Compact add-on housing

Abstract

An add-on housing for a plug-in connection is provided and includes a frame-like basic form, wherein fastening devices for fastening the add-on housing to a wall aperture are integrally formed within the frame-like basic form, wherein the add-on housing has at least one clamping element which can be captively clamped within the frame-like basic form, and wherein a holding frame or a contact insert can be fixed to the at least one clamping element. A method for fastening an add-on housing to a wall aperture is also provided, wherein: a frame-like basic form is fixed to the wall aperture by internal fastening devices; then, at least one clamping element, but preferably two clamping elements, is/are fixed within the frame-like basic form without tools; and a holding frame which is fitted with plug-in connector modules or a contact insert is then mounted onto the clamping elements and fixed thereto.

Claims

1. A bulkhead mounted housing for a plug connection, the bulkhead mounted housing comprising: a frame-like base form that defines an internal receiving area for a holding frame or a contact insert, wherein fastening devices for fastening the bulkhead mounted housing to a wall aperture are integrally formed within the frame-like base form; and at least one spring-biased clamping element that is separate and distinct from the frame-like base form, and the at least one spring-biased clamping element includes opposing clamping jaw parts that are hingedly coupled to each other and movable between an open position and a closed position to clamp onto a portion of the frame-like base form to retain the spring-biased clamping element within the internal receiving area of the frame-like base form by moving from the open position to the closed position, and wherein the holding frame or the contact insert can be secured on the at least one spring-biased clamping element within the internal receiving area of the frame-like base form.

2. The bulkhead mounted housing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fastening devices are frame openings formed in the frame-like base form via which the bulkhead mounted housing can be secured to the wall aperture.

3. The bulkhead mounted housing as claimed in claim 2, wherein the spring-biased clamping element has clamp openings via which the holding frame or the contact insert can be secured on the spring-biased clamping element.

4. The bulkhead mounted housing as claimed in claim 3, wherein the fastening devices in the form of the frame openings within the frame-like base form of the bulkhead mounted housing and the clamp openings of the spring-biased clamping elements are axially aligned with each other.

5. The bulkhead mounted housing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one spring-biased clamping element of the bulkhead mounted housing comprises at least two spring-biased clamping elements.

6. The bulkhead mounted housing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the opposing clamping jaw parts of the spring-biased clamping element are formed from at least two parts, a first part and a second part.

7. The bulkhead mounted housing as claimed in claim 6, wherein the at least two parts are coupled to one another via a hinged connection.

8. The bulkhead mounted housing as claimed in claim 6, wherein the at least two parts are coupled to one another via a spring element.

9. The bulkhead mounted housing as claimed in claim 8, wherein the spring element is a spiral spring or a leaf spring.

10. The bulkhead mounted housing as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one fastening element for a hood is integrally formed externally on the frame-like base form.

11. The bulkhead mounted housing as claimed claim 10, wherein the at least one fastening element for the hood comprises at least two fastening elements arranged on the frame-like base form diagonally to one another.

12. A method for fastening a bulkhead mounted housing to a wall aperture: securing a frame-like base form of the bulkhead mounted housing to the wall aperture via internal fastening devices, the frame-like base form defining an internal receiving area for a holding frame or a contact insert; securing at least one spring-biased clamping element that is separate and distinct from the frame-like base form within the internal receiving area of the frame-like base form without tools, the spring-biased clamping element including opposing clamping jaw parts that are hingedly coupled to each other and movable between an open position and a closed position to clamp onto a portion of the frame-like base form to retain the spring-biased clamping element within the internal receiving area of the frame-like base form by moving from the open position to the closed position; and seating and securing the holding frame, fitted with plug connector modules, or the contact insert on the at least one spring-biased clamping element within the internal receiving area of the frame-like base form of the bulkhead mounted housing.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and will be explained in more detail below.

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of a bulkhead mounted housing according to an embodiment of the invention,

(3) FIG. 2 a perspective illustration of two clamping elements,

(4) FIG. 3 a detail of an alternative clamping element,

(5) FIG. 4 a plan view of a frame-like base form and

(6) FIG. 5 a sectional illustration of the frame-like base form with clamping elements clamped thereto.

