Terminal block arrangement

Abstract

 The invention is about a terminal block arrangement (100), which has an elongated mounting strip (2) with two rectangular broad long-edged front plates (11, 12), equipped with parts (8, 9) formed at its opposing narrow short-edged side plates (13, 14) for coupling it to support parts (5, 6) of a support structure (7), said terminal block arrangement (100) having modules (3) that can be fitted to the mounting strip (2) next to one another in a row, said modules (3) having an insulated housing (4), whereby each housing (3) and the mounting strip (2) have mutual connection devices (21, 20) for the purpose of plugging the modules (3) to the mounting strip (2), transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the mounting strip (2), whereby each housing (4) has a mounting wall (45) and at least one receiving slot (21) in the mounting side (45), and that the mounting strip (2) has a number of connection bars (20) projecting from one of its two rectangular broad long-edged front plates (11) and oriented transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the mounting strip (2), whereby the receiving slot (21) and the connection bars (20) are forming the mutual connection devices, whereby the connection bar (20) has a T-shaped cross-section, with a first plate-like limb (40) arising from one of the two rectangular broad long-edged front plates (11), and with a second plate-like limb (41) formed at the free end of and perpendicular to the first limb (40).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a terminal block arrangement , which has an elongated mounting strip with two rectangular broad long-edged front plates, equipped with parts formed at its opposing narrow short-edged side plates for coupling it to support parts of a support structure, said terminal block arrangement having modules that can be fitted to the mounting strip next to one another in a row, said modules having an insulated housing, whereby each housing and the mounting strip have mutual connection devices for the purpose of plugging the modules to the mounting strip, transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the mounting strip (2), according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] EP 1217693B1 shows a terminal block arrangement for a distribution unit for an electrical installation, in particular for connecting protective earth conductors and neutral conductors (PE/N terminal), said terminal block arrangement having a mounting strip and modules that can be fitted to the mounting strip next to one another in a row, said modules having an insulating housing, whereby each of the housings and the mounting strip have devices for the purpose of plugging the modules to the mounting strip, transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the mounting strip, whereby said devices comprise a hook element which is connected to the housing, having a hook limb which engages behind the mounting strip.

[0003] The object of the present invention is to create a simplified type of terminal block arrangement where a stable positioning and fixation of the terminal modules to the mounting strip is achievable with simple handling of the devices

[0004] According to the invention, the above object is achieved by a terminal block arrangement with the features as pointed out in claim 1. According to the invention, each housing has a mounting wall and at least one receiving slot in the mounting wall , and the mounting strip has a number of connection bars projecting from one of its two rectangular broad long-edged front plates and oriented transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the mounting strip, whereby the receiving slot and the connection bars are forming the mutual connection devices, whereby the connection bar has a T-shaped cross-section, with a first plate-like limb arising from one of the two rectangular broad long-edged front plates, and with a second plate-like limb formed at the free end of and perpendicular to the first limb. The T-shaped cross-section of the connection bar in cooperartion with the receiving slot renders possible an easy way of stable positioning and fixing of the module housing to the mounting strip. The connection bars all being oriented in parallel and transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the mounting strip, they can in an advantageous way be arranged by being spaced apart in equal distances, forming a kind of raster. The housing of the module, if it has a larger size, may advantageously have a number of receiving slots, all of said receiving slots being arranged in a mutually spaced manner, spaced apart in the same equal distances as the connection bars, so that the raster of the receiving slots in the module housing fits to the raster of the connection bars at the mounting strip. Thus, the design according to the invention allows for an exact positioning of the module housings, in a rastered, grid-like spacing along the longitudinal extension of the mounting strip.

[0005] Advantageous embodiments are described in the characteristic features of the dependent claims.

[0006] According to an advantageous aspect of the invention, the mounting wall of the housing has an insertion edge and the receiving slot has an insertion opening at the insertion edge, said receiving slot extending from the insertion edge upwards towards a second edge of the housing located opposite the insertion edge, and the connection bar and the receiving slot are adapted for a gliding cooperation when the connection bar is inserted into the receiving slot at the insertion opening. The insertion opening may be a little wider than the receiving slot, facilitating the insertion of the module housing to the connection bars.

