NO323094B1 - Stromskinneanordning - Google Patents

Abstract

In the case of a busbar device for lamps and with several U-shaped carrier rails (1) that can be joined modularly to each other, as well as at least one current conductor profile arranged on one of the two insides (3a, 3b) of the carrier rail (1), and which have superimposed accessible countersunk grooves (11) from a contact forming side for receiving wiring wires (6) for power supply and/or entry of digital control commands, a connected lamp on the power rail device contains a contact forming element (50), which can be introduced into a carrier rail's opening and rotated over part of one revolution, so that during this revolution connection contacts (53, 54) on the contact forming element (50) are introduced into the countersunk grooves (11) in the current conductor profile for making contact with the conductor wires (6). In order to enable simple and flexible contact formation with the various wires (6), at least one of the connection contacts (53) is adjustable.

Description

The present invention relates to a busbar device for lamps and in accordance with the introductory part of patent claim 1, as well as a contact forming element for connecting a lamp to such a busbar device.

Track devices, or light strips, find application in many different forms, as unlike permanently installed or built-in lamps, they show a high degree of flexibility when planning different lighting structures for specific needs. Thus, such power rail devices consist of several individual elements, which can then be put together according to the building block principle, so that the device as a whole can be adapted to the room areas to be illuminated. Light strip devices are then known with which not only two-dimensional but also three-dimensional structures can be formed.

The basic skeleton of a power rail device is formed by carrier rails, which are then assembled into the desired structure and serve to hold the power supply and control cables as well as the individual lamps. These carrier rails must then have a high degree of stability and usually consist of metal. They can have different forms, and there are e.g. known carrier rails with a Y-profile or an A-profile. However, the largest spread has U-shaped carrier rails, which are then attached with their central part to a carrier, e.g. ceiling or wall in a room. The different light modules are then attached to the support rails, so that usually the length of a single support rail amounts to a whole number of light module lengths. For example, carrier rails are offered with a length of 3 m, or 4.5 m, in which case the light modules have a length of 1.5 m. The non-integer length ratios are chosen to simplify planning when designing a light strip device.

To ensure the power supply to the lamps, corresponding wires run on or inside the carrier rails. In addition, next to the lines for power supply, further lines for the transmission of control signals can also be arranged, which opens up possibilities for, by using suitable control equipment, to regulate and dim the individual lamps individually.

In the case of the known light strip device, which is operated by the applicants under the name "light strip system ZX", the wires run in the form of a pass-through wiring inside the U-shaped carrier rails, whereby at regular intervals, which correspond to the length of the light modules, arranged outlet sleeves. These outlet sleeves are then clamped into the carrier rails, whereby undercuts corresponding to inward projections engage the carrier rails. Light modules can then be mounted in the pre-designated places for the outlet sleeves, as they are attached and attached to the carrier rails which are open on the underside. The wiring's contact formation takes place over a contact forming element located on the light modules, and which has connection contacts which, when the light module is placed on the carrier rail, engage in openings in the socket sleeves and thereby come into contact with the assigned wires. Furthermore, the light modules have a turning knob, which is turned after installation and thereby ensures a mechanical attachment to the support rails.

In the case of the power rail device just described, the various light modules can only be arranged in the places where outlet sockets have been arranged in advance, as otherwise no electrical contact formation is possible. In order to avoid such restrictions and thereby achieve greater flexibility when arranging the individual light units, power rail devices have been developed which have a current conductor profile that is held by the carrier rails. This current conductor profile consists of elongated bodies of non-conductive material, usually plastic material, with countersunk grooves that run in the longitudinal direction of the carrier rails and are accessible from a contact formation side for the reception of wires for the power supply and/or transmission of control signals. Since in this case these non-insulated conductor wires, at least over the length of a single current conductor profile body, are open to the contact formation side, within these areas a light unit can be arranged in an arbitrary location, so that greater freedom is thereby achieved in planning and construction of light strip devices.

Such a busbar device with U-shaped carrier rails on the side walls of which current conductors run in the longitudinal direction is then known from DE 197 06 865 A1. The current conductors which are arranged at different heights then have different functions. For example, some of the conductors can be used for connecting lighting units to a standard network, while other current conductors form components of an emergency power supply device. By making a corresponding contact with these current conductors, the lamps which are assigned to the busbar device can thus be assigned different functions. According to DE 197 06 865 A1, the contact formation takes place with the help of an adapter, which is pushed from below into the relevant carrier rail's opening and finally turned approx. 90°. Contact pins are then arranged on the outside of the adapter which, when turned, are brought into contact with the wires in the busbar arrangement. In order to enable a selected contact formation with the different wires, the adapter has openings arranged at different heights, and into which the different contact pins can be inserted. This means that in order to change the desired contact formation for a lamp, the contact pins must first be replaced and finally re-inserted, which is relatively complicated.

A more flexible contact formation with the various wires in a U-shaped carrier rail is made possible by means of an adapter which is described in EP 0 344 703 A2. This has several contact pins, under which, however, these pins can be adjusted with regard to their height level. In contrast to the previously described adapter, it is thus not necessary to rebuild the various contact formation pins to re-insert them in order to make a deviant phase selection. Furthermore, a simple displacement of the contact formation pins will be sufficient.

