PLUG-IN CONNECTION ARRANGMENT FOR AN ELECTRICAL TERMINAL BLOCK

Abstract

A plug-in connection arrangement for arranging a relay includes a terminal block comprising a relay holder configured to hold a relay. The relay comprises a bottom wall, a side wall, and a contact plug which projects out of the bottom wall. The side wall is arranged perpendicular to the bottom wall and includes an offset section which contacts the bottom wall and projects out into the relay in a direction of a surface normal of the side wall. The relay holder includes a socket configured to hold the contact plug of the relay when the relay is inserted into the relay holder. The relay holder also includes an insulating wall which, when the relay is inserted into the relay holder, is aligned parallel to the side wall and projects beyond the bottom wall to form an angled insulation section for the contact plug along a surface of the insulating wall.

Claims

1. A plug-in connection arrangement for arranging a relay, comprising: a terminal block comprising a relay holder configured to hold a relay, wherein the relay comprises a bottom wall, a side wall, and a contact plug which projects out of the bottom wall, wherein the side wall is arranged perpendicular to the bottom wall and comprises an offset section which contacts the bottom wall and projects out into the relay in a direction of a surface normal of the side wall; wherein the relay holder comprises a socket configured to hold the contact plug of the relay when the relay is inserted into the relay holder; and wherein the relay holder further comprises an insulating wall which, when the relay is inserted into the relay holder, is aligned parallel to the side wall and projects beyond the bottom wall to form an angled insulation section for the contact plug along a surface of the insulating wall.

2. The plug-in connection arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the insulating wall at least partially engages in the offset section to reduce a width of the plug-in connection arrangement.

3. The plug-in connection arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the insulating wall comprises a side wall surface and a top surface, wherein the side wall surface faces the side wall and is spaced apart from the offset section, and wherein the top surface comes to bear at least partially on the offset section.

4. The plug-in connection arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the relay holder comprises a front guide rail and a rear guide rail in which the relay at least partially engages, wherein the front guide rail and the rear guide rail are configured to guide the relay along an insertion direction to the socket to realize a superimposed alignment of the contact plug to the socket.

5. The plug-in connection arrangement according to claim 4, wherein each of the front guide rail and the rear guide rail comprises a U-shaped profile which is configured to form a form-fit connection with the relay after or during an insertion of the relay into the relay holder.

6. The plug-in connection arrangement according to claim 1, wherein a section length of the offset section is smaller than a relay length of the relay.

7. The plug-in connection arrangement according to claim 6, wherein a wall length of the insulating wall is smaller than the section length and the insulating wall is configured to form a form-fit connection with the offset section.

8. The plug-in connection arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising an end plate which is arranged laterally on the relay holder and at least partially rests on an outer wall of the relay opposite the side wall or faces the outer wall, wherein the end plate provides contact insulation and protection against contact of the contact plug.

9. The plug-in connection arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of contact plugs arranged in a row and protruding out of the bottom wall, wherein a first number of the contact plugs form connection contacts of the relay and a second number of the contact plugs form switching contacts of the relay, and wherein the insulating wall extends along the switching contacts.

10. The plug-in connection arrangement according to claim 1, wherein a wall height of the insulating wall exceeds a section height of the offset section such that the bottom wall is arranged at a distance from the relay holder after an insertion of the relay into the relay holder.

11. The plug-in connection arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the insulating wall is offset in a direction of the surface normal of the side wall relative to the side wall such that a cavity is created between the offset section and the insulating wall.

12. The plug-in connection arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the relay holder comprises a support plate in which the socket is arranged, and wherein the support plate is formed in one piece with the insulating wall.

13. The plug-in connection arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the relay comprises a contact insulation wall which is arranged parallel to the side wall and at least partially projects beyond the bottom wall, and wherein the relay holder comprises has a receiving niche which, when the relay is inserted into the relay holder is aligned parallel to the side wall, wherein the receiving niche is configured to at least partially hold the contact insulation wall such that an angled insulation section for the contact plug is formed along a surface of the contact insulation wall.

