Switching and/or Distributing Device

Abstract

A switching and/or distributing device has at least one receiving housing and a housing cover. Arranged in at least one housing rail region are one or a plurality of power distribution rails which extend substantially in a main plane and arc connected to sub-distribution rails. In at least a first plane, said sub-distribution rails extend substantially in parallel to the main plane and arc electrically insulated from one another and extend in the direction of at least one housing component region, wherein in the housing component region, in particular modular components, which contain electrical/electronic operating means, arc in electrical contact with one sub-distribution rail each. As a result, a switching and/or distributing device is improved in such a way that the arrangement of corresponding components is possible easily without much additional effort even in potentially explosive atmospheres and a plurality of components of different ty pes and of different sizes can be arranged at the same time.

Claims

1. Switching and/or distributing device with at least one receiving housing and a housing cover, wherein in at least one housing rail region, at least one power distribution rail is arranged, which substantially extends in a main plane and is connected to sub-distribution rails, which extend in at least a first plane substantially in parallel to the main plane and are electrically insulated from one another and extend in the direction of at least one housing component region, wherein in the housing component region, modular components, which contain electrical/electronic operating means, are in electrical contact with one sub-distribution rail each.

2. Switching and/or distributing device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one power distribution rail runs substantially horizontally and the sub-distribution rails run substantially vertically at an offset relative to one another.

3. Switching and/or distributing device according to claim 1, wherein the sub-distribution rails extend at least over part of their longitudinal extent in at least the first plane or a second plane that is substantially in parallel thereto.

4. Switching and/or distributing device according to claim 1, wherein the sub-distribution rails are changed in their course before or after reaching the housing component region and run in one plane.

5. Switching and/or distributing device according to claim 1, wherein a busbar system consisting of a plurality of power distribution rails and sub-distribution rails, and a bus system consisting of local buses and/or field buses are arranged in the switching and/or distributing device.

6. Switching and/or distributing device according to claim 1, wherein the components are detachably connected to the sub-distribution rails.

7. Switching and/or distributing device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one power distribution rail is arranged in a housing rail region separated from the housing component region.

8. Switching and/or distributing device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one power distribution rail is in particular detachably mounted on a housing rear wall.

9. Switching and/or distributing device according to claim 5, wherein an insulating separating plate is arranged between the components and the sub-distribution rails, the separating plate having openings for an electrical connection between the components and the sub-distribution rails.

10. Switching and/or distributing device according to claim 9, wherein the components are latched in their electrical connection position to the separating plate.

11. Switching and/or distributing device according to claim 10, wherein the separating plate has, on its attachment side opposite the sub-distribution rails, bordered insertion regions into which one or a plurality of the components can be inserted and can be latched or snapped-in in their inserted electrical connection position.

12. Switching and/or distributing device according to claim 11, wherein the insertion regions protrude on the attachment side and are formed with a uniform grid dimension or a multiple thereof.

13. Switching and/or distributing device according to claim 11, wherein the separating plate has cable ducts extending substantially horizontally or vertically between adjacent insertion regions.

14. Switching and/or distributing device according to claim 13, wherein a connection block is assigned to each insertion region and is wired to a cable duct.

15. Switching and/or distributing device according to claim 11, wherein all the insertion regions have substantially the same dimensions.

16. Switching and/or distributing device according to claim 1, wherein each component has an encapsulated component housing and is designed to be explosion-protected.

17. Switching and/or distributing device according to claim 14, wherein the busbar system, bus system, components, cable ducts and connection blocks are pre-wired.

18. Switching and/or distributing device according to claim 9, wherein a locking device is formed in the separating plate between the component and the insertion region and/or the opening.

19. Switching and/or distributing device according to claim 14, wherein the connection block is designed in the “increased safety” ignition protection type.

20. Switching and/or distributing device according to claim 19, wherein components and sub-distribution rails are electrically connected to one another in the “increased safety” ignition protection type.

21. Switching and/or distributing device according to claim 13, wherein the cable duct is led out of the switching and/or distributing device and separate cable ducts are arranged at least for intrinsically safe and non-intrinsically safe circuits of the components.

22. Switching and/or distributing device according to claim 14, wherein the connection block is designed in ignition protection type Ex-e or Ex-i.

23. Switching and/or distributing device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of switching and/or distributing devices are arranged on wall frames and/or stand frames.

24. Switching and/or distributing device according to claim 3, wherein the first and the second plane are arranged above and below the main plane respectively.

25. Switching and/or distributing device according to claim 1, wherein a connection of the component and sub-distribution rails is formed in the “increased safety” ignition protection type in connection with a pressure-resistant switching device.

Description

[0033] An advantageous exemplary embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the figures enclosed in the drawing.

[0034] Shown are:

[0035] FIG. 1 a lateral perspective view obliquely from the front of an exemplary embodiment according to the invention of a switching and/or distributing device without a housing cover shown, and

[0036] FIG. 2 an enlarged illustration of a component for insertion in a corresponding insertion region.