To ensure a disturbance-free operation of the lighting units connected to the busbar device, a reliable grounding of the lighting units is indispensable. The adapter which is known from EP 0 344 703 A2 has for this purpose so-called earth contact flaps, which are formed in the form of a several times awinked tin part which is resiliently supported and upon insertion of the adapter comes into contact with the corresponding earth protection conductor in the busbar device. This known construction is relatively complicated, so that there is a need for a simplification of the mechanism for grounding the light units.

It is then an object of the present invention to produce a technique which enables a simple and cost-effective grounding of light units which are connected to a busbar device.

This purpose is achieved by means of a busbar device which exhibits the distinctive features set out in patent claim 1, as well as by means of a contact-forming element in accordance with patent claim 14. The contact-forming element which according to the invention is arranged on a light module, includes several connection contacts whereby the contact-forming element is fed in from the open side of the carrier rail and then part of one revolution is turned. With the help of this turning, the connection contacts are guided into the countersunk groove of the current conductor profile and brought into contact with the wires, under which at least one of the connection contacts is adjustable. For grounding the light module, a wire element is arranged which, firstly, is in contact with the relevant light unit or light module, and secondly, after the rotation of the contact forming element, is pressed against the arranged wire that serves for grounding. According to the invention, this wire element is led into a slot in the contact-forming element and which then forms an eccentric stop, and during the rotation of the contact-forming element, the other end of the wire element presses against the lead wire in the busbar device which is arranged for grounding.

The solution according to the invention is distinguished by a simple structure, whereby, firstly, the production costs can be lowered and, secondly, malfunctions can be excluded.

Further developments of the invention are made the subject of subsidiary claims.

For example, locking elements can be arranged on the contact-forming element, which, by turning and making contact with the lead wires, also form an engagement with protruding parts of the carrier rail, so that a mechanical attachment to the relevant carrier rail is simultaneously made possible. In this way, with the help of a simple hand grip, both an electrical contact formation and also a mechanical attachment of the light module in question can be achieved. Furthermore, the whole thing can be arranged so that the height-adjustable coupling contact can easily make contact with different wires in a corresponding height position, whereby a position adjustment of the contacts for the desired contact formation is facilitated. Preferably, the contact forming element for connecting the light module is turned over 45°.

A second further development of the invention concerns the current conductor profile which is arranged inside the U-shaped support rail for holding the wires. Usually this is formed from a one-piece conductor profile body, which is produced by means of extrusion. This method has the disadvantage that plastic material parts can only be produced with a limited accuracy, as the plastic material cools very quickly after leaving the extrusion die and thereby changes its shape. This has the consequence that such a one-piece current conductor profile body can only be produced up to a certain complexity, and longer current conductor profile bodies can only be produced with a high cost effort. Furthermore, it will be necessary to produce conductor profile bodies in sizes that correspond to the size of the individual carrier rails, thereby increasing the overall costs for the conductor rail device, as a large number of parts must be made available. In addition to this, it is necessary when assembling two carrier rails to connect the corresponding two current profiles to each other, whereby such a connection will be problematic, as within this area it must be ensured that no accidental contact of a wire is possible. A corresponding standard for this requires that a 1 mm pressure test wire, when fed straight forward, will not be able to hit any of the lead wires. Usually this connection takes place by means of a so-called series connection, which itself, however, does not offer any contact formation possibility, which means that within the connection area between two carrier rails there is no contact formation possibility.

The further development of the present invention then creates an opportunity to produce a current conductor profile in a very cost-effective way and adapt its length in a simple way to the length of a carrier rail. This is made possible by the fact that the current conductor profile which is retained by a single carrier rail consists of two joined wire holder elements made of non-conductive material, and which then have countersunk grooves for receiving the conductor wires. These wire holder elements are then designed within their end areas so that the protrusions present at their outer ends when joined together overlap each other in such a way that they form open channels in the connection area between two wire holder elements that correspond to the countersinking grooves and are open towards the contact formation side. These channels are then only accessible from the contact formation side, but otherwise the countersinking grooves on the wire holder elements are also enclosed, so that the previously mentioned safety standard is also fulfilled within these areas. In this way, over the entire length of a carrier rail, a continuous, but safe, possibility of contact formation is created.

By the modular joining of several individual wire holder elements to form the current conductor profile, it is then possible to produce carrier rails of different lengths, and for those equipped with this current conductor profile, wire holder elements of a single length can nevertheless be used, as the current conductor profile can only be changed of the number of thread holder elements used, can be adapted to the length of the carrier rail. This obviously results in a lower production effort. Furthermore, it will not be necessary to produce any elongated and expensively produced plastic material parts in one piece. The wire holder elements can e.g. is produced using a significantly easier to control and more cost-effective injection molding process.

