EP1721473A2

EP1721473A2 - Strip and assembly channel for a conductor distributor system

Info

Publication number: EP1721473A2
Application number: EP05706515A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Fridolin Alois Frech
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-03-05
Filing date: 2005-02-18
Publication date: 2006-11-15
Also published as: TW200541353A; WO2005086498A2; WO2005086498A3

Abstract

A strip (10) designed for a distributor system of electrical cables and conductors (22) and/or optical fibers, particularly for control, monitoring, data and telecommunication technology. Said strip (10) is longitudinally displaceable by means of clips (12) and can be snapped onto one or two adjacent, parallel carrier profiles (18). Signal-transmitting and current-guiding functions are carried out by the electric carriers (22). The clips (12) of the strip (10) consist of at least two chamfered segments (14,15). At least one is embodied in the form of a spring and has an engaging nose (16). The segments (14,15) have no curved bearing surface for a carrier profile (18). Preferably, the inner rigid segment (15) of at least one clip (12) is provided with a springy snap element (36) which is preferably bent in the direction of the outer segment (14) or chamfered. The snap elements (30) which are locked in an assembly channel (40) or assembly frame prevent the snapped-on strips (10) from slipping in a longitudinal direction.

Description

Bar and mounting channel for a distribution system of conductors

The invention relates to a strip for a distribution system of conductors, in particular for control, monitoring, data and telecommunications technology, which strip can be snapped longitudinally by means of clips onto one or two adjacent carrier profiles, electrical conductors being both signal-transmitting and perform live functions. The invention further relates to an assembly channel in a distribution system for conductors, which is essentially U-shaped and has a carrier profile on both sides of the longitudinal opening, onto which strips can be snapped. Finally, the invention relates to the use of two strips.

The term "strip" is used to denote connection strips, isolating strips and other connection modules for distribution systems, and the term "conductor" means electrical cables and wires and optical fibers.

EP 0133824 describes a terminal block with wire guides, which can be snapped directly onto a carrier profile. Two hook strips, widely spaced apart according to the support profile, protrude from the connection strip, into each of which a profile flag of the cross-sectionally elongated support can be snapped. When swiveling out, the support profile is only on one side, but is not attached to it. A shift of the connection strips along the support profile seems possible due to the constructional circumstances. Nevertheless, the swiveling out and the longitudinal displacement have been unsatisfactorily solved.

EP 0304 393 B1 discloses a device for holding connection strips of telecommunications technology, which consists of an assembly frame, at least one connection strip arranged thereon and at least one connecting element. The mounting frame is made up of at least one in a frame-mounted profile rail with a circular cross-section. The terminal block as a connecting element has an arcuate snap element that can be snapped onto the profile rail. Both legs of the snap element are resilient and have a contact surface corresponding to the diameter of the profile rail. For optimum functionality, the diameter of the profile rail must correspond to that of the contact surface of the snap element. Furthermore, the good displaceability along the profile rail has the disadvantage that the strips are not stable in position in the medium and long term, in particular in the event of unavoidable vibrations, ie they slide off.

The inventor has set himself the task of creating a strip of the type mentioned at the outset, which can also be snapped onto, and preferably pivoted on, optimally other than circular support profiles. Furthermore, an assembly channel is to be created in a distribution system for conductors of the type also mentioned in the introduction, on which strips can be snapped on without medium and long-term position changes.

With regard to the bar, the object is achieved according to the invention in that the clips of the bar consist of at least two projecting webs, at least one of which is resilient and has a latching lug, the webs not having an arcuate support surface for a carrier profile. Further developing and advantageous embodiments of the bar are the subject of dependent claims.

Regardless of the cross section of the support profile, the strip according to the invention preferably forms three functional support points or lines, which always ensure secure mounting of the strip. As a result, the support profiles with the bar can always be optimally adapted to the installation conditions, a self-supporting construction is created, the bars can be quickly assembled and used universally. Viewed in the longitudinal direction of the bar, the latching lugs - as is customary in the prior art - can lie one behind the other. However, they are preferably arranged side by side in this viewing direction and symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal center plane of the bar. Two mutually spaced latching noses can thus be formed adjacent to the end face, while only one latching nose is formed on the side further away from the end face of the bar, which, viewed in the longitudinal direction, lies in the space between the two aforementioned latching noses. The opposite solution is of course also possible.

