WO2007107332A1 - Connection element and method for connecting two switching devices, switching device and electrical distribution system - Google Patents

Abstract

In a method for connecting two switching devices (51, 53), a first switching device (51) is mechanically and electrically connected to a plug-type connector (50, 151, 150, 161), then a second switching device (53) is mechanically and electrically connected to the plug-type connector (50, 151, 150, 161)/first switching device (51) combination. Claims for switching devices, connection elements and electrical distribution systems are also provided.

Description

description

Connecting element and method for connecting two switching devices, switching device and electrical distribution system

The invention relates to a method according to the preamble of claim 1, a connecting element according to the preamble of claim 7, a switching device and an electrical distribution system.

In the prior art circuit breaker and contactor with spring terminals are mechanically connected to a connection plate. The electrical connection was made with individual strands connected by a plastic part.

In another solution, as described in WO 00/46880, US Pat. No. 6,663,441 or EP 1 151 499 A1 or EP 1 026 782 A1, the devices are mechanically connected directly by guide grooves. The electrical connection is therefore via a separate three-pin plug.

In yet another solution, the devices are mechanically connected via an intermediate plate. The intermediate plate is plugged onto the circuit breakers and electrically connected to the circuit breaker. The electrical connection of the intermediate plate with the contactor is achieved via a three-pin connector.

An object of the invention is to simplify the connection of two switching devices. This object can be achieved by a method according to claim 1 and with a connecting element according to claim 7. When both mechanical and electrical connection with a connector is achieved, the number of connectors required is reduced. Moreover, only one connection process is necessary. manoeuvrable to contact the terminals of a switching device and to create a mechanical connection.

Another object of the invention is to provide a switching device that is easier to connect. This object can be achieved with a switching device according to claim 12, namely when the switching device has switching poles and a plurality of connection means connected to the switching poles, which are designed as plug-in terminals, in particular as push-in terminals, spring-loaded terminals or cage clamps. This makes the use of a connector according to the first aspect of the invention particularly simple.

The subordinate or independent claims describe advantageous embodiments of the invention.

If the second means are realized with connected pin headers in the connecting element, the connection can be realized as a plug connection. Connecting by plugging is particularly easy for the installer. If the connected pin headers are shorter on the first side of the connector and longer on the second side of the connector, the required insertion force can be reduced, which can facilitate installation.

If the first means has an intermediate element, protection can be achieved between the switching devices for the connections against short-circuited outflow of plasma and gas. In addition, if the first means also has guides, in particular dovetail guides, which are preferably attached to the intermediate element, it is possible to guide the contacting in a simpler manner. In particular, a better protection for the electrical contact against bending or twisting can be made possible by the mechanical guidance. This makes it possible, thinner and weaker and possibly also cheaper electrical Use conductors such as pin headers for electrical contacting.

If the second means are arranged to perform a reversing circuit or safety wiring when connecting to two side-by-side contactors, these more complicated wirings can be realized in a simple manner, which can save time.

Show it:

1 shows a reversing circuit of two shooters, wherein the reversing circuit is designed with a wiring; 2 shows a section of a connection means for a

Switchgear;

3 shows a section of the connection means of FIG 2, to which an electrical conductor is inserted;

4 shows a group of low-voltage switchgear with connection means, which together with a

Link modules are connected as a connecting element;

5 shows a group of low-voltage switching devices, of which at least one low-voltage switching device has connection means, the low-voltage switching devices being connected to one another with a link module as a connecting element;

6 and 7, the connecting element; 8 shows two switching devices individually with a connecting element;

9 shows the connecting element connected to the first switching device;

10 shows the second switching device connected to the connection element - switching device combination;

FIGS. 11 and 12 connection for the turn-around wiring; and

13 shows a connection of the safety wiring. The same reference numbers indicate corresponding structural features in all figures.

The operation of a possible plug-in terminal will be described with reference to FIGS 2 and 3 show the sections of a connection means 30 for a switching device. The connection means 30 described here is described in more detail in the European patent application 06005650.4.

The connection means 30 has a spring clamp placed in a housing 32 with two clamping points. The clamping points are achieved by means of a leaf spring S and the counter wall 31. The first leg 33 and second leg 36 formed by bending the leaf spring S can each electrically contact an electrical conductor between them and the housing wall.

