, the support element may be-made safe from displacement in a longitudinal direction of the support rail with the aid of teeth and may- be adjusted slip-fast in a set matrix.

Thus there is a rail mounting which can be matched: in positive manner to the different phase divisions of switches. This type of rail mounting may be manufactured in single-or multi-phase embodiment. With this type of :facility for a variable phase division, the .position of the guide element of the contact rail may be matched without great effort to the respective local and technical circumst ances. The support element having the carrier part on one side of the support rail and having the inset part with a projection on the other side of the support rail pene trates the opening in the support rail with its projection and engages in the recess of the carrier part. Thus, in refinement of the invention, the opening of the support rail may be greater in the longitudinal direction than the projection of the inset part in this direction and the opening in the support rail and the projection in the inset part may have lateral and inter-engaging teeth. Thus by simply converting the inset part, the desired set matrix may be selected according to which in each position a slip-fast and displacement-safe form of closing fastening is ensured. In preferred manner and in accordance with a further feature of the invention, the carrier part may also be provided with teeth which are matched to .the teeth of the projection of the inset part.

Thus teethed engagement is achieved be tween the two parts of the support element.

i.e. between the inset part and the carrier part and between the inset part and the support rail.

-In preferred manner, the projection of the inset part may have lateral outer teeth and the recess in the carrier part may have corresponding lateral inner teeth which mate with the teeth in the opening of the support rail. This type of - teeth mav be saw-tooth-shaped for example. rectangular, semicircular or the like.

The invention will now be described in greater detail. by way of example, with reference to the drawings. in which: Figure 1 shows the fixing of three rails with the aid of a three-phase-pole support element in perspective and exploded view; Figure 2 shows a section through an assembled fixing element in the region of a fixing screw; Figure 3 shows a side view of a part of the support element. partially in section; Figure 4 shows a side view of another part of the support element also partially in section. and Figures 5-9 show a further embodiment having a toothing in the longitudinal direc tion of the support rail and in which; Figure 5 shows the single-phase fixing of a contact rail in a perspective and exploded view; Figures 6 and 7 show the individual parts of a support element in plan view and in a sectional side view respectively; Figure 8 shows a support element in section, said support element being assembled from a support rail and a contact rail, and Figure 9 shows a U-shaped support rail having a different method of fixing.

Figure 1 shows a three-phase support element 10 having a carrier part 11 and an inset part 12. With the aid of this support element, three contact rails 13 are fixed to a support rail 14 by means of screws 15. These screws 15 thus serve both to fix the contact rails 13 to the support element 10 and to fix the support element 10 to the support rail 14. The two parts 11, 12 of the support element 10 inter-engage through the support rail whereby the carrier part 11 of the support element carrying the contact rails 13 is provided on its rear side with recesses 16 (Figures 2 and 3) into which the inset part 12 of the support element projects with projections 17 appropriately ,con- structed so as to fit. In addition, the support rail 14 is provided with openings 18 which are matched to the projections 17. These projections 17 are of tower shape and are oval in cross-section. Bores in the uppet part 11 or in the lower part 12 of the support element 10 for accommodating the fixing screw 15 are designated 19 or 20 respectively. The related nuts 21 lie in correspondingly moulded recesses 22 (Figure 4) in the inset part 12 of the support element. Thus reliable electrical insulation on all sides of the fixing screws 15 is ensured with respect to the support rail 14.

As can be seen from Figures 1 and 2 the carrier part 11 of the support element can have laterally and downwardly extended limbs 23 which engage round the yoke region of the U-shaped support rail 14 in the assembled state. Furthermore. it may be seen that the inset part 12 of the support element 10 projects inside the U-shaped support rail 14 and is surrounded almost completely thereby. The support rail 14 itself preferably comprises steek while the support element 10 is manufactured from an insulating plastics. As can be seen particularly from Figure 1. the carrier part 11 of the support element 10,can have elevated support regions 24 which form a channel-like bedding- area for the contact rails 13.

Figure 5 shows a metallic support rail 14 which is U-shaped in cross-section to which a contact rail 13 is to be fixed with the aid of the support element 10 comprising-two parts 11 and 12. Furthermore. a screw 15,and an associated nut 21 serve for joint fixing. The part 11 of the support element 10 resting on the support rail 14 is called the carrier part and the part 12 of the support element 10 engaging into the carrier part 11 and penet rating the support rail 14 is called the inset part. The inset part 12 has a projection 17 which is provided with teeth 25. The support rail 14 is provided -with an oblong hole 18, this having teeth 26 matched to the teeth 25.

