GB2276037A - Mounting device for electrical and/or electronic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A mounting device has an insulated part 4 which wraps around a component 2 to be mounted, such as a front panel of an apparatus, and has two through holes 6, 7. Using a screw 5 the insulating part 4 is mounted on a common housing 3; such as a mounting strip or similar, in such a way the galvanic separation of the housing 3 and the component 2 is obtained. One embodiment of the housing part 4 provides an integrated insulation for the mounting screw 5 as an extension of one of the through holes. Also provided is a kit comprising, for example, four insulating parts 4, and four washers. <IMAGE>

Description

QUOTING DEVICE FOR ELECTRICAL AND/OR ELECTRONIC APPARATUSES TECHNICAL FIELD The invention concerns a mounting device for electrical and/or electronic apparatuses, specifically such fashioned a modules, on at least one housing part of a common housing.

BACKGROUND ART Electrical and/or electronic apparatuses of modular design are usually mounted on a housing part such as an assembly strip, a rail or similar of a common housing, with the aid of several 'screws, for instance four. As the case may be, washers may additionally be used for installation.

In the case of such installation, the individual apparatuses are in galvanic contact with one another, which may lead to mutual interferences, such as hum. Attempts at avoiding such interference have so far includes severing the common housing part, for instance the mounting rail, between the individual apparatuses to be installed, or the individual apparatuses have been arranged trough the intermediary of adhesive and mounted using plastic screws of lesser tensile strength. Other attempts aimed at replacing the mounting part of the common housing by a wooden part.

In contrast, the invention seeks to provide a mounting device for electrical and/or electronic apparatuses for assembly in a common housing, which mounting device enables in a simple, cost-efficient and stable manner a reliable galvanic separation o the individual apparatuses in the common housing and which, moveover, can also be installed retroactively in a uncomplicated way.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION In keeping with an idea of solution according to the invention, a mounting device for electrical and/or electronic apparatuses, specifically of modular design, is provided on at least one housing part of a common housing, which device is characterized in that at least one insulating part is provided which wraps around a part of the apparatus and which together with the component is secured to the housing part under galvanic separation by means of at least one screw extending through holes provided in the insulating part, and in that the insulating part surrounds the shaft section of the screw extending through the through ole, partly, at least on the component side.

In case o tiis embodiment of the mounting device, the insulating part has at the same time a configuration such that also the screw serving the mounting will at least partly be surrounded, so that the screw extending through the insulating part is at the same time galvanically separated from the component to be mounted, so that interferences suc as hum or similar can be dependably and effectively avoided.

In the case or one embodiment of the invention, the insulating part is additionally so fashioned that the shaft section of the mounting screw will be partially surrounded.

This design also facilitates assembly, since the part of the insulating part which at least partly surrounds the shaft section of the screw serves in the assembly, for one, as a longitudinal guide and, for another, as a centering aid. Moreover, a more uniform distribution of the contact forces is obtained, which are generated as the mounting screws are thightened, so that this design achieves a better grip of the component installed using the insulating part of the invention.

To achieve this ease of assembly it also may be sufficient to use only a washer in conjunction with a part surrounding the shaft section oz the mounting screw at least partly, whicki part has for instance a sleeve-shaped design. While in such case a dependable galvanic separation cannot be guaranteed, the installation of components in a common housing or rack is simplified nonetheless. A part of such design may be marketed as an independent part serving primarily to facilitate assembly.

The insulating part comprises suitably a sleeve-shaped part as an extension of at least one through hole of it.

This sleeve-shaped part may be so designed and dimensioned that, while surrounding the screw, it engages the appropriately coordinated through hole in the component so as to bring about tile galvanic separation. This sleeve-shaped part may be provided so as to be in maximum intimate contact with the shaft section of the screw. With this embodiment, an insulating part is obtained which itself provides an integrated insulation with galvanic separation for the mounting screw.

The sleeve-shaped part is preferably molded to the insulating part, thus forming with it a single piece. This simplifies appreciably the manufacture of the insulating part with the integrated screw insulation.

The sleeve-shaped part is preferably so designed that, on the component side, it completely surrounds the shaft section of the screw while inserted in the coordinated through hole in the component to be mounted.