[0007] According to an advantageous aspect of the invention, the width of the receiving slot is adapted to the width of the second plate-like limb, and there are two rod-like lugs projecting from the mounting wall into the receiving slot, the thickness of the lugs are corresponding to the distance of the second plate-like limb from the broad long-edged front plate, leaving between their opposed free edges a free distance corresponding to the thickness of the first limb. The two rod-like lugs thus reduce the effective cross-section of the receiving slot when looking at it perpendicularly to the mounting wall of the housing. The two rod-like lugs do not reach completely down to the insertion edge, but they end in a short distance above the insertion edge. Thus in the remaining section of the receiving slot down to the insertion edge the effective cross-section of the receiving slot appears to be larger than in the rest of the slot, when looking at it perpendicularly to the mounting wall of the housing. The portion with the larger effective cross section thus forms the insertion opening mentioned above.

[0008] According to an advantageous aspect of the invention, the connection bar has an insertion end and a distal end opposite the insertion end, and the width of the cross-sectional contour of the connection bar at the distal end is larger than the width of the cross-sectional contour of the receiving slot at the insertion opening. The advantageous effect of this embodiment is that an insertion of the module at the distal end of the connection bar is prohibited and thus a false insertion of the module is impeded. For increasing the width of the cross-sectional contour of the connection bar at the distal end there numerous ways. One can increase the dimension of the cross-section of the first plate, or of the second plate, or of both. The increase of the width of the cross-sectional contour needs not be large. In essence, it would be sufficient to increase to a small extent, only to such an extent that the distal end of the connection bar still can be inserted into the insertion opening mentioned above, but does not easily fit into the remaining portion of the receiving slot, or can only be pressed into it by applying a substantial force. So the operator would easily recognize the difference between insertion on the correct side of the connection bar, where insertion is smooth and an easy gliding of the receiving slot on the connection bar is felt, and insertion on the wrong side, where insertion is not smoothly possible.

[0009] According to an advantageous aspect of the invention, the mutual adaptation of at least one of a connection bar and its corresponding receiving slot is designed for a connection with force transmission by friction. The force transmission by friction would occur after insertion of the receiving slot on the connection bar and moving the housing some way along the connection bar downwards, so that in the first part of the insertion path there is a smooth gliding, and towards the end the force transmission by friction gets into effect. The advantage is that due to the force transmission by friction there is a stable fixation of the module housing to the mounting strip achievable without any further fixation means such as hooks or the like, which also can easily be released just by pushing the module housing back again. If a module housing has more than one receiving slots, as described above arranged in a spaced manner, it may be sufficient that only the mutual adaptation of one of the connection bars and one of the receiving slot is designed for a connection with force transmission by friction.

[0010] According to an advantageous aspect of the invention, there is a distance-reducing means applied to the free edge of at least one of the rod-like lugs. Thus the force transmission by friction is achieved by means of at least partially decreasing the distance between the opposed free edges of a pair of rod-like lugs facing each other. If a module housing has more than one receiving slots, as described above arranged in a spaced manner, it may be sufficient that distance-reducing means are applied to the free edge of only one of the rod-like lugs, so that only one of several receiving slots in the mounting wall of the module housing has a reduced cross-section to achieve a force transmission by friction. The creation of a force transmission by friction thus achieved by reducing the cross section of the receiving slot of the housing has the advantage that the mounting strip and the connection bars need not be modified.

[0011] According to an advantageous aspect of the invention, the distance-reducing means is a lug or a bump formed to at least one of the opposed free edges of a pair of two rod-like lugs facing each other. Again, if a module housing has more than one receiving slots, as described above arranged in a spaced manner, it may be sufficient that a lug or a bump is formed to only one of the opposed free edges of a pair of two rod-like lugs facing each other so that only one of several receiving slots in the mounting wall of the module housing has a reduced cross-section to achieve a force transmission by friction.