14. An electrical terminal block arrangement, comprising: a plurality of electrical terminal blocks, each electrical terminal block comprising a respective plug-in connection arrangement, wherein each terminal block of the electrical terminal block comprises a relay holder configured to hold a respective relay, each respective relay comprising a bottom wall, a side wall, and a contact plug which projects out of the bottom wall, wherein the side wall is arranged perpendicularly on the bottom wall and comprises an offset section which contacts the bottom wall and projects out into the relay in a direction of a surface normal of the side wall; wherein each relay holder comprises a socket configured to hold the contact plug of the respective relay when the respective relay is inserted into the relay holder; wherein each relay holder further comprises an insulating wall which, when the respective relay is inserted into the relay holder, is aligned parallel to the side wall and projects beyond the bottom wall to form an angled insulation section for the contact plug along one surface of the insulating wall; and wherein the electrical terminal blocks are congruently next to each other.

15. The electrical terminal block arrangement according to claim 14, wherein the insulating wall of the plug-in connection arrangement of a first electrical terminal block of the plurality of electrical terminal blocks is arranged next to an outer wall of a further plug-in connection arrangement of a second electrical terminal block of the plurality of electrical terminal blocks and faces the outer wall, of the further plug-in connection arrangement of the second electrical terminal block, wherein a gap is formed between the insulating wall of the plug-in connection arrangement and the outer wall of the further plug-in connection arrangement of the second electrical terminal block.

16. The electrical terminal block arrangement according to claim 15, wherein a gap between the offset section, the insulating wall of the first electrical terminal block, and a further outer wall of the second electrical terminal block forms a multi-angled insulation section between the contact plug of the plug-in connection arrangement of the first electrical terminal block and a further contact plug of the second electrical terminal block.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] Further examples are explained with reference to the accompanying figures. They show:

[0032] FIG. 1 shows a plug-in connection arrangement in an example;

[0033] FIG. 2 shows a plug-in connection arrangement in an example;

[0034] FIG. 3 shows an electrical terminal block arrangement in an example;

[0035] FIGS. 4A, 4B show an electrical terminal block arrangement in an example;

[0036] FIG. 5 shows a plug-in connection arrangement in an example;

[0037] FIG. 6 shows an electrical terminal block arrangement in an example;

[0038] FIG. 7 shows a plug-in connection arrangement in an example;

[0039] FIG. 8 shows a plug-in connection arrangement in an example; and

[0040] FIG. 9 shows a plug-in connection arrangement in an example.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] FIG. 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a plug-in connection arrangement 100 for arranging a relay 101 in an electrical terminal block. The relay 101 has a bottom wall 103, a side wall 105 and a contact plug 107 which projects out of the bottom wall 103. The side wall 105 is arranged perpendicular on the bottom wall 103 and has an offset section 109 which contacts the bottom wall 103 and projects out into the relay 101 in the direction of a surface normal of the side wall 105.

[0042] The electrical terminal block has a relay holder 111 which is adapted to hold the relay 101, the relay holder 111 having a socket 113 which is adapted to hold the contact plug 107 when the relay 101 is inserted into the relay holder 111.

[0043] The relay holder 111 also has an insulating wall 115 which, when the relay 101 is inserted into the relay holder 111, is aligned parallel to the side wall 105 and projects beyond the bottom wall 103 in order to form an angled insulation section for the contact plug 107 along a surface of the insulating wall 115.

[0044] The insulating wall 115 at least partially engages in the offset section 109 in order to reduce a width 117 of the plug-in connection arrangement 100. Furthermore, the insulating wall 115 has a side wall surface 119 and a top surface 121, wherein the side wall surface 119 faces the side wall 105 and is at a distance from the offset section 109, and wherein the top surface 121 comes to bear at least partially on the offset section 109. Furthermore, the insulating wall 115 is offset 105 with respect to the side wall 105 in the direction of a surface normal of the side wall in order to form a cavity between the offset section 109 and the insulating wall 115.