The carrier part 11 has a recess 16, which is also provided with internal teeth 27, on its side adjacent the support rail 24. As can be seen from Figure 5, the opening 18 in the support rail 14 is constructed as an oblong hole and thus is substantially larger longitu dinally of the support rail than the corres ponding longitudinal extension of the pro jection ,17. The inset part 12 is pushed into the U-shaped support rail from the under side for assembly of the mounting device, so that the projection 17 penetrates the open ing 18 in accordance with the desired set matrix. The carrier part 11 with the teeth 27 is then set on the projection 17, the teeth 27 corresponding to the teeth 26 of the opening 18 in the support rail. Then the contact rail 13 is fixed with the aid of the screw 15 on the support rail, said screw being placed into corresponding bores 28a to 28c. The associ ated nut 21 is fixed in a correspondingly shaped trough 22 of the inset part 12 so as to resist rotation.

Figure 6 shows a view from below of the carrier part 11 and an associated side view in section. Figure 7 accordingly shows a view from below of the inset part 12 with a related sectional side view. Figure 8 shows a cross-section through an arrangement according to the invention in the assembled state.

The support rail can be shaped as desired and can be constructed as flat steel or iron for example or can have a U-shaped or L-shaped cross-section. With the last mentioned form, the openings for accom modating the projections of the inset parts can either be provided in the yoke and/or in the limbs of the support rail. Figure 9 shows a support rail having a U-shaped cross section for example whereby the openings 18 lie in the limbs of the support rail.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. An arrangement for fixing a contact rail to a support rail comprising a support element having at least two parts for loca tion of the support rail therebetween and a common fixing element for fixing the con tact rail to the support element and the support element to the support rail.

2. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the two parts of the support ele ment engage in each other through the support rail and that the support rail has a belt-shaped, angular, or u-shaped configur ation and is manufactured preferably from metal.

3. An arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the support element comprises a carrier part carrying the contact rail and provided with a recess on its rear side, and an inset part having projection projecting into the recess of the carrier part and the support rail being provided with an opening for the passage of the projection of the inset part.

4. An arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the recess in the carrier part and the opening in the support rail are matched to the projection.

- 5. An arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the support element is-prevented from displacement longitudinally of- the support rail by means of teeth and is adjustable in a slip free manner in a set matrix.

6. An arrangement according-to claim 3 or 5, wherein the opening of the support rail is larger in the longitudinal direction than the projection of the inset part and that the opening and the projection have interengaging lateral teeth.

7. An arrangement according to claim 3; 5-or 6, the recess of the carrier part has internal teeth and that this recess is either of equal size to the projection or is larger in a longitudinal direction than - the projection.

8. An arrangement according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the opening of the support rail is constructed as a toothed oblong hole and the projection of the inset part has lateral external teeth and the recess of the carrier part has corresponding lateral internal teeth, which mate with the teeth in the opening of the support rail and wherein when the inset part is assembled, the teeth of its projection engage the teeth of the support rail and the teeth of the carrier part.

9. An arrangement according to any one of claims 5 to 8 wherein the teeth are either saw-toothed, rectangular, semicircular or the like.

10. An arrangement according to any one of claims 3 to 9, wherein the parts of the support element in the region of the recess or of the projection are provided respectively with a bore for accommodating the fixing screw.

11. An arrangement according to any one of claims 3 to 10, wherein the carrier part of the support element is provided with elevated support regions for the contact rails and has laterally and downwardly projecting limbs which engage around the support rail.

12. An arrangement according to any one of claims 3 to 11 wherein the projection of the inset part has a tower shaped configuration having an oval cross-section.

13. An arrangement according to any one of claims 3 to 12 wherein the carrier part of the support element has laterally and downwardly extended limbs with a support rail which is U-shaped in cross-section, these limbs engaging around the yoke re

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Claims

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engaging into the carrier part 11 and penet rating the support rail 14 is called the inset part. The inset part 12 has a projection 17 which is provided with teeth 25. The support rail 14 is provided -with an oblong hole 18, this having teeth 26 matched to the teeth 25.

