GB2034984A

GB2034984A - Bus bar for connecting electrical wiring devices

Info

Publication number: GB2034984A
Application number: GB7934874A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Brown Boveri und Cie AG Germany; BBC Brown Boveri France SA
Current assignee: BBC Brown Boveri AG Germany; BBC Brown Boveri France SA
Priority date: 1978-10-07
Filing date: 1979-10-08
Publication date: 1980-06-11
Also published as: DE2843858A1; GB2034984B; FR2438359B3; FR2438359A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a bus bar system for connecting wiring devices, such as circuit breakers 11 to current bars 1, 2, 3 surrounded by a section of insulating material which is open on one side (1a, 2a, 3a) and provided with releasable connection elements (23) by means of which the current bars may be connected to the wiring devices and to a supply line (18) for the wiring devices. The insulating section surrounding each current bar is provided with connection members (1b, 2b, 3b) such that several insulated current bars may interengage to form a block, the wiring devices and current bars being disposed on a common support (10) in such a manner as to be adjustable relative to each other. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Bus bar system for connecting electrical wiring devices The invention relates to a bus bar system for connecting wiring devices to one or more current bars which are surrounded by a section of insulating material which is open on one side.

The known bus bar systems for wiring devices generally consist of rigid bars with connection lugs formed on the respective current bar to match the spacing or pitch of the inlet or supply terminals of the individual types of device. In multi-phase systems, the length and degree of bending of the connection lugs differforthe individual bars. The individual bars of a system can either be separately mountable or be combined into a block.

So-called flexible bus bar systems (connectors) are also known, consisting of fine or very fine wire conductors comprising connection lugs which are pressed on, soldered on, welded on etc. at determined distances apart. The common aspect of all these constructions is that the connection lugs are disposed at the same unchangeable spacing.

Bus bar systems consisting of rigid bars have the drawback that they can be used only for respective devices which have the same spacing and position of their terminals, which means that for each type of device, width and to some extent each make, a special bus bar system is required. This therefore complicates any mixed component line-up on a support bar, and makes stock keeping costly.

They also have the drawback that for one, two, three and four-phase current bars, a special insulated section is necessary for each case.

Bus bar systems consisting of flexible conductors have the drawback that constructions having a different spacing are necessaryforthe different applications, and that in the case of larger cross-sections ( > 6 mm2), highly flexible and therefore relatively expensive conducting material must be used, and this moreover requires considerable wiring space.

According to the present invention there is provided a bus bar system for connecting wiring devices to one or more current bars each of which is surrounded by a section of insulating material which is open on one side, in which the current bars are provided with one or more connection elements releasably fixed thereon by means of which the current bars may be electrically connected to the wiring devices and to a current supply line for the wiring devices, and the respective insulating section surrounding each current bar is in the form of a single or multi-chamber section and is provided with connection members such that several insulated current bars may interengage to form a block, the wiring devices and current bars being disposed on a common support member in such a manner as to be adjustable relative to each other.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the connection element can be in the form of a flexible electrical conductor, which is provided at one end with a spring clip which can be slipped onto the current bars and is provided at its other end with a fork-end cable lug. The element for connecting the current supply line may comprise a screw bush and a screw clamp connected thereto for fixing onto a current bar. Alternatively, the current supply element may be connected by means of an element comprising a screw bush and a spring clip connected thereto for slipping onto a current bar.

The invention will now be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure lisa perspective overall drawing of a bus bar system together with some wiring devices; Figure 2 shows a connection element in the form of a spring clip; Figure 3 shows a connection element formed from a screw bush and a screw clamp; Figure 4 shows a connection element formed from a screw bush and a spring clip; Figure 5 is a partial perspective view of Figure 1 with a connection element slipped onto to a connection lug of a current bar.

The overall view of Figure 1 shows three current bars, 1,2, 3, each surrounded by a respective upwardly open section, 1 a, 2a, 3a of insulating material. These sections are provided respectively with grooves and tongues 1 b, 2b which engage therein, in order to connect together the insulating material sections together with their current bars into a block.

The current bars together with their insulated sections are fixed onto side bars 10a, such that they are urged by a spring 17 against a bent part 16 of the side bars 10a which engages in the groove of the most outer insulated section. The side bars 1 0a are adjustably fixed, by means of a screw 15 guided in a slot 15a, onto a channel profile rail 10 supporting the wiring devices 11,12, 13, for example circuit breakers, and are lockable in the respective position by springs 14.

The electrical connection between the current bars 1,2,3 on the one hand and the wiring devices 11, 12, 13 on the other hand is made by flexible connection elements 23, which are provided at one end with a terminal in the form of a spring clip 19,20,21 and at their other end with a fork-end cable lug 22 (Figure 2). The spring clip 19 can be clipped onto any required position on the current bar. The other end with the fork-end cable lug 22 is connected to the connection terminal of the corresponding wiring device 11,12,13.

Figures 3 and 4 show connection elements forthe current feeder line 18 releasably fixed onto the current bars. These can consist either of a screw clamp 26 for fixing onto the current bar and a screw bush 24 connected thereto (Figure 3), or a spring clip 25 which can be slipped onto the current bar and which is likewise connected to a screw bush 24 (Figure 4).