Furthermore, the housing 32 has two openings 38, 39 each for receiving an electrical conductor, and a tool opening 37.

The leaf spring S is configured to clamp an electrical conductor between the first leg 33 and the opposing wall 31, and to free the electrical conductor when the leaf spring S is pushed through the tool opening 37 with a pressure tool.

The leaf spring S is designed to allow the second conductor 36 to be bent by receiving the second conductor 40 and thus to clamp the second electrical conductor 40 between the second leg 36 and the second opposing wall 31.

The terminal housing 32 may be formed by the switchgear housing in a favorable embodiment. In addition to the Kleramenart described here, it is also possible to connect two switching devices together if they have other types of plug-in terminals, in particular push-in terminals, spring terminals or cage clamps.

Some of these are described in the following disclosures or patents: DE 298 18 669 Ul, DE 199 49 387 A1, DE 35 14 098, US Pat. No. 6,126,494, EP 1 022 808 A2, and DE 197 10 306.

In particular, simpler plug-in terminal designs are possible.

4 and 5 show a group of low-voltage switchgear 51, 53 with different connection means 30, 55.

The link module 50 is shown in more detail in FIGS. 6 and 7.

In particular, simpler plug-in terminal designs are possible.

The person skilled in the art understands that it is not urgently necessary for the terminals to be designed as connecting means 30 constructed above or terminal types 30, 55 different from each other. The method, the connecting element, the switching device and the electrical distribution system can be carried out with any type of common plug-in terminal types.

Common features of the representations shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 are that the low-voltage switching devices 51, 53 and 63 are connected to one another with a link module 50, which serves as a connecting element.

For example, a contactor 51 is connected to its connection means 30 on the input or output side with the link module 50. The link module 50 has first means 57 for mechanically connecting the switchgear housing with each other and second means 40 for electrically connecting the input and output-side switching poles of the two switchgear. The second means 40 are made of electrically highly conductive material.

The second means 40 are preferably realized with connected pin headers. The connected pin headers can then protrude from the insulating housing 58 of the link module 50.

The connected pin headers are preferably shorter on the first side of the connecting element and longer on the second side of the connecting element.

The first means 57 is preferably an intermediate element. It optionally also has guides 61, 63.

The guides can be realized in particular as dovetail guides.

The link module 50 may also include one or more snap hooks 71. The can be connected to each other with a gutter 65.

The Link Module 50 can simply be plugged on. For example, a contactor 51 can be mechanically and electrically connected to a power switch 53. The snap-on can be carried out in the simplest way so that the link module 50 is pressed down on the front side, so that the connections of the switching devices are contacted with the second means 40 of the link module 50.

8 shows the individual switching devices 51, 53 and the link module 50 individually. In the first shown in FIG 9

Step, the link module 50 is contacted with the first switching device 51, for example by simply plugging. Im in the second step illustrated in FIG. 10, a further switching device 53 is connected to the Link Module - switching device 51 combination, for example by simply plugging.

However, the connections 30, 55 of the switching devices 50, 53 can not be made according to the exemplary embodiment as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Rather, it suffices that the terminals 30, 55 allow easy contact, e.g. by plugging. Therefore, in the preferred embodiment of the switching devices, the terminals are designed as plug-in terminals. As a result, a tool-free connection or disconnection of the switching devices 51, 53 is possible.

When the terminals 30 of the switching devices 51, 53 are configured as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, it is possible to contact an electrical conductor in the opening 38 for one or more phases, during which the electrical connection between the switching devices 51, 53 via the opening 39 is produced.

An idea underlying the invention is to construct the link module 50 as a connector in the form of a plug, which allows both the mechanical and the electrical connection of the two switching devices.

The mechanical connection is made possible via guides 61, 63 on the link module 50 and the top or bottom of the switching devices 51, 53. The guides 61, 63 can be designed as dovetail guides.

When attaching the link module 50, the mechanical and electrical connection is made in one operation, thereby also a better insertion of smaller pins 40 is possible because they are performed when plugging in and a lateral buckling is prevented. The electrical connection is made directly from the first switching device to the second switching device - eg from the circuit breaker to the contactor. Due to the shape of the link module 50 it is too possible to halve the high insertion forces by the Link Module is first placed on the first switching device 51 and then on the second switching device 53.