[0012] According to an advantageous aspect of the invention, there is a contour-widening means applied to the cross-sectional contour of the connection bar. Thus the force transmission by friction is achieved by at least partially increasing the cross-sectional contour of the connection bar. The creation of a force transmission by friction thus achieved by increasing the cross section of the connection bar has the advantage that the housing and the receiving slots therein need not be modified.

[0013] According to an advantageous aspect of the invention, the contour-widening means is a thickness-increasing means at least partially increasing the thickness of the second plate-like limb, so that the force transmission by friction is achieved by at least partially increasing the thickness of the second plate-like limb.

[0014] According to an advantageous aspect of the invention, there is at least one frontal expansion means applied to at least one of the broad long-edged front plate of the mounting strip or the mounting wall of the housing. Thus the force transmission by friction is achieved by a jamming effect when the module is plugged to the mounting strip.

[0015] According to an advantageous aspect of the invention, the frontal expansion means is a bump protruding from the broad long-edged front plate of the mounting strip.

[0016] According to an advantageous aspect of the invention, the frontal expansion means is a bump protruding from the mounting wall of the housing. The advantage of this embodiment is that it may be sufficient to foresee only one bump on the mounting wall of the housing and leave the mounting strip un-modified, which makes the necessary modification very easy.

[0017] According to an advantageous aspect of the invention, a resilient fixation arm which biases into a retaining position is formed in the mounting wall of the module housing by slot-like recesses, that the fixation arm has a latching member protruding out of the mounting wall, which is adapted for a resiliently latching engagement with a corresponding recess formed in the broad long-edged front plate of the mounting strip, that the latching member can be released by pressing the fixation arm towards the inside of the housing. This is an alternative and/or an additional means for fixing the module housing to the mounting strip.

[0018] According to an advantageous aspect of the invention, the free end of the resilient fixation arm has a pushing member at its end for pushing the end portion of the resilient fixation arm towards the inside of the housing for releasing the latching engagement.

[0019] According to an advantageous aspect of the invention, there is at least one spacer formed at the mounting wall of the housing positioned near the latching member, for limiting the displacement of the resilient arm when pressing the mounting wall of the housing against a flat surface.

[0020] The invention will be described in greater detail by description of an embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein

Fig. 1

shows an embodiment of a distribution unit with a terminal block arrangement according to the invention,

Fig. 2

shows a module oriented towards a mounting strip in a terminal block arrangement according to the invention,

Fig. 3a

shows a module oriented towards a mounting strip in a terminal block arrangement according to a second embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 3b

shows a schematic drawing of a side view and a view perpendicular to the mounting wall of a module according to the embodiment shown in figure 3a,

Fig. 4

shows a sectional view of the terminal block arrangement according to the embodiment of figure 3a, the module being fixed to the mounting strip,

Fig. 5

shows a sectional topside view of the terminal block arrangement according to fig. 4,

Fig. 6

shows an enlarged detail view of the mounting interface between a module fixed to a mounting strip according to the embodiment shown in figure 3a,

Fig. 7a

shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a housing mounted to a mounting strip in a terminal block arrangement according to the invention,

Fig. 7b

shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a housing and a mounting strip in a terminal block arrangement according to the invention, prior to assembly of both together, with a height-increasing means increasing the height of the second plate-like limb of one of the connection bars,

Fig. 7c

shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a housing and a mounting strip in a terminal block arrangement according to the invention, prior to assembly of both together, with three embodiments of distance-reducing means applied to the free edge of at least one of the rod-like lugs bordering the receiving slot,

Fig. 7d

shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a housing and a mounting strip in a terminal block arrangement according to the invention, prior to assembly of both together, with two embodiments of frontal expansion means applied to the broad long-edged front plate of the mounting strip or the mounting wall of the housing.