In the case of current conductor profiles that consist of plastic material parts, it should be particularly noted that these may be exposed to a non-negligible heat radiation, especially in the vicinity of or especially in connection units for the lamps and which are arranged in the carrier rails. This has the effect that the plastic material parts can expand or possibly contract when not irradiated. Here, it is particularly problematic that the thermal expansion coefficient for plastic materials is approx. ten times greater than the corresponding coefficient for metal, so that the individual wire holder elements can change their length to a considerable extent, while, on the other hand, the wire wires held by the current conductor profile remain approximately the same length. For this reason, the wire holder elements can have locking elements at their outer ends which, when two wire holder elements are put together, engage each other and thus ensure that the two elements are not displaced or removed from each other in the longitudinal direction to a predetermined movement space. When the wire holder elements cool down, they contract, so that they move away from each other up to a predetermined maximum mutual distance, where, however, there is still contact protection, while when they are heated, they approach each other. In this way, a continuous current-conductor profile is formed, independent of temperature. Preferably, the thread holder elements have a length of approx. 500 mm, whereby the permitted movement clearance, within which two mutually adjacent thread holder elements can be displaced in relation to each other, amounts to approx. 8 mm, which will be sufficient for the usually occurring temperature differences within the current rail.

When forming the current conductor profile from several wire holder elements in a row, the possibility is created that over an arbitrary length a continuous contact formation possibility can be created, in which then the current conductor profile can be inserted after the connection of the carrier rails. In order to achieve a simple assembly, however, the carrier rails are usually pre-assembled, which means sold with an already inserted current conductor profile with ready-arranged conductor wires in it. This is done in this way for the reason that, when creating a light strip device, it will be easier to put together already assembled carrier rails, instead of first joining empty carrier rails and then inserting current conductor profiles. Here again, the problem arises that between two carrier rails there is a transition area where the wires in two current conductor profiles must be connected to each other.

A second further development of the invention then concerns a connection element of such a nature that a contact option can also be created within these connection areas. In contrast to the known series connection, the connection element exhibits groove-shaped cutouts that are accessible from the contact formation side and the two end surfaces, where these cutouts correspond to the countersunk grooves of the current conductor profile, and where a metal connection unit is inserted into each of the cutouts, to which the wires to be connected, can be connected from both sides. This connection element, which also consists of non-conductive material, then closes the gap between the current conductor profiles in two carrier rails and ensures that it can be fixed over the entire length of the current rail device and that connections can be made to the wires of the current rail device, as the metal connection unit within the transition area forms contact formation surfaces for the lamp module's connection contacts . Preferably, the connection unit made of metal has an elongated contact formation plate as well as U-shaped spring elements arranged at both ends of the plate, and in which the lead wires are clamped and pressed against the contact formation plate when inserted. At the same time, with the help of these spring elements, it is ensured that the wires are not displaced like a pump or possibly driven away by a thermal expansion of the wire holder elements. In the case of U-shaped carrier rails, on the two side walls of which a conductor profile is arranged, a mechanical connection is achieved between two adjacent carrier rails, preferably by means of a short U-shaped connecting rail, which engages with each of its halves in an adjacent carrier rail and on whose side branches connecting elements are arranged.

In the following, the present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the attached drawings, on which: fig. 1 shows in section the carrier rail in a busbar device with an inserted contact forming element according to the invention,

fig. 2 shows the indicated carrier rail in fig. 1 without contact element and indicated in section,

fig. 3 shows a wire holder element in a perspective view,

fig. 4 shows in section the specified wire holder element in fig. 3,

fig. 5 shows the transition area between two composite wire holder elements seen from the contact formation side,

fig. 6 shows the transition area between two thread holder elements seen from the back,

fig. 7 shows the arrangement of a connecting element and a connecting rail for connecting two carrier rails,

fig. 8 shows the structure of the connecting element,

fig. 9a shows a metal connection unit used in the connection element,

fig. 9b shows a spring element in the metal connection unit indicated in fig. 9a, and

fig. 10 shows the shown contact forming element in fig. 1 in perspective production.

The basic element in the busbar device shown in fig. 1 is a U-shaped support rail 1 which consists of metal or tin, and which with its central part 2 can be attached to a carrier by means of fastening means not shown, e.g. ceiling or wall in a room. The covering of the open underside of the support rail 1 takes place by means of a cover rail 5.1 in the present case, this cover rail 5 is a component of a lamp module which is attached to the support rail 1, whereby in fig. 5, only the lamp module's contact forming element in the form of a rotary outlet 50 is shown, and not the element's further components, e.g. the lamp and the associated control or drive unit, which may then be an electronic control device (ECG). In this case, the inner space in the support rail 1 also serves as a storage space for the lamps' drive units. The areas of the support rail 1 on which no lamp module is arranged can then, for optical reasons and safety reasons, also be closed by means of a cover rail 5, whereby attachment of the cover rail 5 takes place by clamping or wedging.

In the present exemplary embodiment, a current conductor profile is arranged on the inside of the side walls 3a and 3b of the carrier rail 1, which is then formed by several composite wire holder elements 10 consisting of plastic material, and each of which comprises two side wings 10a and 10b with further countersunk grooves 11 for receiving conductor wires 6 .Below, in the right side wing 10a, five wires 6 are arranged, while on the left side there are six wire wires 6.

The wires 6 which are arranged in the right side wing 10a can then be arranged in order from top to bottom, e.g. have the following functions.