According to an alternative configuration, the sleeve-shaped part also may be designed as a separate component which then can be inserted in the appropriate through hole of the insulating part, in the case of which alternative design a two-part insulating part is then obtained. But this yields the advantage that the insulating part may be used with or without sleeve-shaped component, that is, with or without additional and integrated insulation of the screw, or screw shaft.

Therefore, this design offers the advantage of a universal use of such an insulating part of the intended, inventional purpose.

According to another embodiment, a mounting device for electrical and/o electronic apparatuses, specifically such of modular design, is provided on at least one housing part of a common housing, which mounting device is characterized in that at least one insulating part wrapping around a component is provided, which insulating part is together with the component mounted under galvanic separation on the housing part of the common housing be means of at least one screw extending tlirough holes provided in the insulating part.

On this and the preceding embodiment, the insulating part is for purposes of galvanic separation of the apparatuses to be mounted in a common housing, from one another and from tiie common housing, arranged between a part of an apparatus to be mounted and a part of the common housing. As regards to its position, it is fastened to the housing part with the aid of a screw extending through appropriate aligned holes in the insulating part. The combination of insulating part and screw also can be retroactively installed yet in a simple manner and, moreover, the two parts allow a cost-effective manufacture.

The installation of the mounting device can be performed quickly and is uncomplicated as such. Therefore, it can also be carried out by untrained laymen. Furthermore, if the insulating part is installed around the top edge or bottom edge of the component, for instance of a front panel, a space is maintained between the electrical and/or electronic apparatuses to be installed, such as modules or similar, so that for instance the front panels of the apparatuses will no longer tough. Obtained thereby is a spacing which allows better ventilation. Moreover, the insulating part wrapping around the component to be installed protects the latter, for instance on its front side or front panel, from damage by scratches or similar.

The screw provided for the mounting device has essentially the same strength properties as mounting screws which typically are used therefor.

The mounting device according to the invention is preferably so designed for adaptation to different material thickness of the component to be installed with at least one reduction line forming a bending edge. With such preferred design, the same embodiment of an insulating part can be used for different thickness components to be mounted. This makes it possible to use the inventional mounting device universally for various apparatus types and housing designs. Two reduction lines may preferably be provided with serve as bending edges in assembly.

In a suitable embodiment of the mounting device according to ti1e invention, tie insulating part may have a design such that at least part of the shaft section of the screw is partly surrounded by insulating material. To that end, the through holes may have a circular cross section while the defining edges are heavier, preferably designed in such a way that they partly extend into a through hole of the component to be mounted.

Alternatively, at least one of the through holes is fashioned as an oblong hole so as to enable adaption to different designs of the components to be mounted.

Preference goes to fashioning both through holes of the insulating part as oblong holes so as to extend the range of different material thicknesses. The oblong holes may have different lengths.

To safeguard an effective and complete galvanic separation of the parts to be mounted, also on the part of the mounting device itself, the screw has a shaft surrounded by insulating material. Thus, the screw itself is arranged insulated, that is, galvanically, also relative to the component to the mounted and the housing part.

At least four insulating parts and four screws are preferably used for installation of each apparatus so that an effective and complete galvanic insulation is achieved.

According to a preferred embodiment, the mounting device is provided as a kit comprising four insulating parts and four screws. The kit may also contain four washers. Such design of the mounting device results in numbers of parts necessary for instaliation and suited for the respective application, which allows marketing as a kit and, for one, allows simple handling and shipping while, for another, there is always a minimum number of parts of the mounting device available or installation. Moreover, the parts of the mounting device will thus not be lost in shipping.

The fou insulating parts and, as the case may be, the washers are preferably fashioned as a unified molded part, preferably made of plastic. One and the same material is preferably used fcr the manufacture of the insulating part(s) and, as the case may be washer(s). Alternatively, rubber may be use as material.

Each apparatus is suitably arranged in the common housing using for instance at least four mounting devices and four insulating parts. Here it has been shown to be suitable to arrange the insulating parts to be mounted for instance in such a way that those located at the bottom wrap around the front panel of the apparatus to be installed for instance sideways, while the two upper insulating parts wrap around the long sides of the front panel of the part te be mounted. With this alternating, paired arrangement of insulating parts, all of which are designed correspondingly by merely arranged differently, a lateral contact with rail-shaped holders of for instance L-shaped design can favorably be avoided, enabling at the same time an e: < tensively centered arrangement in the housing space provided, of the respective front panel of the component, without expensive assembly care. Of course, the components to be l1ounted above or below are then arranged in reverse as regards the arrangement of the insulating parts. which then will be such that with regard to their alignment they always alternate in pairs in vertical and/or horizontal direction. Naturally, the invention is not limited to such arrangement of the insulating parts, but there is merely a preferred arrangement concerned here which, of course, may change depending on the design and configuration of the housing.