[0021] Referring to figures 1 to 7, there is shown a distribution unit 1 for an electrical installation. The distribution unit 1 has a substructure 7 in form of a mounting plate. There are two locations with means for installing a top hat rail 32, also called a DIN hat rail, to the substructure 7. Instead of the top hat rail 32 shown any other kind of profiled rails allowed in the various technical standards that are applied in different countries throughout the world for electrical distribution boards may be applied. The top hat rail serves for mounting electrical installation devices, such as miniature circuit breakers (MCM), residual current circuit breakers (RCCB), contactor devices, overvoltage protection devices or the like. In fig. 1 as an example an MCB device 33 is mounted to the top hat rail 32. In the distribution board 1 shown in figure 1 two such top hat rails can be installed in parallel and at a distance apart from each other, although only one of them, the one close to the topside edge 34 of the mounting plate 7 distribution unit 1 is shown.

[0022] The distribution unit 1 is further comprising a terminal block arrangement 100, in particular for connecting protective earth conductors and neutral conductors (PE/N terminal). The terminal block arrangement 100 is located at the topside edge of the mounting plate 7. It could as well be located at the bottom-side edge, opposite of the top-side edge, or there could be terminal block arrangements both at the top-side edge and the bottom-side edge. The terminal block arrangement 100 has a mounting strip 2 and modules 3, only one module 3 shown in exemplary mode in figure 1, that can be fitted to the mounting strip 2 next to one another in a row.

[0023] The terminal block arrangement 100 usually has a conductor rail and a number of connection elements for the purpose of connecting conductors to the conductor rail. Each of the modules 3 has at least one of the connection elements. The modules 3 have an insulating housing 4 and a conductor rail section (not shown here in figure 1) which is arranged within the housing 4. The conductor rail sections are forming the conductor rail, and the terminal block arrangement has links for the purpose of electrically connecting the conductor rail sections of modules which are fitted next to one another on the mounting strip.

[0024] The distribution unit 1 has a first and a second support 5, 6 for the mounting strip 2 being disposed at a spacing from one another on the substructure 7. Located next to the first and second supports 5, 6, there are additional first and second supports 5', 6', situated a small distance below the first and second supports 5, 6. The height above the mounting plate 7 of the first and second supports 5, 6 is larger than the height above the mounting plate 7 of the additional first and second supports 5', 6'. So the additional first and second supports 5', 6' allow for fixing the mounting strip 2 close to the mounting plate 7, and the first and second supports 5, 6 allow for mounting the mounting strip 2 at a certain distance above the mounting plate 7. It may even be the case that two mounting strips, each equipped with terminal blocks, are installed, one on the first and second supports 5, 6 and the other on the additional first and second supports 5', 6'. Figure 1 shows the situation where a first mounting strip 2' is fixed to the additional first and second supports 5', 6', a second mounting strip 2 is shown in a position before fixing to the supports, the arrows indicating the direction of insertion to the supports 5, 6.

[0025] The mounting strip 2 is being secured to the supports 5, 6, whereby for this purpose the mounting strip 2 has coupling parts 8, 9 being formed at its opposing narrow ends. Each of the coupling parts 8, 9 have a latch that can be released by pressing it in direction towards the free end of the mounting strip 2 by a tool or by a finger. The latch biases into a retaining position.

[0026] The mounting strip 2 is formed as an elongated cube-shaped rod. The rod has two rectangular broad long-edged plates 11, 12 which are connected by two rectangular narrow short-edged plates 13, 14. The long edges of the broad long-edged plates 11, 12 and the narrow edges of the narrow short-edged plates 13, 14 define two narrow long-edged side sections 17, 18.

[0027] Each of the housings 4 and the mounting strip 2 have devices for the purpose of plugging the modules 3 to the mounting strip 2, transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the mounting strip 2. Said devices on the side of the mounting strip 2 are formed as projecting bars 20, oriented transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the mounting strip 2, arranged in parallel to each other, formed to the outside of one of its rectangular broad long-edged plates 11, 12. Said devices on the side of the insulating housing are formed as at least one slot 21 oriented transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the mounting strip 2 and adapted for positive locking of the bar 2 into the slot 21 when plugging the module housing 4 to the mounting strip 2.