Emergency power 1

Emergency power 2

Neutral conductor from standard network

D1 = control cable for light control

D2 - control cable for light control.

The work functions for the arranged wire wires 6 in the left side wing 10b can then e.g. be as follows:

Phase of emergency power 1

Phase of emergency power 2

Standard phase 3

Standard phase 2

Standard phase 1

Grounding.

Both the number of wires and their arrangement and function are given exclusively as an example and can be adapted to the various occurring needs.

By making contact with the corresponding wires 6, the connected light unit can be assigned a desired function, e.g. relevant lamps

can be used as an emergency light. When using the two control lines for light regulation, there is a possibility to, by means of these two lines, form a data bus system, through which a number of light units can be regulated by means of digital control commands, as is known from previously known lighting devices.

The contact formation with the lead wires 6 takes place over several connection contacts 53 and 54 which are arranged on the rotary socket 50, and which engage in the corresponding countersunk grooves 11 and thereby come into contact with the lead wires 6. To enable a variable and simple contact formation, e.g. the connection contact 53 by means of a height-adjustable carrier element 55 arranged on the rotary outlet 50. By simply moving the carrier element 55, light units which are connected to the power rail device can then be assigned a desired function. For grounding, a wire element 62 is also arranged which is led into a slot 63 in the swivel outlet, and whose outer end 62b is brought into contact with the left bottom wire which is assigned to the grounding connection. The busbar device's mains connection can e.g. take place through a correspondingly adapted rotary outlet, which is positioned at an appropriate place in the longitudinal direction. The exact structure and working function of the contact forming element 50 according to the invention will be discussed in more detail at a later time. First, however, the build-up of busbar devices! is described with reference to fig. 1-9b.

A secure retention of the two side wings 10a, 10b on the thread holder element 10 takes place with the help of several guide arms 12i-124, which then engage in corresponding guide grooves 4i-44 in the U-shaped carrier rail 1. The several thread holder elements 10 that engage in each other to form a current conductor profile, are pushed into the longitudinal direction of the carrier rail 2 during assembly. On the back of the side wings 10a and 10b, that is to say on the side opposite the contact formation side for the tracks 11, there are several support struts 16, which then ensures a stable storage of the countersunk grooves 11 inside the support rail 2, so that these are not pushed back when contact is made. In this way, reliable contact formation with the lead wires 6 is supported.

The connection between the two side wings 10a and 10b is established at regular intervals over connecting pieces 13, which are then arranged on the middle part 2 of the support rail 1. These connecting pieces 13 also have a downwardly projecting holding branch 15, which together with a horizontally projecting horizontal branch 14 from the right side wing 10a, forms a further cavity 8. This cavity can be used for storing further cables or wires. In addition to this, the horizontal branch 14 has the task of preventing the contact forming element 50 from being laterally displaced into the support rail 1, which will be discussed in more detail later.

The shape of the countersunk grooves 11 in the wire holder elements 10 has been chosen so that contact protection is ensured, as will be explained in more detail in the following in connection with fig. 2. Here again the carrier rail 1 is shown with an internally arranged current conductor profile, but now without the swivel outlet 50. The already mentioned safety standard prescribes that the arranged conductor wires in the current conductor profile cannot lie freely in such a way that a 1 mm thick test wire 7 is easily advanced can hit a current-carrying conductor wire 6.1 the preparation shown is then the insertion angle for the test wire 7 most favorable for the conductor wire 6 arranged at the bottom left. From fig. 2, however, it appears that the width, depth and opening shape of the grooves 11 are measured so that even at the smallest insertion angle, the test wire 7 is not able to come into contact with the lead wire 6. In this way, accidental contact with the lead wires 6 can be avoided, and the corresponding safety standard is then met.

In connection with fig. 3-6, the specific design of the wire holder elements 10 will now be discussed in more detail, where then fig. 3 shows a thread holder element 10 in perspective. Essential components of the wire holder element 10 are then the two side wings 10a and 10b, which then have countersunk grooves 11 for storage of wiring wires. These are then connected to each other via two connecting pieces 13. In this way, in addition and with the help of the horizontal branch 14 and the holding branch 15 that protrudes from the connecting pieces 13, the previously mentioned cavity can be formed, which then serves to store further usable wires or cables that can be used in the relevant lighting device. On the two side wings 10a, 10b there are also guide arms 12i-124, which then engage in recesses 4i-44 in the support rail 1 when inserted. The production in fig. 3 and 4 below show the thread holder element 10 immediately after its manufacture. In order to be able to introduce the wire holder element 10 into the support rail 1, the side wings 10a and 10b are bent down at 90° about the two folding points A and B (see fig. 4), after which they are pushed into the support rail 1, so that the arrangement shown appears in fig. 1 and 2.

At their outer ends, the two side wings 10a and 10b have protrusions 17 and 22, respectively, with the help of which two joined thread holder elements 10 can overlap each other. At one of the two outer ends, locking heads 18 are also arranged, which then ensures that the distance between two joined wire holder elements 10 in the longitudinal direction cannot be allowed to increase more than a certain maximum distance, so that a conductor profile which is composed of several wire holder elements 10 is flexible with respect to its length and it can thus be compensated for length changes of the individual wire holder elements 10, which consist of plastic material due to temperature differences.