Naturally, the insulating parts may also be arranged conversely.

The invention will be more fully explained hereafter with the aid of preferred embodiments with reference to tht attached drawing, which shows in: BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TiiE DRAWINGS Fig. la is a plan view of a first embodiment of an individual insulating part; Fig. ib is a cross-sectional view as taken along line 1-1 of Fig. la; Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a mounting device; Fig. 3a is a plan view of a further embodiment of an individual insulating part; Fig. 3b is a side elevational view of the insulating part of Fig. 3a: Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view of a screw of the mounting device as detail illustration; Fig. 5a and 5b are fragmentary cross sectional views illustrating the use of the mounting device of the invention on a component of different wall thickness to be mounted; Fig. 6 is a plan view of a kit of four mounting devices; -Fig. 7a is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of an insulating part; and Fig. 7b is a cross sectional view taken along line 7-7 of Fig. 7a.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT TIIE INVENTION Identical or similar parts are references the same in the figures of the drawing. Without any limitation to the details described hereafter, the following merely describes preferred embodiments as examples of a mounting device according to the invention.

Figs. la and ib, show one embodiment of an insulating part according to the invention, which overall is referenced 4". Fig. la and ib show the insulating part 4" in its basic planar state. In this embodiment, the insulating part 4" includes an integrated insulation for a screw 5 illustrated, for example, in Fig. 2. The insulating part 4" has a through hole 12', which in the illustrated example is an oblong hole. A second through hole 6" in the insulated part 4" is a round hole, in the extension of which a sleeve-shaped part 26 is provided which serves to insulate the screw 5, shown as an example in Fig. 2 and surrounds at least a shaft section of the screw 5 for insulation. The sleeve-shaped part 26 is preferably molded directly to the insulating part 4".

Although not illustrated, the sleeve-shaped part 26 may be fashioned as a separate part, which then is slipped through the trough hole 6" from one side. In such design, the sleeve-shaped part 26 may this be provided as an additional part which, as needed, is then inserted in the through hole 6", for instance if no separately insulated screw 5 is available. Tfle sleeve-shaped part 26 is preferably so dimensioned that it can be slipped in the corresponding through hole of the component 2 (Fig. 2) to be installed, so as to obtain the desired galvanic separation from the screw 5. Provided between the thorough hole 6" and the second through hole 12" of the insulating part 4", which is designated as an oblong hole, is an area reduced in material thickness, namely a reduced thickness area 8".

The reduced thickness area 8" serves as a bending area or bending edge, so that the insulating part 4", starting from the state shown in Figs. la and ib, can due to this reduced thickness area 8" be bent with little effort over the component part 2 to be installed.

Reference is made then to Fig. 2 of the drawing, which shows an exploded view of a further embodiment of the mounting device according to the invention, marked 1 overall. A component 2, formed for instance by a front panel of an electrical and/or electronic apparatus to be installed and fashioned for instance as a mcdule is to be arranged on a huusing part 3 of a common housing not illustrated in detail. This housing part 3 may be formed by an installation strip, a mounting rail or similar.

The mounting device 1 is comprised of an insulating part marked 4 overa,i, which preferably is made of plastic.

In its assembly position shown in the bottom corner, in Fig. 2, the insulating part 4 wraps around the component 2 to be mounted while a screw 5 of the mounting device 1 extends through aligned through holes 6 and 7 in the insulating part 4 and a through hole in the component 2, to be threaded then in a coordinated component in the housing part 4 during assembly, with arrows indicating how it is then placed and bent around the component 2.

As can be seen specifically from Figs. 3a and 3b, which illustrate an individual insulating part 4, the latter has in its basic, planar state at least one, preferably two spaced reduced thickness lines 8, 9 serving as bending lines or edges. This enables a simplified assembly of the insulating part 4 in an arrangement wrapping around the component 2 to be mounted, since the insulating part 4 starting from its state shown in Figs. 3a and 3b can, due to the reduced thickness lines 8 and 9, be bent with little effort around tile component 2 to be mounted.