[0028] Each housing 4 has a mounting wall 45 and at least one receiving slot 21 in the mounting side 45. The mounting wall 45 has an insertion edge 42 and the receiving slot 21 has an insertion opening 43 at the insertion edge 42, extending from the insertion edge 42 upwards towards a second edge 44 of the housing 4 located opposite the insertion edge 42. The receiving slot 21 extends about half the way up from the insertion edge 42 to the second edge. The insertion opening 43 is a little wider than the receiving slot 21, facilitating the pushing of the module housing 4 to the connection bars.

[0029] Inside the housing 4 and attached to the housing 4 there are all the parts that a housing for a modular terminal clamp requires, such as cable insertion means and channels, clamping spring with clamping spring holding means, terminal screw clamps with screw accession opening in the housing 4 and so on. All these components are not described in detail here, although they can be seen in the figures and the person skilled in the art will recognise them in the figures.

[0030] The mounting strip 2 has a number of connection bars 20 projecting from one of its two rectangular broad long-edged front plates 11 and oriented transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the mounting strip 2. So the receiving slot 21 and the connection bars 20 are forming the mutual connection devices. The connection bar 20 has a T-shaped cross-section, with a first plate-like limb 40 arising from the broad long-edged front plate 11, and with a second plate-like limb 41 formed at the free end of and perpendicular to the first limb 40.

[0031] The connection bars 20 are all oriented in parallel and transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the mounting strip 2. They are arranged by being spaced apart in equal distances, forming a kind of raster. In figure 1 one sees a raster of 16 connection bars 20, in figure 2 and 3a one sees a detail with 6 resp. 7 of these connection bars 20. The housing of the module 3 has four receiving slots 21, all of said receiving slots 21 being arranged in a mutually spaced manner, spaced apart in the same equal distances as the connection bars 20. So the raster of the receiving slots 21 in the housing 4 of module 3 fits to the raster of the connection bars 20 at the mounting strip 2. This design allows for an exact positioning of the housings 4 of module 3, in a rastered, grid-like spacing along the longitudinal extension of the mounting strip 2.

[0032] The connection bar 20 and the receiving slot 21 are adapted for a gliding cooperation when the connection bar 20 is inserted into the receiving slot 21 at the insertion opening 43.

[0033] In the schemes of figures 7a, to 7d it can be seen that the width w of the receiving slot 21 is adapted to the width w' of the second plate-like limb 41, which means that the second plate-like limb 41 is guided within the receiving slot 21, it can easily glide within the receiving slot 21. There are two rod-like lugs 46, 47 projecting from the mounting wall 45 into the receiving slot 21. The thickness t of the lugs 46, 47 are corresponding to the distance of the second plate-like limb 41 from the broad long-edged front plate 11, leaving between their opposed free edges a free distance d corresponding to the thickness t' of the first limb 40. In other words, the interior of the receiving slot 21 forms a kind of negative T-shape, which matches the T-shape of the connection bar 20 in the sense of an adaption for a gliding coupling when the connection bars 20 are inserted into the receiving slots 21.

[0034] The two rod-like lugs 46, 47 do not reach completely down to the insertion edge 42, but they end in a short distance above the insertion edge 42. Thus in the remaining section of the receiving slot 21 down to the insertion edge 42 the effective cross-section of the receiving slot 21 appears to be larger than in the rest of the slot 21, when looking at it perpendicularly to the mounting wall of the housing, see figure 3b. The portion with the larger effective cross section thus forms the insertion opening 43 mentioned above.

[0035] The connection bar 20 has an insertion end 48 and a distal end opposite the insertion end 48, see figures 2 and 3a. The reference sign 48 is shown only once in the figures, but it is understood that the other connection bars can easily be identified in the figures, as their structure is the same as that marked with a reference sign, and for purposes of clarity of drawing only one out of a number of identical multiple structures was marked with a reference number.

[0036] The width of the cross-sectional contour of the connection bar 20 at the insertion end is matched with cross-sectional contour of the receiving slot 21 for easy insertion, but the cross-sectional contour of the connection bar 20 at the distal end is larger than the width of the cross-sectional contour of the receiving slot 21 at the insertion opening 43, so that an insertion of the module 3 at the distal end of the connection bar 20 is prohibited and thus a false insertion of the module 3 is impeded. The described widening of the contour is not shown in the figures, but it can easily be understood.