The cross-section of the beam profiles may take any expedient shape, ^'in addition to at least partially circular, virtually circular and elliptical cross-sections and polygonal cross-sections for the carrier profiles are possible, in particular hexagonal, square, rectangular, triangular and trapezoid-shaped, with the corners also rounded or chamfered can. Appropriately, these are closed or almost closed tube profiles. However, star-shaped carrier profiles can also be used. For example, with three to twelve or more cantilevered, regularly distributed longitudinal ribs or longitudinal combs, a star-shaped support profile can be formed, which allows pivoting through a certain angle determined by the number of ribs. A carrier profile formed in the cross section as an equilateral triangle and star shaped carrier profiles have, for example, the advantage over the circular cross section that the clips can be unlocked better.

In the case of strips with clips formed in the region of both end faces, these preferably have at least one rigid, that is to say inelastic or non-resilient, inner web and at least one resilient outer web. As a result, the mechanical stability of a distribution system equipped with strips is significantly increased, and deformation of the support profiles by the snap-on strips is prevented by the spacer thus formed, also called a calibration unit for the support profiles up to 3 m long in practice. In the direction of the carrier profile clasped by the clip, the web adjacent to the end face of the bar or this and the inner web removed from the end face of the bar preferably have a latching lug. It has already been mentioned that several outer and / or inner webs can also be formed. This is once again emphasized here.

According to an advantageous further embodiment of the invention, the neither resilient nor elastic inner rigid web of at least one clip has an extension in the form of a resilient catch that is angled and / or cantilevered in the direction of the outer web. This is usually almost half as long as the web in question and is expediently delimited against the web with a notch to support the resilient effect.

With regard to a mounting channel of the type mentioned at the beginning with snap-on strips, the object is achieved according to the invention in that a perforation is punched into at least one leg of the mounting channel, adjacent to the carrier profile, into which the catch of the relevant clip of a strip engages and latches. Special and further developing embodiments of the assembly channel are the subject of dependent patent claims.

An assembly channel of the type according to the invention is disclosed, for example, in EP 0750377 B1, to which reference is made. With all advantages, this assembly channel has the disadvantage that the clipped strips, particularly in the case of vibrations, are not stable in the medium and long term. The provision of a grid perforation provides an optimal position aid.

In addition to the grid perforation, a scale for the position numbering of the strips is preferably attached. In this way, the position of each bar can be localized immediately and the connections can be recorded for control purposes. In addition to the measures taken in EP 0750377 B1, cutouts can be made in the legs and / or the base of the mounting channel, which extend over more than one grid unit. This makes the assembly channel easier and more accessible.

After a special use, two strips according to the invention are fastened on a suitable base in such a way that a rigid top-hat rail can be locked with the aid of the resilient outer webs. Such installations are used, for example, in switch boxes of domestic installations, where the top-hat rails are installed horizontally.

The advantages of the present invention can be briefly summarized as follows: The clips of the strips are designed in such a way that they can be snapped onto all types of carrier profiles in a flexible manner. - Due to the special shape, three support points or lines can be formed and / or the catches can be easily released. A preferred embodiment of the strips with an assembly channel according to the invention guarantees that the strips are absolutely level.