Furthermore, the insulating part 4 features in the illustrated example preferably two through holes 10 and 11 wliich, in the assembled state of the insulating part 4 according to Fig 2, are aligned with each other. The through holes 10 and 11 are preferably fashioned as slots 12 and 13, respectively. The slot 13 may be longer here than the slot 12.

Owing to this design of the insulating part 4 with at least one reduction line or reduction area 8" (Figs. la and lb) or with two reduced thickness lines 8 and 9 (Figs. 3a and 3b) and with through holes 10 and 11 fashioned as slots 12, 13 or 12", the insulating part 4 or 4" can be arranged in wraparound fashion, without difficulties and in a simple manner, around heavy components 2.

Fig. 4 shows an individual screw 5 for the mounting device 1. Specifically on a shaft section 14, the screw 5 features a coating 15 of insulating material. Otherwise, the screw 5 is a usual mounting screw with the usual strength, consisting preferably of metal.

Reverting once more to Figs. 1 - 3, an insulating part 4" or 4 is bent for instance around the component 2 to be mounted, such as a font panel, and the screw 5 is passed through the holes 10 and 11 of the insulating part 4 or 4" and an appropriate through hole in the component 2, with the coating 15 on the shaft section 14 of the screw 5 then located in the area formed by the insulating part 4 and the component 2 arranged in between. With the screw 5 now threaded in the housing part 3, its head 16 bears on a surface of the insulating part 4 or 4", thus protecting the component 2 from scratches and damage. Moreover, the inventional mounting device 1 allows in conjunction with the screw 5 and the insulating part 4 or 4" an effective galvanic separation and insulation of the mounted component 2 and the housing part 3 from each other, so that interferences such as hum can be effectively avoided. With the insulating part 4 or 4" installed around the top and/or bottom edge of the component 2 or housing part 3, moreover, the wraparound arrangement of the insulating part 4 or 4" and its material thickness provides a spacing between the component 2 and the housing part 3, whereof more favorable ventilation conditions may result.

As shown in Figs. 5a and Sb, one and the same insulating part 4 or 4" can be used in case of components 2 of different thickness, due to the slots 12, 13 or 12" forming the through holes 10 and 11 of the insulating part 4 or 4", and due to the two reduced thickness lines 8 and 9 or the reduced thickness area 8" which is provided. Thus, especially due to the combination of the dimensions and the design of the slots 12 and 13 or 12", a wide range of different thicknesses of components 2 can be covered.

Fig. 6 shows a kit 20 comprising for example four insulating parts 4 and four washers 21, fashioned as a unified single molded part 22. Naturally, four insulating parts 4" according to Fig. 1 may be combined correspondingly to a kit. The kit 20, for example, is intended for assembly of a component 2, such as a front panel, and a housing part 3 of a common housing 3, so that an inventional mounting device 1 can be arranged and assembled on each of the four corners of the component 2.

The kit 20 is preferably injection-molded of plastic, with the individual insulating parts 4 or 4" and, as the case may be, washers 21 held on a common molding frame 23 and forming a unified entity. This facilitates the handling and shipping as well as stocking of the mounting device 1. The user detaches the insulating parts 4 or 4 from the molding frame 23 by severing the strips 24 between the molding frame 23 and the insulating part 4 or 4", whereafter it is available for arrangement and use as intended. To provide for any required length adaption for the screw 5, the kit 20 includes the washers 21, which as well can be detached from the molding frame 23 as needed.

Of course, the invention is not linited-to a kit 90 comprised of four individual parts; kits varying thereof can be produced as well. The kit 20 illustrated in Fig. 6 is merely one of many possible applications.

Figs. 7a and 7b illustrate an alternative embodiment of an insulating part referenced 4' comprises an integrated insulation for part or a shaft section of the screw 5, making for instance the coating of it dispensable.

Besides, the through holes referenced 6' and 7' are round and their defining edges reinforced as shown at reference 25. The dimensions may be such that the reinforced parts 25 will at least partly engage and protrude into the coordinated through hole o the component 2 to be mounted, so that the assembly may be effected using the usual screw 5, which by means of the reinforced parts 5 of the insulating part 4' is being insulated. This embodiment of the insulating part 4' can as well be made and furnished, of course, in the form of a Xit 20 as described above.