This will be explained more clearly with reference to fig. 5 and 6, which then show two composite wire holder elements in an enlarged version, namely on one side seen from the contact formation side (fig. 5) and on the other side seen from the opposite rear side (fig. 6). The parts belonging to the first thread holder element 10i are then provided with an index designation 1, while those belonging to the second thread holder element 102 are provided with an index designation 2. After the joining of the two thread holder elements 10i and 102, these overlap each other on a in such a way that partly from a projection 17i on the first thread holder element 10i and partly by means of another projection 222 on the second thread holder element 102, a channel 23 is formed which then connects the recess grooves 11 on the two thread holder elements 10i and 102 to each other. As is also the case with the recess grooves 11, all of the channels 23 which are formed in this way within the connection area are exclusively accessible from the contact formation side, i.e. from above, and in no way from the side. Below this, the required contact protection is also ensured in the area of the channels 23.

Of the preparation in fig. 6, it appears that the two lock holders 182 only allow a mutual distance between the two wire holder elements 10i and 102 up to a maximum distance value, which is then determined in advance based on the fact that laterally projecting locking projections 192 at the ends of the locking heads 18 come into contact with stop walls 20^. Below, this predetermined maximum mutual distance, as well as the length of the mutually intervening protrusions 17 and 22, is measured in such a way that even at the maximum distance, the two thread holder elements 10i and 102 at a distance from each other will still form the previously mentioned channels 23, so that touch protection is still ensured. On the other hand, the outer ends of the two thread holder elements 10i, 102 can come as far towards each other until the two end surfaces 211 and 212 come into contact with each other. This means that the two wire holder elements 10i, IO2 can be displaced in relation to each other within a certain range, during which, however, at any time the contact protection is maintained. In this way, length changes of the individual thread holder elements 10, which then e.g. expands due to too high a temperature or contracts due to lower temperatures, is compensated. This is particularly important for the reason that, in contrast to what is the case for the wire holder elements 10, which consist of plastic material, the conductor wires 6 stored therein will not themselves be subject to such large changes in length, as the temperature expansion coefficient for metal only runs to 1 /10 of the corresponding expansion coefficient for plastic material. At a length of approx. 500 mm for a single thread holder element 10, there can thus be a permissible movement clearance of approx. 8 mm, in which the mutually adjacent wire elements 10 can be displaced in relation to each other.

The wire holder elements 10 shown can then be produced from plastic material in a simple way by means of an injection molding process, so that they can thereby be produced in a very cost-effective manner. Furthermore, it will be sufficient to manufacture the wire holder elements 10 in just one single length, since adapting this formed conductor profile to the different lengths of the wire rails exclusively the number of wire holder elements 10 used must be adapted to the rail length, which again significantly reduces the manufacturing effort in connection with the rail device which totality. The protrusions which engage each other, as well as the locking elements, can then also be designed in a different way.

When using the wire holder elements thus specified, it would be conceivable to first mount all the carrier rails in a busbar arrangement and only then cover these with the necessary conductor profiles, whereby a contact formation along the entire length of the busbar arrangement would be possible. Usually, however, ready-made carrier rails are produced first, in which there is already a complete current conductor profile with conductor wires arranged therein. In the following, in this connection, a possibility for also in this case to create a continuous contact forming possibility in the connection areas between two carrier rails will be discussed. This unbroken possibility of contact formation is then achieved by using for this purpose a connecting element which exhibits groove-shaped recesses which correspond to the recess grooves on the current conductor profiles and which are also accessible from the two end surfaces of the connecting element.

This is then schematically shown in fig. 7. For the mechanical connection between two carrier rails 1 that engage each other, a similarly U-shaped short connecting rail 30 is used, into which the carrier rails 1 that are to be interconnected are pushed in from both sides. A further development, not shown, then ensures that two carrier rails 1 which are connected to each other via a connecting rail 30 are releasably held together. For this purpose, each carrier rail 1 can have one or more openings on its upper part. The connecting rail 30 is then likewise provided with corresponding openings, through which spring tongues protrude. These spring tongues engage behind the openings in the carrier rail 1 as soon as the connecting rail 30 in the carrier rail 1 has reached the corresponding position. In order to be able to detach the carrier rail 1 from the connecting rail 30, only a pressure must be exerted on the spring tongues. Such a detachable connection is preferably present on both sides, which means that the connecting rail 30 each has such openings with corresponding spring tongues up to its two ends. As an alternative to a two-sided detachable connection, however, a design is also possible, where only one side of the connection just described is provided with spring tongues, while a normal screw connection is arranged on the other side of the connecting rail 30. A particularly advantageous design variant of this further development is that the spring tongues which are arranged at each end of the connecting rail 30 belong to a common rail locking element, which is then arranged on the middle part of the connecting rail 30, so that the spring tongues in the upper area of the side walls protrude laterally out through openings. Below that, the rail locking element is designed so that the spring tongues, under the influence of a force from above on the element, are drawn into the interior of the displacement rail 30. Above an arranged further opening in the middle part of the carrier rails 1, the rail locking element can be easily reached from above , and e.g. is triggered by means of a screwdriver, so that the relevant connection can be released with a single hand movement.