[0045] Furthermore, a wall height 123 of the insulating wall 115 exceeds a section height of the offset section 109 in order to arrange the bottom wall 103 at a distance from the relay holder 111 after the relay 101 has been inserted into the relay holder 111

[0046] FIG. 2 shows a schematic perspective view of the plug-in connection arrangement 100 according to the example shown in FIG. 1. The plug-in connection arrangement 100 is part of an electrical terminal block 201.

[0047] The relay holder 111 has a front guide rail 125 and/or a rear guide rail 207, in which the relay 101 at least partially engages, the front guide rail 125 and the rear guide rail 207 being adapted to guide the relay 101 along an insertion direction towards the socket 113, in order to achieve a superimposed alignment of the contact plug 107 to the socket 113.

[0048] Furthermore, the front guide rail 125 and/or the rear guide rail 207 each have a U-shaped profile which is adapted to form a positive connection with the relay 101 after and during the insertion of the relay 101 into the relay holder 111.

[0049] The relay 101 has a plurality of contact plugs 107 which are arranged in a row and project out of the bottom wall 103, wherein a first number of the contact plugs 107 form connection contacts 203-1, 203-2 of the relay 101 and a second number of the contact plugs 107 form switching contacts 205-1, 205-2 of the relay 101. Furthermore, the insulating wall 115 extends along the switching contacts 205-1, 205-2.

[0050] A section length 209 of the offset section 109 is smaller than a relay length 211 of the relay. In particular, the offset section 109 is sufficiently long to laterally limit the switching contacts 205-1, 205-2. Furthermore, a wall length of the insulating wall 115 is smaller than the section length 209 and the insulating wall 115 is adapted to form a form-fit connection with the offset section 109.

[0051] FIG. 3 shows an electrical terminal block arrangement 300 with a plurality of electrical terminal blocks 201, each of which has a plug-in connection arrangement 100 corresponding to the example shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, each electrical terminal block 201 being adapted to hold a relay 101 which has a side wall 105. The respective electrical terminal block 201 has a relay holder 111 which is adapted to hold the respective relay 101, the relay holder 111 having an insulating wall 115 which is aligned parallel to the side wall 105 when the respective relay 101 is inserted into the relay holder 111 to form an angled insulation section along a surface of the insulating wall 115, wherein the electrical terminal blocks 201 are positioned congruently next to one another.

[0052] Furthermore, a first sectional plane 301 and a second sectional plane 303 are shown in the illustration, which are oriented transversely to a longitudinal direction of the relay 101. The first cutting plane 301 intersects the relay 101 in the area of the connection contacts and the second cutting plane 305 intersects the relay 101 and the relay holder 111 in the area of the insulating wall 115.

[0053] FIG. 4A shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the example of the electrical terminal block arrangement 300 shown in FIG. 3 along the cross-sectional plane 301 shown in FIG. 3. An insulation wall 115 of a plug-in connection arrangement 100 of a first electric terminal block of the plurality of electrical terminal blocks is arranged to a further outer wall 401 of a further plug-in connection terminal of a second electrical terminal block of the plurality of electrical terminal blocks and is faced towards the further outer wall 401. A gap is formed between the insulating wall 115 and the outer wall 127.

[0054] The insulating wall 115 at least partially engages in the offset section 109. Furthermore, the insulating wall 115 has a side wall surface 119 and a top surface 121, the side wall surface 119 facing the side wall 105 and being spaced apart from the offset section 109. The top surface 121 comes to bear at least partially on the offset section 109. Furthermore, the insulating wall 115 is offset in the direction of a surface normal of the side wall 105 with respect to the side wall 105 in order to form a cavity between the offset section 109 and the insulating wall 115.

[0055] FIG. 4B shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the example of the electrical terminal block arrangement 300 shown in FIG. 3 along the cross-sectional plane 303 shown in FIG. 3. The insulation section extends alongside the wall surface 119 and the top surface 121 of the insulating wall 115.