The invention is with regard to the mounting device 1 not limlted to the details described above, but there are numerous variations and modifications possible which the expert may choose as needed, without leaving the inventional idea.

Specifically, the insulating part 4,4', 4" may in terms of silhouette and dimensions also assume a shape varying from the illustrated embodiments, while the through holes 6, 7, 10 and 11 as well as 6' and 7' or 6" and 12" also may be configured so as to vary from the illustrated embodiments. The same or similar is true also for the reduced thickness lines 8 and 9 or the reduced thickness area .8", which may be replaced by appropriate equivalent means or may also be dispensed with entirely, in case the insulating parts 4, 4' and 4" are used in a large series for one and the same apparatus.

Claims (18)

1. A device for mounting a component on a support member for electrical and/or electronic apparatus, the component having at least one mounting hole for receiving a mounting screw and the support member having at least one threaded opening for receiving the mounting screw, said device comprising a generally flat elongated insulated part adapted to be wrapped around an edge of the component, said insulated part having two holes spaced to align with the component mounting hole when said insulated part is wrapped around an edge of the component to permit the mounting screw to pass through one hole in the insulated part, through the component mounting hole and through the other hole in the insulated part and engage the threaded support member opening, and means for insulating the mounting screw from the component

2. A mounting device according to claim 1, and wherein said means for insulating the mounting screw from the component includes an insulated coating on a portion of a shaft oL the mounting screw.

3. A mounting device according to claim 1, and wherein said insulated part has two generally flat surfaces and said spaced holes extend between said surfaces, and further including a tubular projection extending from one of said surfaces around one of said spaced holes, and wherein said tubular projection is sized to extend into the component opening to insulate the mounting screw from the component.

4. A mounting device according to claim 3 and wherein a separate tubular projection extends from said one surface around each of said spaced holes, and wherein said tubular projections are each sized to extend part way through the component opening to insulate the mounting screw from the component.

5. A mounting device according to claim 4 and wherein said insulated part includes a reduction line formed in one of said surfaces, said reduction line forming a bending edge

6. A mounting device according to claim 4, and wherein said insulated part includes at least two spaced parallel reduction lines formed in said one surface, said reduction lines forming parallel spaced bending edges.

7. A mounting device according to claim 1, and wherein at least one of said spaced holes in said insulated part is an elongated slot.

8. A mounting device according to claim 7, and wherein each of said spaced holes in said insulated part is an elongated slot.

9, A mounting device according to claim 7, and wherein said spaced holes in said insulated part are elongated slots of different lengths.

10. A kit for mou'ting a component on a support member for electrical and/or electronic apparatus, the component having a plurality of mounting holes for receiving mounting screws and the support member having a plurality of threaded openings fo receiving the mounting screws, said kit comprising a plurality of generally flat elongated insulated parts adapted to be individually wrapped around at least one edge of the component, said insulated parts each having two holes spaced to align with a component mounting hole when such insulated part is wraooed around an edge of the component to permit a mounting screw to pass through one hole in such insulated part, through a component mounting hole and through the other hole in such insulated part and engage a threaded support opening, and wherein said insulated parts are an integral molding connected together by sevarable webs.

11. A kit for mounting a cornponent on a support member according to claim 10, wherein said kit consists or four integrally connected insulated parts.

12. A kit for mounting a component on a support member according to claim 11 and further including four washers Integrally molded with said insulated parts.

13. .k kit for mounting a component on a support member according to claim 10, and wherein said kit further includes a plurality of washers integrally molded with said insulated parts.

14. A kit for mounting a component on a support member according to claim 13 wherein said insulated parts and said washers are secured by severable webs to a molding frame.

15. A kit for mounting a component on a support member according to claim 14, and wherein said kit is molded from a plastic material.

16. A kit for mounting a component on a support member according to claim 14, and wherein said kit is molded from a rubber material.

17. A mounting device substantially as hereinbefore set forth with reference to, and/or as illustrated in Figures 1 to 7B of the accompanying drawings.

18. A kit for mounting a component on a support member substantially as hereinbefore set forth with reference to, and/or as illustrated in Figures 1 to 7B of the accompanying drawings.