The thread holder elements 10 which are not shown in fig. 7 for overview reasons, is designed slightly differently in the connection area, to further include in the calculation

the connection rail 30 which is located in the carrier rail 1. The wire holder elements 10 have e.g. no support strivers 16 within this area. For connection with the current conductor profiles, two connecting elements 31 are arranged on the side branches 30a and 30b of the connecting rail 30, which then have the previously mentioned cutouts 32. Inside these cutouts 32, a metallic connection unit is arranged, whereby the wires to be connected to each other can be connected together mutually. Below, the opening form for the outlets 32 is chosen in such a way that these also meet the safety criterion for contact protection. For a connection with the connection elements 31, the thread holder elements up to this connection element 31 are also modified at their outer ends.

In the given design example, mutually identical connecting elements 31 are arranged on both sides of the connecting rail 30, each with six sockets 32. This means that the uppermost socket 32 on the arranged connecting element 32 on the right side remains free, as a corresponding side wing 10a only has five countersinking groove 11 for holding five wires 6. Naturally, however, the exact structure of the wire holder elements can also correspond to the connection elements.

A more precisely shown form of a connecting element 31 is indicated in fig. 8. It consists of a box-shaped base part 33 which is open on the underside, and into which the metal connection unit 35 can be inserted from the underside. The recesses 32 on the base part 33 are then accessible from both end surfaces via funnel-shaped openings 36, so that when a wire is fed into a funnel-shaped opening 36, it is brought into connection with the connection unit 35 made of metal. After the insertion of the metal connection unit 35, the base part 33 is closed from the underside by means of a ti I cover plate 34. A contact formation by means of a light module within the area of the connection element 31 then takes place by the connection contacts on the contact formation element being pressed against the upper side of the contact formation plate 37 on the connection unit 35 of metal. At the outer ends of the metal connection unit 35, this contact formation is again taken over by the lead wires, so that there is actually no gap in which a contact formation is not possible.

The detailed structure of a connection unit 35 made of metal is shown in fig. 9a and 9b. It comprises an elongated contact formation plate 37 which is deflected at its long sides to a certain small extent in the downward direction, and whose task is to take over electric current from the lead wires and take over and continue this. At each of the outer ends of the contact formation plate 37, there is preferably arranged a U-shaped spring element 38 which consists of a chrome/nickel alloy, and which is shown detached in fig. 9b. The spring element 38 has an inwardly bent spring tongue 39, by means of which an inserted wire in the connection unit 35 made of metal is clamped, and is pressed against the contact formation plate 37 with a sufficiently large force in order to achieve appropriate electrical transition resistance against the contact formation plate 37. In this way, further that the wires are displaced or even driven out in a pump-like manner by a variable thermal expansion of the current conductor profile. The side of the contact formation plate 37 which faces away from the lead wires and consists of tinned copper then forms a contact formation surface for contacts on the contact formation elements. In order to improve the contacts between the contact forming plate 37 and the lead wires, this contact forming plate 37 has a slightly bent or triangular recess 43 on its underside.

Fixation of the spring elements 38 on the ends of the contact formation plate 37 takes place by means of the present recesses 40 which are located on the side walls of the spring elements, and in which protrusions 41 on the contact formation plate 37 engage. A stable arrangement of the connection unit 35 made of metal on the connection element 31 is further supported by the fact that on the cover plate 34 there are arranged studs 42 consisting of plastic material, and which, after fitting the cover plate 34 from the underside, are pressed against the contact formation plate 37 on the metal connection unit 35. As the studs 42 further grip into lateral recesses 43 on the downwardly bent long sides of the contact forming plate 37, a lateral displacement of the metal connection unit 35 is also prevented at the same time. In addition to this, the pins 42 also create a barrier, which then limits the displacement of the wires. The indicated connection element closes the gap between the conductor profile's wire holder elements, so that it becomes possible to connect busbars that have been fitted with continuous contactable conductor profiles, so that contact formation can also be established within the connection areas.

Below, the use of connection elements is not limited to the present embodiment for the wire holder elements according to the invention. For example, the connection elements indicated in fig. 7-9b for its connection also find application in the already mentioned light strip device, where the current conductor profiles are produced by an extrusion process and in one piece.

As an alternative to the previously mentioned use of an adapted swivel outlet for a connection, a connectable connection element can also be arranged on the end surface of a carrier rail which cooperates with the metal connection unit, and through which the conductor wires in the power rail device are connected to the mains cables.

Finally, with reference to fig. 1 and 10, a possible construction of and

work function for a contact forming element which is designed for a rotary outlet, will be discussed in more detail. It is then first noted that with the adapter which is known from EP 0 344 703 A2, it is a relatively large component which then, after being attached to the carrier rails, for the most part protrudes from them. This distorts the optical in-

pressure of the device as a whole, and secondly entails the risk that the adapter may be inadvertently displaced or even damaged.

It is possible to avoid a sudden accidental damage to the contact forming element/rotating outlet 50.