[0037] For increasing the width of the cross-sectional contour of the connection bar 20 at the distal end there a numerous ways. One can increase the dimension of the cross-section of the first plate-like limb 40, or of the second plate-like limb 41, or of both. The increase of the width of the cross-sectional contour needs not be large. In essence, it would be sufficient to increase to a small extent, only to such an extent that the distal end of the connection bar 20 still can be inserted into the insertion opening 43 mentioned above, but does not easily fit into the remaining portion of the receiving slot 21, or can only be pressed into it by applying a substantial force. So the operator would easily recognize the difference between insertion on the correct side of the connection bar, where insertion is smooth and an easy gliding of the receiving slot on the connection bar is felt, and insertion on the wrong side, where insertion is not smoothly possible.

[0038] Looking now to figures 7a to 7d, it is explained how the mutual adaptation of at least one of a connection bars 20 and its corresponding receiving slot 21 is designed for a connection with force transmission by friction.

[0039] In the three embodiments shown in figure 7c (right, middle, left part of the figure, separated by the zig-zag line to indicate three possible embodiments), there is a distance-reducing means 49, 50 applied to the free edge of at least one of the rod-like lugs 46, 47, so that the distance between the free ends of the lugs is reduced to a smaller distance d' and so the force transmission by friction is achieved by means of at least partially decreasing the distance between the opposed free edges of a pair of rod-like lugs 46, 47 facing each other from d to d'.

[0040] On the part shown on the left hand side of figure 7c, the distance-reducing means 49 is a lug 49 formed to both opposed free edges of a pair of two rod-like lugs 46, 47 facing each other. On the part shown on the right-hand side of figure 7c, the distance-reducing means 49 is a lug 49 formed to only one of the free edges of a pair of two rod-like lugs 46, 47 facing each other.

[0041] On the part shown in the central part of figure 7c, the distance-reducing means 50 are two bumps 50 formed to both free edges of a pair of two rod-like lugs 46, 47 facing each other.

[0042] In the embodiment shown in figure 7b, there is a contour-widening means applied to the cross-sectional contour of the connection bar 20' shown in the central part of figure 7b, so that the force transmission by friction is achieved by at least partially increasing the cross-sectional contour of the connection bar 20'. The contour-widening means is a thickness-increasing means 60, for example an additional thickening, at least partially increasing the thickness h' of the second plate-like limb 41', making it larger than the thickness h of the unchanged second plate-like limb 40 of the other two connection bars 20, so that the force transmission by friction is achieved by at least partially increasing the thickness h' of the second plate-like limb 41'.

[0043] In the two embodiments shown in figure 7d (right, and left part of the figure, separated by the zig-zag line to indicate two possible embodiments), there is at least one frontal expansion means 51, 51' applied to at least one of the broad long-edged front plate 11 of the mounting strip 2 or the mounting wall 45 of the housing 4. The force transmission by friction is achieved by a jamming effect when the module 3 is plugged to the mounting strip 2. On the left hand side of figure 7d it is shown that the frontal expansion means is a bump 51 protruding from the broad long-edged front plate 11 of the mounting strip 2. On the right hand side of figure 7d it is shown that the frontal expansion means is a bump 51' protruding from the mounting wall 45 of the housing 4.

[0044] Figures 3a and 3b show an embodiment where there is an alternative or additional means for fixing the housing 4 of module 3 to the mounting strip 2. There is a resilient fixation arm 52, which biases into a retaining position. The resilient fixation arm is formed in the mounting wall 45 of the module housing 4 by slot-like recesses 53, 54, 55. The fixation arm has a latching member 56, here in the form of a latching nose, protruding out of the mounting wall 45. In the broad long-edged front plate 11 of the mounting strip 2 there are recesses 57 formed, one of these is indicated in figure 4. The recesses are rastered with the same raster as the connection bars 20 and the receiving slots 21, whereby each of the recesses 57 is located between two neighbouring connection bars 21, as also each resilient fixation arm 52 is located between two neighbouring insertion slots 21. It is not required to have as many resilient fixation arms as recesses. It may be sufficient for small housings to have as little as one resilient fixation are. In the embodiment of figure 3a there are only two resilient fixation arms, one to the left, one to the right, none in the centre. Each resilient fixation arm 52 is adapted for a resiliently latching engagement with a corresponding recess 57.