[0037] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view obliquely from the front of a switching and/or distributing device 1 according to the invention. Said switching and/or distributing device 1 has a box-like receiving housing 2 which comprises at least one outer wall and a housing rear wall 22. Such a switching and/or distributing device 1 can be arranged in a wall frame or stand frame next to further switching and/or distributing devices (see 1′). The switching and/or distributing device 1′ is closed, for example, by an indicated housing cover 3. Said housing cover 3 can likewise be used in the further switching and/or distributing device 1 according to FIG. 1 but is not shown there.

[0038] A housing rail region 21 is formed in an upper region of the receiving housing 2, and a housing component region 17 is formed in a lower region of the receiving housing 2. A busbar system 20 of power distribution rails 4, 5, 6 and sub-distribution rails 8 to 14 is arranged in the housing rail region 21. Arranged in the housing component region 17 is an insulating separating plate 23 on which a plurality of components 18 with electrical and/or electronic operating means 19 contained therein is arranged (see also FIG. 2).

[0039] The power distribution rails 4, 5 and 6 run substantially horizontally in the receiving housing and can in particular be detachably fastened to the housing rear wall 22. The power distribution rails are used to supply power and can be connected to various circuits outside the switching and/or distributing device.

[0040] Sub-distribution rails 8 to 14 extend substantially perpendicularly to the power distribution rails 4 to 6. Above or below the power distribution rails 4 to 6, said sub-distribution rails 8 to 14 are electrically connected thereto. All the power distribution rails 4 to 6 are arranged in a main plane 7 which runs at a distance from the housing rear wall 22, wherein the corresponding power distribution rails 4 to 6 are fastened by brackets 33 in their mutual position at a distance from one another and relative to the housing rear wall 22.

[0041] The sub-distribution rails 8 to 14 run in two further planes 15 and 16, wherein the sub-distribution rails 8, 13, 14 arranged on a front side of the power distribution rails 4 to 6 in FIG. 1 are arranged in a first plane and the further sub-distribution rails 9, 10, 11, 12 are arranged in a second plane 16. The sub-distribution rails 8 to 14 extend in the direction of the housing component region 17 and serve there for the electrical supply of the various components 18.

[0042] At this point, it is pointed out that the sub-distribution rails 8 to 14 in the housing rail region 21 can likewise run in only one plane in order to simplify contacting with the corresponding components 18. That is to say, the sub-distribution rails 8 to 14 are arranged in the housing component region 17 in only one plane, for example the main plane 7, the first plane 15 or the second plane 16. This plane forms a corresponding contact plane which is the same for all components 18 so that electrical contacting between sub-distribution rails 8 to 14 and components 18 is standardized.

[0043] In order to ensure for the sub-distribution rails 8 to 14 that they are in contact with only one power distribution rail 4 to 6, spacer elements may be arranged between the sub-distribution rails 8 to 14 and the power distribution rails 4 to 6, which spacer elements on the one hand ensure the connection of the sub-distribution rails to the power distribution rails and on the other hand, for example, prevent the sub-distribution rails from contacting a plurality of power distribution rails.

[0044] For arranging the various components 18 in the housing component region 17, the separating plate 23 is provided, which is likewise formed from an insulating material and has a series of insertion regions 27. Said insertion regions 27 are delimited by an edge 28 which protrudes in particular from an attachment side 26 of the separating plate 23 opposite the sub-distribution rails. A corresponding region 27 has at least a minimum grid dimension, which corresponds, for example, to the smallest size of a component 18. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the insertion regions 27 have a multiple of such a grid dimension so that, for example, a plurality of components 18 of the smallest size can be arranged in an insertion region 27 (see, for example, component according to FIG. 1). The remaining components likewise have a corresponding multiple of such sizes of the smallest components 18, which multiple may correspond to the multiple grid dimension of the insertion region 27 (see, for example, four components 18 in one insertion region or only two or one component in other insertion regions).

[0045] To each of the insertion regions is laterally assigned a connection block 30 which is connected to corresponding lines in a cable duct 29. Overall, the switching and/or distributing device according to the invention is pre-wired so that only insertion of the corresponding component in the selected insertion region 27 has to take place, wherein the component 18 is then connected in its connection point 25 (see FIG. 1) both to the corresponding sub-distribution rail on the one hand and to further connection lines in the direction of the connection block 30. The pre-wiring likewise includes the corresponding components which are only inserted into the insertion region 27 and latch or snap in there.

[0046] The components contain corresponding electrical and electronic operating means 13 in order to form, for example, an automatic unit, a fuse, a circuit breaker, a main switch, an engine starter, an air-break contactor, an installation contactor or the like.

[0047] It is also possible for components arranged to the left of cable duct 29 in FIG. 1, for example, to contain other operating means than the components arranged to the right of the cable duct. As a result, a certain pre-selection may be given, which also relates, for example, to the supply with different voltages, so that the components arranged to the left of the cable duct are connected via the corresponding sub-distribution rails to a different voltage supply than the components arranged to the right of the cable duct. This then likewise relates analogously to the further wiring between the insertion region, connection block and cable duct.

[0048] The cable duct 29 can be led out of the receiving housing 2 in order to be connected there to corresponding consumers outside the switching and/or distributing device.