The intermediate plate 57 can be designed so that the second switching device - for example, a contactor - in front of the discharge plasma of the first switching device - for example, a circuit breaker - is protected. In this case, a larger blow-out space than in the direct mating of the switching devices remain available.

The same contacting possibility by plugging can be used with reverse wiring and with safety connection, according to the type shown in FIG 11 to 13.

In reversing wiring, two contactors are connected side by side and in parallel with connectors. In a safety connection, two contactors are connected side by side and in series with connectors.

The switching devices 51, 53 to be connected are designed to switch a polyphase circuit. In this case, one of the switching devices as a protective device. be designed to protect against overload and / or short circuit, and one of the switching devices be designed as a switching device for operational switching.

In a particularly favorable embodiment, the switching devices 51, 53 designed as low-voltage switching devices that can be realized, for example, as a mechanical, electro-mechanical or electronic switching devices.

In a circuit often both a protective device and a switching device for operational switching are connected. Since these types of connections are to be performed in large numbers, a lot of time can be saved with the method and the connector.

Claims

Claims: A method of connecting two switching devices (51, 53), the method comprising the steps of: i) mechanically and electrically connecting a first switching device (51) to a connector (50, 151, 150, 161); and ii) mechanically and electrically connecting a second one Switching device (53) with the connector (50, 151, 150, 161) - first switching device (51) combination. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the switching devices are low voltage switching devices. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first Switching device (51) has a switching device for operational switching, in particular a contactor. 4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the second switching device (53) comprises a protective device against overload and / or short circuit, in particular a circuit breaker or an overload relay. 5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 3, wherein the second switching device (53) and a switching device for operational switching, in particular a contactor comprises. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the connection is performed by the connector (53) as a reversing circuit or a safety wiring. 7. connecting element (50, 151, 150, 161) for connecting two switching devices, in particular two low-voltage switching devices, wherein the connecting element (50, 151, 150, 161) first means (57) for mechanically connecting the switchgear housing together and second means ( 40) to having electrical connection of the input and output side switching poles of the two switching devices. 8. connecting element (50, 151, 150, 161) according to claim 7, wherein the second means (40) are realized with connected pin headers. 9. connecting element (50, 151, 150, 161) according to claim 8, wherein the connected pin headers on the first side of the connecting element (50, 151, 150, 161) shorter and on the second side of the connecting element (50, 151, 150, 161) are longer. 10. connecting element (50, 151, 150, 161) according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the first means an intermediate element (57) and optionally also guides (61, 63), in particular dovetail guides. The connecting element (151, 161) according to any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the second means (40) are arranged to perform a reversing circuit or safety wiring when connected to two side-by-side contactors. 12. switching device (51, 53), in particular a low-voltage switchgear, with switching poles and with a plurality of connecting poles connected to the connection means (30), which are designed as plug-in terminals, in particular as push-in terminals, spring terminals or cage clamps. 13. Switching device according to claim 12, wherein the connection means (30): i) a housing (32) having an opening (38) for receiving an electrical conductor, and a tool opening (37); ii) have at least one spring clamp terminal (S, 31, 32) in the housing (32), with a bent leaf spring (S) and a respective opposing wall (31), wherein the bend of the leaf spring (S) is formed to form a first leg (33) and a second leg (36), and wherein the leaf spring (S) is formed: a) an electrical conductor between the first Leg (33) and the counter wall (31) to clamp; and b) releasing the electrical conductor when the leaf spring is printed through the tool opening (37) with a printing tool; and wherein iii) the housing (32) has a further opening (39) for receiving a second electrical conductor (40), and wherein the leaf spring (S) is formed, by receiving the second conductor (40) the bending of the second leg ( 36) and thus to clamp the second electrical conductor (40) between the second leg (36) and the second opposing wall (31). 14. Electrical distribution system with at least two switching devices (51, 53), in particular low-voltage switchgear, preferably according to claim 12 or 13, and with at least one connector (50) according to one of claims 7 to 11, wherein the connector (50) is formed between two switching devices to produce a mechanical and an electrical connection see.