SPACE SAVING ELECTRICAL DEVICES ARRANGEMENT FOR INSTALLATION ON A MOUNTING RAIL AND CONNECTOR DEVICES FOR A SPACE SAVING ELECTRICAL DEVICES ARRANGEMENT FOR INSTALLATION ON A MOUNTING RAIL OR MOUNTING PLATE

Abstract

 An arrangement (10) of electrical devices for installation on a mounting rail (12) is disclosed, which comprises a first electrical device (14) being configured for installation on the mounting rail (12), a first connector device (16) comprising upper connection means for mounting and electrically connecting to the bottom side of the first electrical device (14) and comprising lower connection means for mounting and electrically connecting to one or more electrical devices, wherein the lower connection means are configured for mounting two or more electrical devices arranged in a row being vertical to the mounting rail, at least one second electrical device (18, 20), and a second connector device (22) comprising upper connection means for mounting and electrically connecting to the bottom side of the at least one second electrical device and comprising lower connection means for electrically connecting to wires (24), wherein the upper connection means are configured for mounting to two or more electrical devices arranged in a row being vertical to the mounting rail, and wherein the bottom side of the first electrical device (14) is mounted on and electrically connected to the upper connection means of the first connector device (16), the upper side of the at least one second electrical device (18, 20) is mounted and electrically connected to the lower connection means of the first connector device (16), and the lower side of the at least one second electrical device (18, 20) is mounted on and electrically connected to the upper connection means of the second connector device (22).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] This specification relates to a space saving electrical devices arrangement for installation on a mounting rail or a mounting plate.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Motor starters or controllers built from several electrical devices and provided for installation on a mounting rail such as a top hat rail or a DIN rail are disclosed for example in the French patent application FR 2 837 617 and the German patent DE 301 32 678 T2. Further solutions for installations of electrical devices on a mounting rail are known from the US patent applications US2010/0081343A1, US2004/0047101A1, US2004/0042148A1, US2001/0022264A1, the European patent application EP 0 588 712 A1, and the Japanese patent application JP 2009-123419 A.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0003] This specification describes a space saving electrical device arrangement for installation on a mounting rail and connector devices configured for such an arrangement.

[0004] According to an aspect of this specification, an arrangement of electrical devices for installation on a mounting rail is disclosed, which comprises a first electrical device being configured for installation on the mounting rail, a first connector device comprising upper connection means for mounting and electrically connecting to the bottom side of the first electrical device and comprising lower connection means for mounting and electrically connecting to one or more electrical devices, wherein the lower connection means are configured for mounting two or more electrical devices arranged in a row being vertical to the mounting rail, at least one second electrical device, and a second connector device comprising upper connection means for mounting and electrically connecting to the bottom side of the at least one second electrical device and comprising lower connection means for electrically connecting to wires, wherein the upper connection means are configured for mounting to two or more electrical devices arranged in a row being vertical to the mounting rail, and wherein the bottom side of the first electrical device is mounted on and electrically connected to the upper connection means of the first connector device, the upper side of the at least one second electrical device is mounted and electrically connected to the lower connection means of the first connector device, and the lower side of the at least one second electrical device is mounted on and electrically connected to the upper connection means of the second connector device .

[0005] The first electrical device, the at least one second electrical device, and the first and second connector devices may have the same predefined, particularly standardized width.

[0006] Particularly, two second devices may be provided, which are electrically connected to each other. The first electrical device may be a motor protective circuit breaker and the two second devices may be contactors, and wherein the first and second connector devices may be configured to electrically connect the first and the two second devices to a vice versa motor starter.

[0007] A further aspect of this specification relates to a connector device being configured for an arrangement as disclosed herein and comprising upper connection means for mounting and electrically connecting to the bottom side of an electrical device and lower connection means for mounting and electrically connecting to one or more electrical devices. The lower connection means are configured for mounting two or more electrical devices arranged in a row being vertical to a mounting rail.