The invention is explained in more detail with reference to exemplary embodiments shown in the drawing, which are also the subject of dependent claims. They show schematically:

1 is a view of a bar with symmetrical clips,

2 is a plan view of a bar,

3 shows a detail IM from FIG. 2, FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a strip with asymmetrical clips,

5 shows a variant of FIG. 4, 6 shows a top view of a strip according to FIG. 5,

7 is a view of FIG. 6,

8 shows a vertical section AA through the longitudinal center plane A, according to FIG. 7, FIG. 9 shows a variant of FIG. 8, corresponding to FIG. 4, FIG. 10 shows an enlarged vertical section AA with a carrier profile, FIG. 11 shows a clip with a cross-sectionally triangular carrier profile, 12 shows a clip with a cross-sectionally rectangular support profile, FIG. 13 shows a clip with a cross-sectionally trapezoidal support profile, FIG. 14 shows a clip with a cross-sectionally round support profile, 17 an assembly channel according to FIG. 15, variant “light”, FIG. 18 an assembly channel with rectangular support profiles, FIG. 19 an assembly channel with trapezoidal support profiles, FIG. 20 a strip snapped onto an assembly channel, FIG. 21 an assembly channel with scaling in the area of the support profile, 22 a clip with a cross-sectionally jagged hollow profile, and 23 is a partial perspective view of an assembled assembly channel.

1 and 2 show a standardized bar 10, each with a clip 12 arranged in the region of the end faces 32. This comprises two vertically projecting webs 14, 15 with a latching nose 16, 17, which latch with a carrier profile 18.

The conductors 22 guided to and from the strip 10 via individual conductor guides 20 are arranged in the individual conductor guides 20 and bundled with conductor guide brackets 23, 24, 25, which are arranged on the end face and in the longitudinal center. In Fig. 3, a clip 12 is shown enlarged, the resilient webs 14, 15 with the locking lug 16, 17 encompass a support profile 18 and are locked with this. A spacer 26, also made of plastic, engages in the base 28 of the clip.

4, the webs 14, 15 forming the clips 12 are anchored in a base plate 30.

The outer webs 14 which are arranged adjacent to the end faces 32 of the strip 10 are resilient. By contrast, the inner webs 15, which are arranged further away from the end faces 32, are stiff in the lower region. A catch 36, also called a stopper, is resiliently connected to this lower part. This snapper 36 is generally about 4 to 5 mm, the rigid lower part of the inner web 15 is about 10 mm long, depending on the dimensions of the support profile 18 (Fig.3). The catch 36 is slightly angled in the direction of the web 14 relative to the web 15. A notch 38 increases the spring action and facilitates removal of the snapper with a tool if desired. In the case of a spring-loaded catch 36, the outer web can be stiff.

The rigid inner webs 15 hold the carrier profiles 18 (FIG. 3) at a fixed distance a and thus stabilize the distribution system. The distance a is therefore also called the Kalibhermass.

The embodiment according to FIG. 5 differs from FIG. 4 only in that in the uppermost region of the inner webs 15, in the direction of the outer web 14, a further latching lug 17 is formed.

6 and 7 show the base plate 30 with the two clips 12 arranged in the region of the end faces 32 in plan view and view. In Fig. 6 the remaining bar 10 according to Figs. 4 and 5 is omitted, not visible in Fig. 7.

FIG. 8 shows a section through the longitudinal center plane A of FIG. 7. In contrast to FIG. 9, according to FIG. 8 the inner rigid web 15 has a latching lug 17, which is symmetrical with respect to the clip 12 to the locking lug 16 of the outer resilient web 14. 9 essentially corresponds to FIG. 4 with regard to the clip 12.

FIG. 10 shows a large enlargement and detailed representation of FIG. 9, the cavities of the sectional plane A-A and a clipped-on carrier profile 18 of an assembly channel 40 are shown.

The carrier profile 18 is folded exactly in a circle and remains partially open in the axial direction, forming a slot 19. The preferred three support points Pi, P ₂ , P ₃ and support lines are formed by

- The locking lug 16 shown in view of the resilient outer web 14 and the support profile 18 (Pi), - the rigid inner web 15 and the support profile 18 (P ₂ ) resting thereon, and - the base plate (30) shown in view and the support profile 18 (P3).

The catch 36, which latches in a perforation 42 in the mounting channel 40, serves for the fixed positioning and the prevention of any longitudinal displacement of the strip 10 on the carrier profile 18.

The cavity 44 formed in the area of the outer web 14 is used in practice to pull in a metal spring (not shown) as an earth conductor, which can also extend into the cavity 45 below the carrier profile 18.