This can be achieved by arranging a cover rail 5 on the underside of the contact forming element/rotating socket 50 for closing the carrier rail 1. The contact forming element 50 can have a turning knob 58 which is arranged to be able to turn the contact forming element, and to be able to be immersed after making contact with the lead wires 6 in an opening in the cover rail 5. By this lowering of the turning knob 58, protruding parts are avoided, through which the optical impression of the power rail device as a whole is also improved. In addition to this, the risk of unintended damage is avoided. Fig. 10 thus shows the swivel socket 50 with a cover rail 5 arranged on its underside in a perspective view. Essential components of the rotary socket 50 are then the contacts 53 and 54 arranged on the outside of the cylindrical base body 61, which can then be adjusted to an optional contact formation with the various wires 6. A further, not freely selectable but predetermined, contact formation for grounding , is produced by means of the wire element 62. This wire element 62 is inserted into a slot 63 in the base body 61, whereby an end 62a of the wire element 62, out of its design, is clampingly attached to the cover rail 5 in the lamp module. The other end 62b protrudes laterally at the height of the grounding wire. Furthermore, the pivot socket 50 in its lower area comprises two laterally projecting locking elements 52.

The formation of contact with the conductor wires 6 in the current conductor profile takes place when the swivel socket 50, which is connected to a lighting module, is introduced into the lower opening in the support rail 1. As will be clear from fig. 1, the cylindrical base body has a different height, so that only the arranged horizontal branch 14 on the right side of the support rail prevents the contact forming element 50 from being introduced laterally into the support rail 1.

After introducing the rotary socket 50, this is twisted approx. 45°, whereby as a result of this, the side-arranged locking elements 52 engage with the inwardly projecting parts of the support rail 1, respectively the current conductor profile and thereby ensure a mechanical attachment of the lamp module. At the same time, the connection contacts 53 and 54 are turned into the countersunk grooves 11 on the wire holder elements 10, so that the desired electrical contact is established. As previously discussed, some or all of the contacts can be height-adjustable, from which in the present embodiment it follows that the support element 55 for the contacts 53 is displaced vertically inside the guide rails 56 and 57. Below is the support element 55, as well as the cylindrical base body 61 with the guide rails 56 and 57, designed in such a way that the carrier element 55 can easily engage in the positions corresponding to the lead wires 6, so that the precise position setting of the contacts 53 is facilitated.

The slot 63 forms an eccentric stop for the wire element 62 and causes the end 62b of the wire element 62 to be pressed against the left lower wire 6 which is arranged for grounding during the rotation of the rotary socket 50. In this way, an earth connection is established between the metal cover rail 5, which forms part of the lamp module, and the metallic support rail 1. To achieve this, it is necessary that the wire element 62 exhibits a certain firmness, so that this element preferably consists of a delayed steel wire or a CrNi wire.

The cover rail 5, which is arranged on the underside of the swivel socket, then closes the support rail on the underside, whereby the ingress of dust is prevented at the same time. In the area of the contact-forming element 50, the cover rail 5 has a longitudinal slot, in which the rotary jaw 58 in the toe position can be inserted in an upward direction, so that it is flush with the cover rail 5 on the underside. In this way, a complete closure of the carrier rail 1 is achieved.

The cover rail 5 is also used in places where there is no lamp module. When it comes to attaching a light module, however, the cover rail 5 also constitutes a holding unit for all elements in the lamp module, whereby e.g. the present one or more connecting units are arranged on top of the covering rail 5 and are thus pulled into the inner space of the U-shaped carrier rail. The mentioned rotary outlet 50 enables contact to be made with the conductor wires in a simple way, as well as a mechanical attachment of the light module to busbar devices!. Particularly in the case of the indicated solution, whereby a free contact is made possible over the entire length of the current conductor device, a use of the mentioned rotary outlet 50 is advantageous, as this can be inserted and removed again in a particularly flexible manner.

The present invention thus specifies a very performance-efficient current rail device, which for the first time allows for a completely free contact formation for and arrangement of the light modules in question. This has the consequence that the individual lamp modules also do not need to be adapted to specific length distances to enable a suitable location within the current busbar arrangement. With the aid of the swivel outlet according to the invention, a quick and flexible contact can be made to hard-to-reach wires inside a U-shaped carrier rail.

Claims (17)