[0049] Corresponding devices for latching or snapping-in the various components in their connection position 25 are not shown in detail in FIG. 1 or 2. Various latching devices or snap-in devices can be used for this purpose. In this connection, it is furthermore possible for a component to be pulled out of the connection position 25 in two steps. In a first step, the electrical connection to the corresponding sub-distribution rail is disconnected, wherein the complete separation of component 18 and insertion region 27 can subsequently take place in the next step.

[0050] Furthermore, there is the possibility that an additional explosion-protected switch is provided at least for each insertion region 27 and switches off the power to this specific insertion region 27. The corresponding component can then be removed or inserted easily.

[0051] The components 18 have a corresponding component housing 31 in which the electrical/electronic operating means 19 are arranged (see also FIG. 2). On a rear side of the component housing 31 facing the sub-distribution rails, corresponding contact means are provided, by means of which electrical contacting of the sub-distribution rails can take place. For this purpose, the separating plate has corresponding cutouts and openings 24 (see also FIG. 2) which make it possible to contact these contacts of each component 18 with the sub-distribution rails 8 to 14.

[0052] The component 18 in FIG. 2 is arranged in a separate position 32, i.e., it is not yet completely arranged in the insertion region 27 and in particular is not yet in contact with an associated sub-distribution rail 8 to 14.

[0053] In FIGS. 1 and 2, for example, there are no further buses or the like, which can likewise be arranged in the switching and/or distributing device. These buses can form a separate bus system consisting of local bus, field bus and other buses. Via these buses, a corresponding data connection of the components to central devices or field devices arranged outside the receiving housing can be established. In this case, the bus system can be constructed analogously to the busbar system 20.

[0054] At this point, it is again pointed out that the invention relates on the one hand to the busbar system 20 consisting of power distribution rails 4 to 6 and sub-distribution rails 8 to 14 shown in the figures but on the other hand also to the specific arrangement of the components by means of a separating plate with insertion regions, connection blocks and cable duct.

[0055] The present invention substantially results in a three-dimensional busbar system consisting of current-carrying rails for use in potentially explosive atmospheres. The receiving housing has insertion regions 27 into which one or a plurality of components 18 can be inserted and can be latched or snapped-in there. A connection of the corresponding component 18 to the surroundings of the switching and/or distributing device takes place via connection blocks and cable ducts. It is pointed out in this respect that a plurality of cable ducts 29 is also possible in order, for example, to separately connect intrinsically safe and non-intrinsically safe circuits via the cable ducts and corresponding connection blocks to the outside.

[0056] The components 18 generally have encapsulated component housings 31 in order to satisfy the requirements for explosion protection in potentially explosive atmospheres.

[0057] Furthermore, it is possible for the housing rail region and the housing component region to be separated from one another, i.e., for a physical separation to be arranged between them, or for the various regions to be arranged, as a rule adjacently to one another, in their own receiving housings with their own housing cover.

[0058] The pre-wiring of the switching and/or distributing device and corresponding arrangement of the power distribution rails and sub-distribution rails can be effected, for example, in such a way that they correspond to a maximum supply so that the switching and/or distributing device according to the invention is already completed up to full capacity.

[0059] It has already been pointed out that the components 18 to the left and right of the cable duct 29 shown in FIG. 1 can, if applicable, be separated so that only specific components can be used on the left or right side. This may, where applicable, result from the pre-wiring in the manner described above. However, the wiring can also be effected in such a way that all components can be used both to the left and to the right of the cable duct. As a rule, a locking device which is to prevent a simple pulling-out of the component, in particular when the component is still fully current-carrying, is also assigned to each component in the insertion region 27. This is to prevent the occurrence of sparks or arcs. Only after release of the locking device, which can be associated, for example, with a disconnection of the electrical supply, is removal of the corresponding component 18 to be possible, in particular in potentially explosive atmospheres. It is also possible to connect the components via explosion-protected connection devices to both the sub-distribution rail and the corresponding wiring in the direction of the connection block.

[0060] The encapsulation of the components 18 takes place precisely in potentially explosive atmospheres according to a corresponding ignition protection type, such as intrinsically safe or the like. The corresponding connection system between component and sub-distribution rail can also be provided in the “increased safety” ignition protection type and, for example, in connection with an explosion-protected switch. Via this switch, a current cutoff of the power supply of the component can be effected first so that no sparks/arcs occur when the component is removed.

[0061] The separating plate made of electrically insulating material ensures that each component contacts only the sub-distribution rail 8 to 14 provided for it and does not contact any other sub-distribution rails.

[0062] For the connection blocks 30, it likewise applies that in potentially explosive atmospheres they can be designed in the “increased safety” ignition protection type, wherein an arrangement of a plurality of connection blocks 30 for one insertion region 27 or another arrangement of the connection blocks is however also possible (see, for example, between vertically adjacent insertion regions 27 and not only between such an insertion region and the cable duct). It has already been pointed out that not only one cable duct 29 can be provided but that more than two cable ducts and in particular separate cable ducts for intrinsically safe and non-intrinsically safe circuits of the corresponding components or other devices can, for example, be provided in the switching and/or distributing device according to the invention.