11 to 14, a clip 12 with two resilient legs 14, 15 and various carrier profiles 18 clipped therein is shown in section. The purely functional support points or lines P _{1 f} P ₂ and P ₃ are indicated with a circular area. In the embodiment according to FIG. 11, the locking lugs 16, 17 can be released relatively easily. If the bar is rotated by 120 °, it can snap back into place. Thanks to the triangle on the same side as the cross-sectional shape, an identical position with regard to locking is achieved.

12 shows a somewhat less favorable variant, the latching lugs 16, 17 have to be pulled along the entire side surfaces of the cross-sectionally rectangular carrier profile 18 after unlatching. 13, which shows a trapezoidal cross section of the carrier profile 18, lies between FIGS. 11 and 12. Unlocking is easy, but there is no new locking position when swiveling.

The clip 12 of the carrier profile 18 with a circular cross section according to FIG. 14 can be unlocked less easily. For this, this form is the cheapest in terms of pivoting, the bar 10 can be pivoted through any angle.

15, the one-sided end of a top-hat rail 46 is locked with the outer resilient leg 14 of a rigidly fastened clip 12. The other end of the top-hat rail 46 is correspondingly locked with another clip. Top-hat rails 46 are used in particular for domestic installations and generally run horizontally.

16 to 19, in addition to EP 0750377 B1, various mounting channels 40 are shown, the grid perforation according to the invention is not visible here. The mounting channels 40 have two legs 48, 50 and a rear wall 52. The longitudinal opening 54 of the mounting channels 40 is delimited by two parallel support profiles 18. 16 and 17, the carrier profiles are circular in cross-section, rectangular in FIG. 18 and trapezoidal in FIG. 19.

The mounting channels 40 according to FIGS. 16, 18 and 19 have a right angular recesses 56, which create limited space and allow, for example, conductor bushings. The embodiment according to FIG. 17 has larger openings 58, which extend over a plurality of recesses 56 and extend onto the rear wall 52 of the mounting channel 40, which before it means greater material savings make the mounting channel lighter and more flexible and ensure better access.

20 shows a bar 10 which is only snapped onto a mounting channel 40, which is shown only in part. The two legs 48, 50 of the mounting channel 40 are folded outwards in a circle on the front side and form corresponding support profiles 18. The locking takes place through the resilient outer webs 14 with locking lugs 16 and through the rigid inner webs 15, which snap into place in a grid perforation 60 adjacent to the carrier profiles 18 with their catch 36. In this way, not only the strips 10 are locked, but also the position is secured. The strip 10 cannot slide along the parallel support profiles 18 in the long term either. To pivot the bar 10 must be unlocked, it is again freely movable in the longitudinal direction of the mounting channel 40.

21 shows a mounting channel 40 in the region of a carrier profile 18. The grid perforation 60 is provided with a scale 62 which assigns an order number to the rectangular openings in the grid perforation 60, in the present case 11, 21, 31, 41, 51

22 shows a variant of a toothed carrier profile 18 which has toothed combs 64 and grooves 66. The latching lugs 16, 17 of the resilient webs 14, 15 engaging in the grooves 66 form the support points or support lines Pi, P _2, the base 28 of the clip 12, the support point or the support line P ₃ . 22, a strip with the clip 12 can be pivoted step by step around the carrier profile 18 through an angle of 360 ° / n into a new locking position, n corresponding to the number of combs 64 or grooves 66. With special geometrical relationships NEN two support points or lines P _{3 are} formed.

The carrier profile 18 is shown as a full profile, in practice training as a corresponding tube profile is expedient.

