GROUNDING ELEMENT AND ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION COMPONENT HAVING A GROUNDING ELEMENT

Abstract

A grounding element for electrically grounding an electrical installation component has a steel sheet component that is provided with a coating that constitutes an alloy.

Claims

1. A grounding element for electrically grounding an electrical installation component, wherein the grounding element has a steel sheet component that is provided with a coating, wherein the coating is an alloy.

2. The grounding element according to claim 1, wherein the alloy contains zinc and aluminum.

3. The grounding element according to claim 1, wherein the alloy is applied by means of a hot dip method.

4. The grounding element according to claim 1, wherein the alloy is applied by means of an electroplating method.

5. The grounding element according to claim 1, wherein the alloy comprises the following: zinc as the base, 40 to 70 wt. % of aluminum, 0 to 5 wt. % of silicon.

6. The grounding element according to claim 1, wherein the alloy comprises the following: zinc as the base, 50 to 60 wt. % of aluminum, 1 to 2 wt. % of silicon.

7. The grounding element according to claim 1, wherein the alloy comprises the following: zinc as the base, 1 to 10 wt. % of aluminum, 1 to 10 wt. % of magnesium.

8. The grounding element according to claim 1, wherein the alloy comprises the following: zinc as the base, 3 to 4 wt. % of aluminum, 2 to 4 wt. % of magnesium.

9. The grounding element according to claim 1, wherein the coating has a layer thickness of 2 to 25 μm.

10. The grounding element according to claim 1, wherein the grounding element has a contact resistance of less than 6 mohms.

11. An electrical installation component comprising: a housing; and a grounding element for electrically grounding an electrical installation component, wherein the grounding element has a steel sheet component that is provided with a coating, wherein the coating is an alloy.

12. The electrical installation component according to claim 11, wherein the electrical installation component is designed for use in potentially explosive areas.

13. The electrical installation component according to claim 11, wherein the housing is designed as an outer insulating housing and the grounding element is arranged inside the housing, wherein the grounding element is electrically connected to a ground connection of the electrical installation component arranged outside the housing.

14. The electrical installation component according to claim 13, wherein the connection between the grounding element located inside the insulating housing and the ground connection located on the outside is designed such that the IP protection level of the insulating housing is maintained.

15. The electrical installation component according to claim 11, wherein the housing is electrostatically dissipative.

16. The electrical installation component according to claim 15, wherein the housing has a surface resistance of <10.sup.9 ohms.

17. The electrical installation component according to claim 16, wherein the housing has a surface resistance of >10.sup.6 ohms.

18. The electrical installation component according to claim 11, wherein the electrical installation component is a junction box, terminal box, light, switching distribution system, or control device.

19. The grounding element according to claim 1, wherein the coating has a layer thickness of 5 to 10 μm.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0030] The invention is explained by way of example in more detail below with reference to the figures.

[0031] The following are shown:

[0032] FIG. 1 a grounding element according to the invention, and

[0033] FIG. 2 a terminal box having such a grounding element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a grounding element 10 having side faces 12, 14, 16, and 18 arranged at right angles on a base plate 20 of the grounding element 10. The base plate 20 is substantially square or rectangular, and the side faces 12, 14, 16, and 18 substantially all extend in the same direction away from the base plate 20.

[0035] According to the invention, the grounding element 10, which is formed as a steel sheet component, has a coating that constitutes an alloy. In this case, the coating of the grounding element 10 is an alloy that has zinc as the main component, i.e., as the base. Further components of the alloy are aluminum and silicon. Aluminum has a proportion of 55 wt. % in the alloy. At a proportion of 1.6 wt. % of silicon, a proportion of 43.4 wt. % of zinc remains (in addition to possibly smaller amounts of impurities, below 1 wt. %, preferably below 0.1% or particularly preferably below 0.01%).

[0036] Alternatively, in addition to the zinc as the base in the alloy, a proportion of significantly less aluminum may also be provided, for example 3.5 wt. %, and instead of the silicon, a proportion of 3 wt. % of magnesium, resulting in a zinc proportion of 93.5%.

[0037] In the alloys according to the invention, the aluminum serves for doping the semiconductor zinc oxide, which forms after the coating of the grounding element 10 with the alloy, in particular under corrosive conditions, in order to thus increase the conductivity of the zinc oxide. The further additives of silicon or magnesium serve to improve the process stability and the corrosion resistance of the alloy.

[0038] FIG. 2 shows a terminal box 22 having a housing 24 inside of which the grounding element 10 of FIG. 1 is arranged. The housing 24 is designed as a synthetic material or plastic housing. In this case, the housing 24 preferably has a discharge capacity that prevents, or at least reduces, an electrostatic charge.

[0039] The terminal box 22 of FIG. 2 serves for the electrical connection of various components of a system and can accommodate terminal strips (not shown in detail), for example. The insulating housing 24 ensures that the live parts arranged in the interior of the housing 24 are not accessible or accessible only with tools. The components in the interior of the housing 24 are shielded from dust, water, and explosive gases or environmental substances. A spark arising inside the housing 24 thus does not lead to an explosion even if the terminal box 22 is used in a potentially explosive environment.

[0040] In order to be able to connect the grounding element 10 to an electrical ground or a corresponding potential outside the housing 24, a ground connection 26 is arranged on an outside of the housing 24 and is in electrically conductive connection with the grounding element 10 through a passage. In this case, the connection between the grounding element 10 arranged inside the insulating housing 24 and the ground connection 26 arranged on the outside is designed such that the corresponding IP protection level of the insulating housing 24 is maintained. For example, in the case of a housing 24 protecting against water according to a particular IP code, a corresponding water-tight seal is to be provided. In an environment that is potentially explosive due to explosive gases or dusts, a corresponding gas- or dust-tight seal is provided.

[0041] The use according to the invention of a grounding element 10 in the form of a steel sheet component, which is coated with an alloy of zinc and aluminum, ensures that the grounding element 10 permanently meets the conductivity requirements even in an aggressive and corrosive environment. On the other hand, production costs can be kept low.

[0042] Particularly preferred in this case is a grounding element 10 in which corresponding alloy is applied by means of a hot dip method or a hot bath.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0043] 10 Grounding element [0044] 12 Side face [0045] 14 Side face [0046] 16 Side face [0047] 18 Side face [0048] 20 Base plate [0049] 22 Terminal box [0050] 24 Housing [0051] 26 Ground connection