[0008] A yet further aspect of this specification relates to a connector device being configured for an arrangement as disclosed herein and comprising upper connection means for mounting and electrically connecting to the bottom side of the at least one electrical device and lower connection means for electrically connecting to wires. The upper connection means are configured for mounting to two or more electrical devices arranged in a row being vertical to a mounting rail.

[0009] The connector device may be a multipart device, wherein each part comprises means for coupling to another part, and wherein the coupling means are configured such that one part can be hinged to another part.

[0010] The connector devices as disclosed herein may comprise configurable electrical interconnections of the upper and lower connection.

[0011] The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0012] 

Fig. 1 and 2 show examples of arrangements of electrical devices for installation on a DIN mounting rail;

Fig. 3 shows an example of a vice versa motor starter;

Fig. 4 shows an example of a multipart connector device; and

Fig. 5 shows an example of releasing an entire reversing starter combination from a DIN rail.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0013] In the following, functionally similar or identical elements may have the same reference numerals. Absolute values are shown below by way of example only and should not be construed as limiting.

[0014] Fig. 1 shows an arrangement 10 of a motor protective circuit breaker 14 of the type PKZ from Eaton Inc., which is configured on its backside for installation on a DIN mounting rail 12, and two contactors 18 and 20 of the type DIL EM from Eaton Inc.

[0015] For a space saving arrangement, a first connector device 16 and a second connector device 22 are provided. The connector devices 16, 22 are designed to serve essentially two functions: providing the electrical connection of the devices 14, 18, and 20 and providing connections to wires 24 of an electrical motor; providing of mounting possibilities of the devices 18 and 20 to the device 14 such that space on the mounting rail 12 can be saved, i.e. the width of the entire arrangement 10 does not exceed the width of a single electrical device installed on the rail such as the width of the PKZ motor protective circuit breaker 14.

[0016] The functions of the connector devices 16, 22 are fulfilled as will be explained in the following:
The first connector device 16 comprises upper connection means 16.1 for electrically connecting a device internal electrical wiring to electrical contacts at the bottom side 14.1 of the protector 14. The upper connection means 16.1 are also mechanically designed so that they fit to the bottom side 14.1 of the protector 14, and the first connector device 16 can be fixedly mounted to the protector 14, for example by means of snap joints, screwed joints, and/or clamped joints. The width of the first connector device 16 is essentially identical to that of the protector 14. The depth of the first connector device 16 is designed for the number of electrical devices to be coupled and connected to lower connection means 16.2, 16.3 at its bottom side. As shown in Fig. 1, the depth is designed so that the two contactors 18 and 20 of type DIL EM can be installed on the bottom side in a row, which is vertical to the DIN rail 12. Each one of the lower connection means 16.2, 16.3 is designed for electrically connecting the device internal electrical wiring to electrical contacts at the top side of the contactor 18 or 20 and is also mechanically designed so that it fits to the top side of the contactor 18 or 20 and each contactor 18 and 20 can be fixedly mounted to the first connector device 16, for example by means of snap joints, screwed joints, and/or clamped joints.

[0017] The second connector device 22 comprises upper connection means 22.1 and 22.2 for electrically connecting a device internal electrical wiring to electrical contacts at the bottom side 18.1 of the contactor 18 and the bottom side 20.1 of the contactor 20. The upper connection means 22.1 and 22.2 are also mechanically designed so that they fit to the bottom side 18.1 of the contactor 18 and the bottom side 20.1 of the contactor 20, and the second connector device 22 can be fixedly mounted to the contactors 18 and 20, for example by means of snap joints, screwed joints, and/or clamped joints. The width of the second connector device 22 is essentially identical to that of the protector 14, the first connector device 16 and the contactors 18 and 20. The depth of the second connector device 22 is designed for the number of electrical devices to be coupled and connected to upper connection means 22.1 and 22.2 at its top side. As shown in Fig. 1, the depth is designed so that the two contactors 18 and 20 of type DIL EM can be installed on the top side in a row, which is vertical to the DIN mounting rail 12. Each one of the upper connection means 22.1 and 22.2 is designed for electrically connecting the device internal electrical wiring to electrical contacts at the bottom side of the contactor 18 or 20 and is also mechanically designed so that it fits to the bottom side of the contactor 18 or 20 and each contactor 18 and 20 can be fixedly mounted to the second connector device 16, for example by means of snap joints, screwed joints, and/or clamped joints. The second connector device 22 also comprises at its bottom side lower connection means 22.3 for electrically connecting to wires 24 of a load such as a motor.