[0045] The free end of the resilient fixation arm 52 has a pushing member 58 at its end for pushing the end portion of the resilient fixation arm 52 towards the inside of the housing 4. The latching member 56 can be released by pushing on the pushing member 58 and so pressing the fixation arm 52 towards the inside of the housing 4 for releasing the latching engagement. Positioned near the latching member 56, there is at least one spacer 59 formed at the mounting wall 45 of the housing 4. The effect of the spacer is to limit the displacement of the resilient arm when pressing the mounting wall 45 of the housing 4 against a flat surface.

[0046] As can be seen in figure 6, the pushing member 58 exceeds the upper surface of the mounting strip 2 when the module is fixed to the mounting strip. So the pushing member 58 is accessible for a manual pushing operation, by finger or by a tool, even when the housing 4 is fixed to the mounting strip. So it is possible to release an individual housing out of a combination of housings arranged in a row and fixed to a mounting strip, even from within the combination.

List of reference signs

[0047] 

1

distribution unit

2

elongated mounting strip

3

module

4

housing

5

support part

6

support part

7

support structure

8

coupling part

9

coupling part

11

broad long-edged front plate

12

broad long-edged front plate

13

narrow short-edged plate

14

narrow short-edged plate

20

connection bar

21

receiving slot

32

top hat rail

33

MCB device

34

edge of support structure

40

first plate-like limb

41

second plate-like limb

42

insertion edge

43

insertion opening

44

second edge

45

mounting wall

46

rod-like lug

47

rod-like lug

48

insertion end

49

distance-reducing means for lug 46, 47

50

distance-reducing means for lug 46, 47

51

frontal expansion means

51'

frontal expansion means

52

resilient fixation arm

53

slot-like recess

54

slot-like recess

55

slot-like recess

56

locking member

57

recess

58

pushing member

59

spacer

60

thickness-increasing means

100

terminal block arrangement

w

width of slot 21

w'

width of second limb 41

t

thickness of lugs 46, 47

t'

thickness of first limb 40

h

thickness of second plate-like limb 41

d

free distance between free ends of lugs 46, 47

d'

reduced free distance between free ends of lugs 46, 47

Claims

1. Terminal block arrangement (100), which has an elongated mounting strip (2) with two rectangular broad long-edged front plates (11, 12), equipped with parts (8, 9) formed at its opposing narrow short-edged side plates (13, 14) for coupling it to support parts (5, 6) of a support structure (7), said terminal block arrangement (100) having modules (3) that can be fitted to the mounting strip (2) next to one another in a row, said modules (3) having an insulated housing (4), whereby each housing (3) and the mounting strip (2) have mutual connection devices (21, 20) for the purpose of plugging the modules (3) to the mounting strip (2), transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the mounting strip (2),
characterised in that each housing (4) has a mounting wall (45) and at least one receiving slot (21) in the mounting side (45), and that the mounting strip (2) has a number of connection bars (20) projecting from one of its two rectangular broad long-edged front plates (11) and oriented transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the mounting strip (2), whereby the receiving slot (21) and the connection bars (20) are forming the mutual connection devices, whereby the connection bar (20) has a T-shaped cross-section, with a first plate-like limb (40) arising from one of the two rectangular broad long-edged front plates (11), and with a second plate-like limb (41) formed at the free end of and perpendicular to the first limb (40).

2. Terminal block arrangement (100) according to claim 1, characterised in that the mounting wall (45) has an insertion edge (42) and that the receiving slot (21) has an insertion opening (43) at the insertion edge (42), extending from the insertion edge (42) upwards towards a second edge (44) of the housing (4) located opposite the insertion edge (43), and that the connection bar (20) and the receiving slot (21) are adapted for a gliding cooperation when the connection bar (20) is inserted into the receiving slot (21) at the insertion opening (43).