The carrier part 11 has a recess 16, which is also provided with internal teeth 27, on its side adjacent the support rail 24. As can be seen from Figure 5, the opening 18 in the support rail 14 is constructed as an oblong hole and thus is substantially larger longitu dinally of the support rail than the corres ponding longitudinal extension of the pro jection ,17. The inset part 12 is pushed into the U-shaped support rail from the under side for assembly of the mounting device, so that the projection 17 penetrates the open ing 18 in accordance with the desired set matrix. The carrier part 11 with the teeth 27 is then set on the projection 17, the teeth 27 corresponding to the teeth 26 of the opening

18 in the support rail. Then the contact rail

13 is fixed with the aid of the screw 15 on the support rail, said screw being placed into corresponding bores 28a to 28c. The associ ated nut 21 is fixed in a correspondingly shaped trough 22 of the inset part 12 so as to resist rotation.

Figure 6 shows a view from below of the carrier part 11 and an associated side view in section. Figure 7 accordingly shows a view from below of the inset part 12 with a related sectional side view. Figure 8 shows a cross-section through an arrangement according to the invention in the assembled state.

The support rail can be shaped as desired and can be constructed as flat steel or iron for example or can have a U-shaped or L-shaped cross-section. With the last mentioned form, the openings for accom modating the projections of the inset parts can either be provided in the yoke and/or in the limbs of the support rail. Figure 9 shows a support rail having a U-shaped cross section for example whereby the openings

18 lie in the limbs of the support rail.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. An arrangement for fixing a contact rail to a support rail comprising a support element having at least two parts for loca tion of the support rail therebetween and a common fixing element for fixing the con tact rail to the support element and the support element to the support rail.
2. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the two parts of the support ele ment engage in each other through the support rail and that the support rail has a belt-shaped, angular, or u-shaped configur ation and is manufactured preferably from metal.
3. An arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the support element comprises a carrier part carrying the contact rail and provided with a recess on its rear side, and an inset part having projection projecting into the recess of the carrier part and the support rail being provided with an opening for the passage of the projection of the inset part.
4. An arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the recess in the carrier part and the opening in the support rail are matched to the projection.

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5. An arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the support element is-prevented from displacement longitudinally of- the support rail by means of teeth and is adjustable in a slip free manner in a set matrix.
6. An arrangement according-to claim 3 or 5, wherein the opening of the support rail is larger in the longitudinal direction than the projection of the inset part and that the opening and the projection have interengaging lateral teeth.
7. An arrangement according to claim 3; 5-or 6, the recess of the carrier part has internal teeth and that this recess is either of equal size to the projection or is larger in a longitudinal direction than - the projection.
8. An arrangement according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the opening of the support rail is constructed as a toothed oblong hole and the projection of the inset part has lateral external teeth and the recess of the carrier part has corresponding lateral internal teeth, which mate with the teeth in the opening of the support rail and wherein when the inset part is assembled, the teeth of its projection engage the teeth of the support rail and the teeth of the carrier part.
9. An arrangement according to any one of claims 5 to 8 wherein the teeth are either saw-toothed, rectangular, semicircular or the like.
10. An arrangement according to any one of claims 3 to 9, wherein the parts of the support element in the region of the recess or of the projection are provided respectively with a bore for accommodating the fixing screw.
11. An arrangement according to any one of claims 3 to 10, wherein the carrier part of the support element is provided with elevated support regions for the contact rails and has laterally and downwardly projecting limbs which engage around the support rail.
12. An arrangement according to any one of claims 3 to 11 wherein the projection of the inset part has a tower shaped configuration having an oval cross-section.
13. An arrangement according to any one of claims 3 to 12 wherein the carrier part of the support element has laterally and downwardly extended limbs with a support rail which is U-shaped in cross-section, these limbs engaging around the yoke re

gion of the U-shaped support rail; and wherein the inset part of the support ele ment is engaged around by the U-shaped support rail and engages with its projection through openings in the support rail into a recess of the carrier part of the support element.
14. An arrangement according to any One of claims 3 to 13, wherein when using à su'ppdrt rail having a U-shaped or L-shaped cross-section, the openings for accommodating the projections of the inset parts are provided in the yoke and/or the limbs of the support rail.
15. An arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 14 wherein the parts of the support element comprise insulating mate- rial and are 'manufactured preferably by pressing and that the parts are "manufactured in single or multi-phase embodiment.
16. An arrangement for fixing a contact rail to a support rail substantially as de scribe herein with reference to the draw inns.