[0001] The invention relates to a conductor rail comprising a supporting structure, an insulator
and a conductor or conductors.
[0002] On display windows previously known, in dining rooms and other public premises as
well as in homes, is used an electric or conductor rail, whereto electrical appliances,
e.g. light fixtures can readily be connected at any point of the rail. Such known
rail is manufactured in such a way that inside an aluminum profile runs a PVC-profile
provided with copper conductors. In such known rail, the aluminum profile acts as
a supporting structure, whereto an adapter can easily be fastened, and the PVC-profile
acts an insulator.
[0003] A certain electric rail or a busbar known previously is described in the FI publication
print 69730, in which the busbar is formed of a sectionally U-formed metallic profile
and of two longitudinal electric conductors fastened thereto by means of a plastic
retainer list.
[0004] Another conductor rail or busbar known previously is described in the FI publication
print 49658, in which the busbar comprises a supporting rail acting as supporting
structure, which busbar can be formed e.g. of an extruded aluminum rail, and to both
side walls of the supporting rail are fastened longitudinal insulator lists, in whose
grooves are embedded e.g. copper electric conductors.
[0005] A certain electric conductor-line solution previously known is described in the FI
publication print 66706. In this known solution, the current-collecting rail is provided
with two comb-shaped insulator profiles directed toward each other, in which profiles
the electric conductor rails are kept in conformity with their form. In addition,
an earthing conductor rail is installed in the profile of the busbar.
[0006] A certain rail solution previously known is described in the Fl publication print
65874, in which the rail is formed of a channel groove, which is made e.g. of anodized
aluminum by pressure casting and through which extends an insulator box, inside which
are installed conductors.
[0007] The above solutions previously known for a conductor rail are comprised of several
different parts, whereby the working phases of the production increase and thereby
increase the production costs of the conductor rail.
[0008] The object of the present invention is to provide a conductor rail manufactured by
using a pultrusion method.
[0009] The pultrusion refers to such a method, in which longitudinally continuous reinforced-plastic
products are produced, e.g. by absorbing continuous reinforced fibers or reinforced-fibre
bonds by means of a running resin hardening in heat and by drawing the fibers thus
absorbed through a nozzle, wherein the forming and the hardening of the product occur.
[0010] A certain solution previously known, in which the pultrusion method is applied, is
described in the US publication print 4,207,129. In this known solution, the pultrusion
is adapted to the production of conducting or semiconducting elements.
[0011] Another known solution, in which the pultrusion method is applied, is described in
the EP publication print 0274707, in which on the bases produced by the pultrusion
method containing sensitive conducting metallic conductor elements or the like is
electrostatically formed a coating.
[0012] The object of the invention is to provide a conductor rail, for the production of
which is applied a pultrusion method and which conductor rail is formed in one working
phase of the production.
[0013] For reaching the objects presented above and subsequently, the conductor rail according
to the invention is mainly characterized in that the supporting structure and the
insulator are formed into one and the same uniform profile by means of the protrusion
method.
[0014] In addition to the advantages obtained in the production, by means of the conductor
rail according to the invention, a coloration advantage is achieved in comparison
e.g. with a previously known gray aluminum profile, which is an important fact from
the point view of the appearance. In addition, the upper part of the profile of the
conductor rail can be formed e.g. into a cable trough, whereby the operating possibilities
of the conductor rail are diversified.
[0015] An advantage of the invention is also the fact that a product can readily be manufactured
of a plastic-frame profile, in which product the parts under voltage, e.g. conductors,
are protected behind blind angles in such a way that no electric shocks are possible.
[0016] The invention is next described with reference to the preferred application examples
shown in the accompanying drawing, to which examples the invention in nevertheless
in no way narrowly limited.
Fig. 1 shows schematically the inventive conductor rail structure, which is rectangular.
Fig. 2 shows schematically the inventive conductor rail structure, which is oval by
cross-section.
Fig. 3 shows schematically the inventive conductor rail, which is circular by cross-section.
Fig. 4 shows schematically the inventive conductor rail, in which the conductors are
on the same level with the supporting structure.
Fig. 5 shows schematically the inventive conductor rail, in which the conductors are
positioned in such a way that there is no risk of an electric shock.
Fig. 6 shows schematically the inventive conductor rail provided with a protecting
cover.
In the Figures 7A-7D are shown schematically different possibilities as a connection
between an insulator and a conductor in the conductor rail according to the invention.
[0017] In accordance with Fig. 1, a conductor rail 10 comprises a supporting structure 13
and an insulator structure 11. Conductors 12 are place in position in the manufacturing
phase of the conductor rail 10. According to Fig. 1, the conductors 12 are located
in the grooves of the insulator structure 11.
[0018] The conductor rail 10 shown in Fig. 2 is oval by cross-section, and the conductors
12 are located in the grooves of the insulator part 11 of the supporting structure
13.