[0056] A gap between the offset section 109, the insulating wall 115 of the first electrical terminal block and an outer wall 401 of the second electrical terminal block forms a multi-angled insulation section between the contact plug 107 of the plug-in connection arrangement 100 of the first electrical terminal block and the further contact plug 403 of the second electrical terminal block.

[0057] FIG. 5 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a plug-in connection arrangement 100 for arranging a relay 101 in an electrical terminal block 201. The electrical terminal block 201 has a relay holder 111 which is adapted to accommodate the relay 101. The relay 101 has a plurality of contact plugs which are arranged in a row and project out of the relay 101, wherein a first number of the contact plugs form connection contacts 203-1, 203-2 of the relay 101 and a second number of the contact plugs form switching contacts 205-1, 205-2, 503 of relay 101.

[0058] The relay holder 111 has a support plate 501 in which the plurality of sockets 505-1 to 505-5 is arranged, and wherein the support plate 501 is formed in one piece with the insulating wall 115. The plurality of sockets 505-1 to 505-5 is adapted, when the relay 101 is inserted into the relay holder 111, to receive the connection contacts 203-1, 203-2 and the switch contacts 205-1, 205-2.

[0059] The electrical terminal block 201 also has connection elements 701-1 to 701-6 which are adapted to guide the contact plugs of the relay, which are inserted into the sockets 505-1 to 505-5, to the outside. The connection elements 701-1 to 701-6 are adapted to receive a cable or a plug. In particular, the connection elements 701-1 to 701-6 can have a latching, screwing, clamping and/or plug-in connection for mechanically fixing and for electrically contacting a cable.

[0060] FIG. 6 shows an electrical terminal block arrangement 300 with a plurality of electrical terminal blocks 603-1 to 603-6, each of which has a plug-in connection arrangement corresponding to the example shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, each electrical terminal block 603-1 to 603-6 being adapted for receiving a relay 605-1 to 605-6.

[0061] The electrical terminal block arrangement 300 comprises an end plate 601 which is arranged on the side of the relay 101 and rests on an outer wall 127 of the relay 101 opposite the side wall 105 in order to provide contact insulation and contact protection for the relay 101. The electrical terminal block arrangement 300 is arranged on a top hat rail 607, in particular pushed, clamped or latched onto the profile rail 607.

[0062] FIG. 7 shows a schematic top view of the plug contact arrangement 100 according to the example shown in FIG. 5. The relay holder 111 has a support plate 501 in which the plurality of sockets 505-1 to 505-5 are arranged, and the support plate 501 is formed in one piece with the insulating wall 115. The plurality of sockets 505-1 to 505-5 are adapted to accommodate the connection contacts 203-1, 203-2 and the switching contacts 205-1, 205-2, 503, when the relay 101 is inserted into the relay holder 111.

[0063] The sockets 505-1 to 505-5 are soldered onto a printed circuit board 703 which is adapted to provide an electrical connection between the sockets 505-1 to 505-5 and connection elements 701-1 to 701-6. Alternatively, the use of lead frames as a connecting element between the sockets 505-1 to 505-5 and the connection elements 701-1 to 701-6 is possible. Furthermore, a cross-sectional plane 705 is shown in FIG. 7.

[0064] FIG. 8 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a plug-in connection arrangement 100 for arranging a relay 101 in an electrical terminal block 201 according to the example shown in FIG. 7 along the cross-sectional plane 705. The relay 101 has a bottom wall, a side wall 105 and a contact plug 107, which projects out of the bottom wall 103. The side wall 105 is arranged perpendicular on the bottom wall 103 and has an offset section 109 which adjoins the bottom wall 103 and projects into the relay 101 in the direction of a surface normal of the side wall 105.

[0065] The electrical terminal block 201 has a relay holder 111 which is adapted to hold the relay 101, the relay holder 111 having a socket 113 which is adapted to hold the contact plug 107 when the relay 101 is inserted into the relay holder 111.