1. Power rail device for lamps and with several U-shaped carrier rails (1) which can be modularly connected to each other, as well as a current conductor profile arranged on at least one of the two insides of the carrier rail's side walls (3a, 3b), and which exhibits countersunk grooves arranged adjacent to each other (11) which is accessible from a contact formation side and serves to receive wiring wires (6) for power supply and/or transmission of digital regulation commands, where: a) a lamp assigned to the power rail device has a contact formation element (50) which can be introduced into the carrier rail opening and can be turned part of a revolution to thereby turn connection contacts (53, 54) on the contact forming element (50) into the current conductor profile's countersunk groove (11) for making contact with the wires (6), b) at least one of the connection contacts (53) is adjustable for an optional contact formation with the lead wires (6), and c) the contact formation element (50) has a wire element (62) for erecting making an earth contact, and if one extreme end (62a) is in contact with the lamp, respectively a lamp module, and if the other extreme end (62) after turning makes contact with a predetermined conductor wire (6) in the busbar device for establishing an earthing contact, characterized by that the wire element (62) is led into a slot (63) in the contact-forming element (50), and which forms an eccentric stop, and during the rotation of the contact-forming element (50), the other end (62b) of the wire element (62) presses against the predetermined wire (6) for establishing an earth connection. 2. Busbar device as specified in claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the adjustable coupling contacts (53) is height adjustable. 3. Busbar device as stated in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the present locking elements (52) on the contact forming element (50) engage behind projecting parts in the carrier rail (1) at the indicated rotation. 4. Busbar device as stated in claims 1-3, characterized in that the at least one adjustable connection contact (53) is arranged to penetrate the wiring wires (6) at predetermined locations. 5. Busbar device as stated in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact forming element (50) is designed to rotate over approx. 45° to make contact with the lead wires (6). 6. Power rail device as stated in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a covering rail (5) is arranged on the underside of the contact forming element (50) for closing the carrier rail (1), whereby a turning knob (58) is arranged for turning the contact forming element ( 50), after making contact with the lead wires (6), can be lowered into an opening in the cover rail (5). 7. Current busbar device as specified in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the current conductor profile which is retained by a carrier rail (1) consists of at least two joined wire holder elements (10, 101f 102), and which exhibits countersinking grooves (11) for receiving the conductor wires (6 ), whereby the wire holder elements (10, 10i, 102) by their mutual joining and with the help of present protrusions (17, 22) on their outer ends engage in an overlapping manner in such a way that within the connection area they form channels (23) which correspond to the countersinking grooves (11) in the connection area and are open towards the contact formation side. 8. Busbar device as stated in claim 7, characterized in that the wire holder elements (10,101; 102) have locking elements (18,19), which are designed to limit a relative longitudinal movement between two joined wire holder elements (10,10i, 102) in relation to each other to a predetermined range of movement. 9. Busbar device as stated in claim 7 or 8, characterized in that each of the wire holder elements (10, 10i, 102) consists of two side wings (10a, 10b), which are arranged on the side walls (3a, 3b) of the carrier rail (1) and have countersunk grooves (11) for receiving wire wires (6 ), whereby the two side wings (10a, 10b) are mutually connected to each other via connecting pieces (13), which are arranged on a central part (2) of the carrier rail (1). 10. A busbar device as specified in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has a connecting element (31) to connect the two current conductor profiles between each other's successive carrier rail (1), and which has countersinking grooves (11) and which is equipped with groove-shaped recesses (3) which correspond to the recess grooves (11) on the current conductor profiles, so that in each of these a connection unit (35) made of metal can be inserted, and to which the wires (6) that are to be connected to each other and which are arranged in the recess grooves of the current conductor profiles (11) can be connected from both sides. 11. Busbar device as stated in claim 10, characterized in that the connection unit (35) made of metal comprises an elongated contact formation plate (37), each of its outer ends having a U-shaped spring element (38) applied to it for clamping wires to be connected to the connection unit (35) made of metal. 12. Busbar device as stated in claim 10 or 11, characterized in that this for the mutual connection of two carrier rails (1) has a U-shaped connection rail (30), which engages internally in the two carrier rails (1), and where on each of its side branches (30a, 30b) is arranged a connecting element (31). 13. Power rail device as stated in the preceding claims, characterized in that the inner space in the U-shaped carrier rail (1) serves as a receiving space for the lamp's operating units, as well as for corresponding contact forming elements. 14. Contact forming element for connecting a lamp to a busbar device which exhibits several U-shaped carrier rails (1) that can be joined modularly with each other, as well as a conductor profile arranged on at least one of the two insides of the carrier rails' side walls (3a, 3b), and which has overlapping recesses (11) which are accessible from a contact formation side and are designed to receive wires (6) for power supply and/or transmission of digital regulation commands, whereby: a) the contact formation element (50) is arranged for insertion into an opening in a carrier rail (1) and is rotatable over part of one revolution, thereby turning connection contacts (53, 54) on the contact-forming element (50) into the countersunk groove (11) of the current profile to form contact with the lead wires (6), b) at least one connection contact (53) is adjustable to create a selected contact formation with the lead wires (6), and c) the contact forming element (50) has a wire element ent (62) for forming an earth contact, and if one end (62a) is in contact with the respective lamp, respectively lamp module, and if the other end (62b) after the indicated rotation comes into contact with an arranged wire (6) for earthing of the busbar device, characterized in that the wire element (62) is led into a slot (63) in the contact forming element (50), and which forms an eccentric stop, and during the rotation of the contact forming element (50) the other end (62b) of the wire element (62) presses against the wire which is arranged to create an earth connection. 15. Contact forming element as specified in claim 14, characterized in that the at least one adjustable connection contact (53) is height adjustable. 16. Contact formation element as specified in claim 14 or 15, characterized in that this element exhibits locking elements (52) for engagement behind protruding parts of the carrier rail (1) after the indicated rotation. 17. Contact forming element as stated in one of the claims 14-16, characterized in that at least one adjustable connection contact (53) is arranged to penetrate the lead wires (6) in the corresponding positions.