The end of the flexible feeder line 18 is clamped to the screw bush 24.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 5, all or some of the current bars 27 are formed with connection lugs 29, onto which one of the ends of a flexible connection element 31 provided with a correspondingly formed spade terminal 32 can be slipped. The other end of the connection element 31 for connecting to the wiring device 28 comprises a similarterminal 33, which can be slipped onto a connection lug 30 on the wiring device 28.

The bus bar system according to the invention thus obviates the aforesaid drawbacks of know bus bar systems, in that the current path uses rigid generally aluminium or bare copper bars, and the branches for connection to the individual wiring devices use flexible connection elements, one end of which is clamped to the input terminal of the respective wiring device, and the other end of which is clipped in a contacting and self-supporting manner onto the required position on the current bar corresponding to the respective terminal position on the wiring device.

Multi-phase bus bar systems can advantageously be formed by combining the corresponding number of individaul bars, their insulated sections being cor respondinglyformed for this purpose. The user can thus connect the wiring devices quickly, reliably and with little space on this bus bar system using only one system which allows for every modification in component line-up.

The current bars are preferably embedded in a single or multi-chamber insulated section in known manner and confined or constrained therein. The multi-chamber section can be in one piece or put together from several single chamber sections. They can consist of flat profiled or round conducting material. They can be smooth or be provided with special connection lugs.

That end of the connection element which makes contact with the current bar is preferably in the form of a clip. In order to maintain the necessary contact pressure, it can either be constructed of a resilient conducting material or consist of a different conduct ing material and be externally spring-loaded or be provided with a clamping screw, and either partly surround the current bar or be able to be slipped onto special connection lugs.

That end of the connection element for connecting to the wiring devices is adapted to the terminals of the various wiring devices, and for example provided with a pin-end orfork-end cable lug. Those portions of the connection element which do not make contact can be either bare or insulated.

Special terminals or connection elements are provided for feeding the individual current bars of the bus bar system, and can be slipped or screwed onto the current bars as in the case of the connection elements.

The bus bar can also be separated from its corresponding device support bar and be disposed at a suitable distance therefrom, or be fixed directly onto the device support bar by way of a special support.

The connection elements can also be constructed as flat or round rigid connectors, in which. case their size must then be matched to the respective wiring device, in contrast to the aforesaid univeral replaceable flexible embodiment.

It is possible to permanently fix a conductor piece 23 comprising a resilient part 21 onto each circuit breaker. Then, instead of the inlet terminal, a con ductor piece 23 comprising a resilient part 21 is ini tiallyfixed onto each automatic circuit breaker or cir cuit breaker, i.e. when the circuit breaker is manufac tured.

Claims

1. A bus bar system for connecting wiring devices to one or more current bars each of which is surrounded by a section of insulating material which is open on one side, in which the current bars are provided with one or more connection elements releasably fixed thereon by means of which the cur rent bars may be electrically connected to the wiring devices and to a current supply line for the wiring devices, and the respective insulating device surrounding each current bar is in the form of a single or multi-chamber section and is provided with connection members such that several insulated current bars may interengage to form a block, the wiring devices and current bars being disposed on a common support member in such a manner as to be adjustable relative to each other.

2. A bus bar system as claimed in Claim 1, in which the connection elements are in the form of flexible electric conductors each provided at one end with a spring clip capable of being clipped onto the current bars and provided at its other end with a form-end or pin-end cable lug.

3. A bus bar system as claimed in Claim 1, in which a connection element for the current supply line is provided which comprises a screw bush for connection to the supply line and a screw clamp connected to the screw bush for connection onto a current bar.

4. A bus bar system as claimed in Claim 1, in which a connection element for the current supply line is provided which comprises a screw bush for connection to the supply line and a spring clip con nected to the screw bush for clipping onto a current bar.

5. A bus bar system as claimed in Claim 1, having connection lugs on the current bar, and in which the connection element is in the form of a flexible electrical conductor provided at one end with a spade terminal for slipping onto one of the connection lugs, and provided at its other end with a second terminal.

6. A bus bar system as claimed in Claim 1, in which the sections of insulating material surrounding the current bars are provided with grooves and tongues engageable therein, by means of which the individaul current bars together with their insulating sections can be fixed and connected together into a block.

7. A bus bar system as claimed in Claim 1, in which the current bars are connected to a channel profile rail for supporting the wiring devices by means of adjustable side bars.

8. A bus bar system as claimed in Claim 1, characterized by being fixed directly in a distribution frame separate from the support bar for the wiring devices.

9. A bus bar system as claimed in Claim 1, in which the bus bars are profiled and supported in a self-retaining member in the insulating section sur rounding them.

10. A bus bar system as claimed in Claim 1, in which the connection element is in the form of a flexible electrical conductor provided at one of its free ends with a spring clip which can be clipped onto one of the current bars, and is provided at its other end with a connection lug which projects into the interior of the wiring device and is thus permanently connected thereto.

11. A bus bar system constructed substantially as herein described, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.