The section of an assembly channel 40 shown in perspective in FIG. 23 shows two snap-on strips 10. In the area of the front strip 10, broken open, a stainless steel spring 68 is snapped on, which serves for the electrically conductive connection of invisible surge arresters to the mounting channel 40. Blind covers 70, which can be snapped onto the mounting channel 40, are arranged in places on the mounting channel 40 that are not occupied by the strips 10. However, in contrast to the strips 10 locked in the grid perforation 60 (FIG. 2), they can be freely moved in the longitudinal direction. According to FIG. 23, this longitudinal displaceability is limited by a profile flag 72 that engages under the next upper bar 10. An upwardly projecting, non-visible profile nose of the profile lug 72, on the underside of the blind cover 70, a likewise invisible stop for the profile nose is arranged. Thanks to this solution with the profile lug 72, dust and privacy protection is simultaneously created for the interior of the mounting channel 40, which protection is always maintained when the blind covers 70 are in different positions.

23 also shows the course of a conductor 22, which is guided adjacent to the strip 10 equipped with it by a switching conductor guide 74 and then by an upper switching conductor guide 78 snapped onto the strip 10. The end of the conductor 22 is fastened in a single conductor guide 20, which is indicated by an arrow. The switching conductor guides 74 are guided with a square foot through a corresponding opening in the mounting channel 40 or in the leg 48 thereof and fixed by turning.

Claims

claims

1. bar (10) for a distribution system of conductors (22), in particular for control, monitoring, data and telecommunications technology, which bar (10) by means of clips (12) longitudinally displaceable on one or two adjacent parallel support profiles (18 ) can be snapped on, with electrical conductors (22) fulfilling both signal-transmitting and current-carrying functions, characterized in that the clips (12) of the strip (10) consist of at least two projecting webs (14, 15) without an arcuate contact surface for a carrier profile (18 ), of which at least one web (14, 15) is resilient and has a latching lug (16), the webs (14, 15) having no curved support surface for a carrier profile (18).

2. bar (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that with the participation of at least one locking lug (16, 17) at least three functional support points (Pi, P ₂ , P ₃ ) or lines are formed which are secure, also pivotable Ensure that the bar (10) is held.

3. bar (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the latching lugs (16, 17), viewed in relation to the longitudinal center plane (A) of the bar (10), lie next to one another and are preferably arranged symmetrically.

4. bar (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that two locking lugs (16) on one side of a clip (12) outside the longitudinal center plane (A) of the bar (10), on the other side of the clip (12) a locking lug (17) are arranged in the region of the longitudinal center plane (A).

5. bar (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it can be snapped onto tubular support profiles (18) with a regular polygonal, at least partially round or elliptical cross-section and a jagged cross-section.

6. bar (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that in the region of the end faces (32) each have a clip (12) with at least one rigid inner web (15) and at least one resilient outer web (14) having.

7. bar (10) according to claim 6, characterized in that on the outer web (14) or on the outer and the inner web (14, 15) of the clip (12) a locking lug (16, 17) is formed.

8. bar (10) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that an inner locking lug (17) and two outer locking lugs (16) are formed, the two outer locking lugs (16) preferably having a common web (14).

9. bar (10) according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the inner rigid web (15) of at least one clip (12) has a resilient, preferably in the direction of the outer web (14) angled and / or cantilever snap (36), the outer web (14) also being rigid.

10. bar (10) according to claim 9, characterized in that a notch (38) is formed between the rigid inner web (15) and the resilient catch (36).

11. Mounting channel (40) in a distribution system for electrical conductors (22) and / or optical fibers, which is essentially U-shaped and has a carrier profile (18) on both sides of the longitudinal opening (54) on which Chen strips (10) according to one of claims 1 to 10 can be snapped, characterized in that in at least one leg (48, 50) of the mounting channel (40), adjacent to the carrier profile (18), a raster perforation (60) is punched out in which the catch (36) of the relevant clip (12) engages and latches a bar (10).

12. Mounting channel (40) according to claim 11, characterized in that the grid perforation (60) is provided with a scale (62) for the position numbering of the strips (10).

13. Mounting channel (40) according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the legs (48,50) and the bottom (52) have openings (58) which extend over more than one grid unit.

14. Use of two strips (10) according to one of claims 1 to 10 for mounting at a fixed distance and for receiving a rigid top-hat rail (46) which is latched to the resilient outer webs (14) of the strips (10).