3. Terminal block arrangement (100) according to claim 2, characterised in that the width(w) of the receiving slot (21) is adapted to the width (w') of the second plate-like limb (41), and that there are two rod-like lugs (46, 47) projecting from the mounting wall (45) into the receiving slot (21), the thickness (t) of the lugs (46, 47) corresponding to the distance of the second plate-like limb (41) from the broad long-edged front plate (11), leaving between their opposed free edges a free distance (d) corresponding to the thickness (t') of the first limb (40).

4. Terminal block arrangement (100) according to claim 3, characterised in that the connection bar (20) has an insertion end (48) and a distal end opposite the insertion end (48), and that the width of the cross-sectional contour of the connection bar (20) at the distal end is larger than the width of the cross-sectional contour of the receiving slot (21) at the insertion opening (43), so that an insertion of the module (3) at the distal end of the connection bar (20) is prohibited and thus a false insertion of the module (3) is impeded.

5. Terminal block arrangement (100) according to claim 3, characterised in that the mutual adaptation of at least one of a connection bar (20) and its corresponding receiving slot (21) is designed for a connection with force transmission by friction.

6. Terminal block arrangement (100) according to claim 5, characterised in that there is a distance-reducing means (49, 50) applied to the free edge of at least one of the rod-like lugs (46, 47), so that the force transmission by friction is achieved by means of at least partially decreasing the distance (d) between the opposed free edges of a pair of rod-like lugs (46, 47) facing each other.

7. Terminal block arrangement (100) according to claim 6, characterised in that the distance-reducing means (49, 50) is a lug (49) or a bump (50) formed to at least one of the opposed free edges of a pair of two rod-like lugs (46, 47) facing each other.

8. Terminal block arrangement (100) according to claim 5, characterised in that there is a contour-widening means applied to the cross-sectional contour of the connection bar (20), so that the force transmission by friction is achieved by at least partially increasing the cross-sectional contour of the connection bar (20).

9. Terminal block arrangement (100) according to claim 8, characterised in that the contour-widening means is a thickness-increasing means (60) at least partially increasing the thickness (h) of the second plate-like limb (41), so that the force transmission by friction is achieved by at least partially increasing the thickness (h) of the second plate-like limb (41).

10. Terminal block arrangement (100) according to claim 5, characterised in that there is at least one frontal expansion means (51, 51') applied to at least one of the broad long-edged front plate (11) of the mounting strip (2) or the mounting wall (45) of the housing (4), so that the force transmission by friction is achieved by a jamming effect when the module (3) is plugged to the mounting strip (2).

11. Terminal block arrangement (100) according to claim 10, characterised in that the frontal expansion means is a bump (51) protruding from the broad long-edged front plate (11) of the mounting strip (2).

12. Terminal block arrangement (100) according to claim 10, characterised in that the frontal expansion means is a bump (51') protruding from the mounting wall (45) of the housing (4).

13. Terminal block arrangement (100) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that a resilient fixation arm (52) which biases into a retaining position is formed in the mounting wall (45) of the module housing (4) by slot-like recesses (53, 54, 55), that the fixation arm has a latching member (56) protruding out of the mounting wall (45), which is adapted for a resiliently latching engagement with a corresponding recess (57) formed in the broad long-edged front plate (11) of the mounting strip (2), that the latching member (56) can be released by pressing the fixation arm (52) towards the inside of the housing (4).

14. Terminal block arrangement (100) according to claim 13, characterised in that the free end of the resilient fixation arm (52) has a pushing member (58) at its end for pushing the end portion of the resilient fixation arm (52) towards the inside of the housing (4) for releasing the latching engagement.

15. Terminal block arrangement (100) according to claim 14, characterised in that, positioned near the latching member (56), there is at least one spacer (59) formed at the mounting wall (45) of the housing (4) for limiting the displacement of the resilient arm when pressing the mounting wall (45) of the housing (4) against a flat surface.

Drawing