[0066] The relay holder 111 also has an insulating wall 115 which, when the relay 101 is inserted into the relay holder 111, is aligned parallel to the side wall 105 and projects beyond the bottom wall 103 in order to form an angled insulation section for the contact plug 107 along a surface of the insulating wall 115 .

[0067] The insulating wall 115 at least partially engages in the offset section 109 in order to reduce a structural width 117 of the plug-in connection arrangement 100. Furthermore, the insulating wall 115 has a side wall surface 119 and a top surface 121, wherein the side wall surface 119 faces the side wall 105 and is at a distance from the offset section 109, and wherein the top surface 121 comes to bear at least partially on the offset section 109. Furthermore, the insulating wall 115 is offset in the direction of a surface normal of the side wall 105 with respect to the side wall 105 in order to form a cavity between the offset section 109 and the insulating wall 115.

[0068] FIG. 9 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a plug-in connection arrangement 100 for arranging a relay 101 in an electrical terminal block. The relay 101 has a bottom wall 103, a side wall 105 and a contact plug 107 which projects out of the bottom wall 103. The side wall 105 is arranged perpendicular on the bottom wall 103.

[0069] The electrical terminal block has a relay holder 111 which is adapted to hold the relay 101, the relay holder 111 having a socket 113 which is adapted to hold the contact plug 107 when the relay 101 is inserted into the relay holder 111.

[0070] The relay 101 also has a contact insulation wall 901 which is arranged parallel to the side wall 105 and at least partially projects beyond the bottom wall 103. The relay holder 111 further has a receptacle niche 903 which, when the relay 101 is inserted into the relay holder 111, is aligned parallel to the side wall 105 and is adapted to at least partially hold the contact insulation wall 901 in order to form an angled insulation section for the contact plug 107 along a surface of the contact insulation wall 901.

[0071] The contact insulation wall 901 at least partially engages in the receiving niche 903 in order to reduce a width 117 of the plug-in connection arrangement 100. Furthermore, a wall height 905 of the contact insulation wall 901 can exceed a niche height of the receiving niche 903 in order to arrange the bottom wall 103 at a distance from the relay holder 111 after the relay 101 has been inserted into the relay holder 111. The relay 101 also has an outer wall 127 facing away from the side wall 105 and the contact insulation wall 901.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0072] 100 plug-in connection arrangement [0073] 101 relay [0074] 103 bottom wall [0075] 105 side wall [0076] 107 contact plug [0077] 109 offset section [0078] 111 relay holder [0079] 113 socket [0080] 115 insulating wall [0081] 117 width [0082] 119 side wall surface [0083] 121 top surface [0084] 123 wall height [0085] 125 front guide rail [0086] 127 outer wall [0087] 201 electrical terminal block [0088] 203-1 connection contact [0089] 203-2 connection contact [0090] 205-1 switching contact [0091] 205-2 switching contact [0092] 207 rear guide rail [0093] 209 section length [0094] 211 overall length of relay [0095] 301 cross-sectional plane [0096] 303 cross-sectional plane [0097] 401 outer wall [0098] 403 contact plug [0099] 501 support plate [0100] 503 switching contact [0101] 505-1 socket [0102] 505-2 socket [0103] 505-3 socket [0104] 505-4 socket [0105] 505-5 socket [0106] 601 end plate [0107] 603-1 electrical terminal block [0108] 603-2 electrical terminal block [0109] 603-3 electrical terminal block [0110] 603-4 electrical terminal block [0111] 603-5 electrical terminal block [0112] 603-6 electrical terminal block [0113] 605-1 relay [0114] 605-2 relay [0115] 605-3 relay [0116] 605-4 relay [0117] 605-5 relay [0118] 605-6 relay [0119] 607 profile rail [0120] 701-1 connection element [0121] 701-2 connection element [0122] 701-3 connection element [0123] 701-4 connection element [0124] 701-5 connection element [0125] 701-6 connection element [0126] 703 printed circuit board [0127] 705 cutting plane [0128] 901 contact isolation wall [0129] 903 receiving niche [0130] 905 wall height