[0018] The internal wiring of the connector devices 16, 22 may be embodied by conductive bridges, and the internal wiring may be particularly configurable. The conductive bridges may be implemented by isolated wires, for example copper wires having a diameter of 1.7 mm, and with isolation having a diameter of 3.2 mm). The connector devices 16, 22 may comprise insulating housing made from for example insulating plastics. The first connector device 16 may comprise a plastic cover for protecting the internal wiring. The second connector device 22 may be a multipart device, as described below with reference to Fig. 4, with each part comprising a separate insulating housing for example made from plastics. The parts may be connected together by a clip and a cover such as a plastic cover but may be easily disassembled with a tool such as a screw driver via an opening in the cover. In the opened or disassembled state, the connector device 22 is flexible such that an operator can mount electrical devices on the top of the connector device 22 and screw contact screws to hold wires.

[0019] Fig. 2 shows an arrangement, which is similar to the one shown in Fig. 1 and differs merely in that instead of a motor protective circuit protector 14 of the type PKZ from Eaton Inc. a motor protective circuit breaker 15 of the type PKE from Eaton Inc. is applied.

[0020] Fig. 3 shows a vice versa motor starter comprising the motor protective circuit breaker 14 and the two contactors 18 and 20 and the electrical wiring 16.4 between the breaker 14 and the contactors 18 and 20 and the electrical wiring 22.4 between the two contactors 18 and 20. The wiring 16.4 corresponds to the internal wiring of the first connector device 16 and may comprise conductive bridges housed in a insulating housing of the device 16, and the wiring 22.4 corresponds to the internal wiring of the second connector device 22 and may also comprise conductive bridges housed in a insulating housing of the device 22. Also shown are the wires 24 electrically connecting the contacts U, V, M of the three-phase motor to respective contacts of the contactor 20. Three customer terminals 26 are also provided, for example for signaling purposes. The wirings 16.4 and 22.4 may connect the breaker 14 and the contactors 18 and 20 such that the vice-versa motor starter may be obtained. Other wirings are also possible.

[0021] The connector device 22 may be a multipart device, as mentioned above. The upper drawing of Fig. 4 shows a section cut view of the multipart connector device 22 with the first part comprising the upper connection means 22.1 and the second part comprising the upper connection means 22.2. Both parts are mechanically coupled by means of a hinge joint. The internal wiring of the connector device 22 is embodied by rigid conductive bridges 22.4 extending in the interior of both parts from one part to the other part, thus, electrically connecting contacts of a device such as the contactor 18 coupled to one part with contacts of a device such as the contactor 20 coupled to the other part. The tops of both parts further comprise snap-fits 22.5 for fixing the devices coupled to the parts. The hinge joint can be released by pressing a clip (not visible) with a tool such as a screw driver. After release, one part can be swiveled around an axis of the hinge joint as shown in the lower drawing of Fig. 4. This allows to install or remove a device installed on the upper connection means 22.2 of the swiveled part. The connector device 22 may also comprise through-holes for passing wires through the device 22 to be electrically connected to contacts of electrical devices mounted on the upper connection means 22.1 and/or 22.2. The wires may be for example wires of a motor or customer wires (used for example for signaling purposes and auxiliary switching).