[0019] In Fig. 3 is shown the conductor rail 10, the cross-sectional form of whose supporting
structure 13 is circular. The insulator structure 11 forms grooves, wherein are located
the conductors 12.
[0020] The conductor rail 10 shown in Fig. 4 is formed in such a way that the surface of
the insulator structure 11 corresponds to the surface of the supporting structure
13. In such a case, the current collector (not shown in the figure) to be positioned
inside the supporting structure 13 of the conductor rail can more freely move in the
conductor rail 10.
[0021] In Fig. 5, the conductor rail 10 is formed by cross-section in such a way that the
insulator structure 11 in a way forms a protective structure in the form of a blind
angle and that the electric parts or conductors 12 are positioned on the rear side
of the supporting structure.
[0022] The conductor rail 10 according to Fig. 6 corresponds by construction to the conductor
rail 10 shown in Fig. 1, but it is provided with a protecting cover 14.
[0023] In the Figures 7A-7D are shown schematically different possibilities as connections
between the insulator structure 11 of the supporting structure 13 of the conductor
rail 10 and the conductor 12.
[0024] In the case shown in Fig 7A, the insulator structure forms a lap protecting the
conductors 12. This insulator structure is flexible in order to enter the current
collector inside the insulator structure 11.
[0025] In the invention, the pultrusion method is utilized in such a way that the supporting
structure 13 and the insulator 11 is produced int one and the same profile.
[0026] When producing pultrusion products, either cold-set plastics or thermosetting plastics
can be used as the raw material. The most suitable raw material among the thermosetting
plastics for the conductor rail according to the invention is polypropylene, since
it is price-wise economical. Also e.g. polyamides and polybutylftalate can be used
as a raw material for the conductor rail. Among the cold-set plastics, the most suitable
raw material for the conductor rail according to the invention is polyester. It is
also possible to select from the cold-set plastics epoxy plastics or vinyl esters.
Another main raw material in the conductor rail according to the invention is fiber
and most preferably glass fiber.
[0027] Owing to the raw material and the manufacturing method, the conductor rail according
to the invention can be advantageously manufactured into the desired form, as shown
in Fig. 1-6. Although the cross-sections shown in the figures are mainly symmetric,
the conductor rail can also be manufactured cross-sectionally asymmetric e.g. in such
a way that one shank of the rail is stronger than the other. The conductor rail in
accordance with the invention can thus be easily manufactured also according to safety
regulations.
[0028] In addition, the guards or protecting covers can be, when manufactured of plastic,
easily formed and the plastic is also automatically an insulator providing additional
safety.
[0029] The invention has been described with reference to its certain application examples
only. However, the intention is not to limit the inven tion only to these examples,
but many changes and modifications are possible within the inventive idea defined
in the following patent claims.
[0030] The invention relates to a conductor rail (10) comprising a supporting structure
(13), an insulator (11) and a conductor or conductors (12) The supporting structure
(13) and the insulator (11) of the conductor rail (19) are formed into one and the
same uniform profile by means of a pultrusion method.
1. A conductor rail (10) comprising a supporting structure (13), an insulator (11)
and a conductor or conductors (12), characterized in that the supporting structure
(13) and the insulator (11) are formed into one and the same uniform profile by means
of a pultrusion method.
2. A conductor rail according to Claim 1, characterized in that the conductor or conductors
(12) are installed in place in connection with the pultrusion.
3. A conductor rail according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said profile
is formed of reinforced plastic.
4. A conductor rail according to Claim 3, characterized in that the resin component
of said reinforced plastic is a thermoplast.
5. A conductor rail according to Claim 4, characterized in that the thermoplast is
polypropylene.
6. A conductor rail according to Claim 3, characterized in that the resin component
of said reinforced plastic is a thermosetting plastic.
7. A conductor rail according to Claim 6, characterized in that the thermosetting
plastic is polyester.
8. A conductor rail according to Claim 3, characterized in that reinforcing component
of the reinforced plastic is a glass fiber.
9. A conductor rail according to any of the preceding Claims 1-8, characterized in
that the cross-section of the conductor rail (10) is essentially rectangular.
10. A conductor-rail according to any of the preceding Claims 1-8, characterized in
that the cross-section of the conductor rail (10) is essentially oval.
11. A conductor rail according to any of the preceding Claims 1-8, characterized in
that the cross-section of the conductor rail (10) is essentially circular.
12. A conductor rail according to any of the preceding Claims 1-11, characterized
in that the conductors (12) are located in grooves formed by the insulator structure
(11).
13. A conductor rail according to any of the preceding Claims 1-11, characterized
in that the surface of the insulator structure (11) and the conductors (12) is on
the same level.
14. A conductor rail according to any of the preceding Claims 1-13, characterized
in that the conductors (12) are positioned in such a way that the insulator structure
(11) forms for them a protective structure.
15. A conductor rail according to any of the preceding Claims 1-13, characterized
in that the conductor rail (10) is provided with a protecting cover (14).