[0022] Assembling the arrangements shown in Fig. 1 and 2 may comprise the following steps: first the rail 12 has to be mounted. Then, the breaker 14, 15 is installed on the rail 12. Next, the upper connection means 16.1 of the first connector device 16 are plugged into the bottom side 14. 1, 15.1 of the breaker 14, 15, and the lower screws on the breaker 14, 15 are screwed. Thereafter, the upper contacts of the contactor 18 are plugged into the lower connection means 16.2 and the upper screws of the contactor 18 are screwed. Then, the upper connection means 22.1 of the second multipart connector device 22 is plugged into the contacts at the bottom side 18.1 of the contactor 18, a custom wire may be plugged in through the first part to the contactor 18 and screwed. The multipart connector device 22 may then be released by pressing with a screw driver the clip, and the part with the upper connection means 22.2 may be swiveled. The upper contacts of the second contactor 20 are then plugged into the lower connection means 16.3 and the upper screws of the contactor 2 are screwed. Then, the part with the upper connection means 22.2 is then swiveled back so that the upper connection means 22.2 are plugged into the contacts at the bottom side 20.1 of the contactor 20. Finally, customer wires, for example two, and motor wires 24 may be plugged into through the multipart connector device 22 to the contactor 20 and the lower screws of the contactor 22 may be screwed to fix the wires.

[0023] Fig. 5 shows a screwdriver which can be inserted through a slot in the first connector device 16 to release the entire reversing starter combination comprising the breakers 14, 15 from a DIN rail. On the back of the breaker 14, 15 there may be a clip slider, which can snap onto the DIN rail during installation. For disassembly, the screwdriver can be inserted into the slot of the first connector device 16 in order to reach the clip slider of the breaker 14, 15 to unlock the clip slider.

Claims

1. An arrangement (10) of electrical devices for installation on a mounting rail (12) comprising

• a first electrical device (14) being configured for installation on the mounting rail (12),

• a first connector device (16) comprising upper connection means (16.1) for mounting and electrically connecting to the bottom side (14.1) of the first electrical device (14) and comprising lower connection means (16.2, 16.3) for mounting and electrically connecting to one or more electrical devices, wherein the lower connection means are configured for mounting two or more electrical devices arranged in a row being vertical to the mounting rail,

• at least one second electrical device (18, 20), and

• a second connector device (22) comprising upper connection means (22.1, 22.2) for mounting and electrically connecting to the bottom side (18.1, 20.1) of the at least one second electrical device and comprising lower connection means (22.3) for electrically connecting to wires (24), wherein the upper connection means are configured for mounting to two or more electrical devices arranged in a row being vertical to the mounting rail, and

• wherein the bottom side of the first electrical device (14) is mounted on and electrically connected to the upper connection means of the first connector device (16), the upper side of the at least one second electrical device (18, 20) is mounted and electrically connected to the lower connection means of the first connector device (16), and the lower side of the at least one second electrical device (18, 20) is mounted on and electrically connected to the upper connection means of the second connector device (22).

2. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the first electrical device (14), the at least one second electrical device (18, 20), and the first and second connector devices (16, 22) have the same predefined, particularly standardized width.

3. The arrangement of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein two second devices (18, 20) are provided, which are electrically connected to each other.

4. The arrangement of claim 3, wherein the first electrical device (14) is a motor protective circuit breaker and the two second devices (18, 20) are contactors, and wherein the first and second connector devices are configured to electrically connect the first and the two second contactors to a vice versa motor starter.

5. A connector device (16) being configured for an arrangement of any of the preceding claims and comprising

• upper connection means for mounting and electrically connecting to the bottom side of an electrical device and

• lower connection means for mounting and electrically connecting to one or more electrical devices,

• wherein the lower connection means are configured for mounting two or more electrical devices arranged in a row being vertical to a mounting rail.

6. A connector device (22) being configured for an arrangement of the claims 1 to 4 and comprising

• upper connection means for mounting and electrically connecting to the bottom side of the at least one electrical device and

• lower connection means for electrically connecting to wires,

• wherein the upper connection means are configured for mounting to two or more electrical devices arranged in a row being vertical to a mounting rail.

7. The connector device (22) of claim 5 or 6 being a multipart device, wherein each part (22.1, 22.2) comprises means for coupling to another part, and wherein the coupling means are configured such that one part (22.2) can be hinged to another part (22.1).

8. The connector device (16, 22) of any of claims 5 to 7 comprising configurable electrical interconnections of the upper and lower connection means.

Drawing