(7) The figures contain partially simplified schematic illustrations. Identical reference signs are sometimes used for elements which are similar, but possibly not identical. Different views of similar elements could be drawn to different scales.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(8) FIG. 1 shows a perspective illustration of a bulkhead mounted housing 1 according to an example embodiment of the invention. The bulkhead mounted housing 1 has a frame-like base form 2. A holding frame 3 for plug connector modules (not shown for illustrative reasons) is fastened within the frame-like base form 2 via a screw connection 4. The holding frame 3 and its mode of operation is known, for example, from EP 0 860 906 B1. Fastening elements 5 for a hood, which are arranged diagonally to one another, are integrally formed externally on the frame-like base form 2. The fastening elements 5 contain keyhole-like openings 6, in which the hood can engage. Since the hood is not a subject matter of the present invention, it is neither shown nor described in more detail.

(9) In FIG. 2, two clamping elements 7 are illustrated opposite one another in a perspective view. The clamping element 7 consists of a first part 8, which has a hinge receptacle, and a second part 9, which has a hinge head which matches the hinge receptacle and engages in the hinge receptacle of the first part 8 to form a hinged connection 11. The two parts 8, 9 are coupled to one another via a spring element 10. The spring element 10 is constructed as a spiral spring here.

(10) The two parts 8, 9 of the clamping elements 7 which are connected to one another in a hinged manner form peg-like clamping jaws 12 at one end, the end remote from the hinged connection 11. The other end forms lever arms 13, by way of which the clamping jaws 12 can be brought into an open position in opposition to the force of the spring element 10. Without the force effect, the spring element 10 presses the clamping jaws 12 into a closed position, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

(11) It can be seen in FIG. 3 that the spring element 10′ can also be configured as a leaf spring.

(12) FIGS. 4 and 5 reveal that the bulkhead mounted housing 1 has at least one web 14 within the frame-like base form 2. The clamping element 7 has a grip hook 15 corresponding to the web 14 and acting thereon with form fit. The grip hook 15 is integrally formed on the first part 8 of the clamping element 7 and positioned at the end of the clamping element 7 which is remote from the hinged connection 11. The grip hook 15 promotes the clamping jaw function described above. The grip hook 15 is pressed against the web 14 by the clamping jaws 12. The clamping element 7 can thus be fastened in the bulkhead mounted housing 1 without tools.

(13) The clamping element 7 has openings 16, which are integrally formed within the second part 9. By way of example, a holding frame 3 can be fastened via a screw connection 4 to the clamping element 7 or to the two clamping elements 7 via the openings 16, as illustrated in FIG. 1. Screwing the holding frame 3 to the clamping element 7 or the clamping elements 7 locks the clamping jaws 12 in their closed position. The clamping jaws 12 are pressed even more tightly against the internal web 14 of the frame-like base body 2 during the screwing procedure. The clamping element 7 or the clamping elements 7, including the holding frame 3, are thus firmly secured in the frame-like base body 2.

(14) The clamping elements 7 are preferably manufactured from an electrically conductive metal material. The bulkhead mounted housing 1 also preferably comprises or consists of an electrically conductive material. By securing the clamping connection of the clamping elements 7 with the aid of the screw connection 4 of the preferably metal holding frame 3 or the plug insert, a reliable PE contact between the holding frame 3 or between the plug insert and the frame-like base form 2 of the bulkhead mounted housing 1 via the clamping elements 7 is ensured. To this end, likewise suitable metal components are contained in the plug insert.

(15) Openings 17 are integrally formed within the frame-like base form 2 of the bulkhead mounted housing 1. The bulkhead mounted housing 1 can be fastened to an aperture (not shown) of a control cabinet (not shown) or a device wall (not shown) via the openings 17. A screw connection is generally selected for this purpose. The openings 17 of the frame-like base form 2 and the openings 16 of the respective clamping elements 7 are flush with one another. This is illustrated by way of an axis 18 in FIG. 5.

(16) The bulkhead mounted housing 1 is mounted on a wall aperture as follows: The frame-like base form 2 is firstly secured to the wall aperture via the internal openings 17. This generally takes place via a screw connection. The clamping elements 7 are then secured without tools to the respective narrow sides of the frame-like base form 2—via the clamping jaw function described above. A holding frame 3 or a contact insert is then seated on the clamping elements 7 and secured thereto by way of the openings 16—for example via a screw connection 4. The securing of the holding frame 3 or the contact insert to the clamping elements 7 likewise ensures stable securing of the holding frame 3 or contact insert to the frame-like base form 2. The bulkhead mounted housing 1, together with the holding frame 3 or contact insert fitted with plug connector modules, is then secured on the wall aperture.

(17) The bulkhead mounted housing 1 described above is constructed in a particularly space-saving manner. The clamping elements 7 are universally usable for different structural sizes. The bulkhead mounted housing 1 is particularly leak-tight as a result of internal fastening devices or means and can be easily fastened to the wall aperture without a special tool.

(18) Even when combinations of different aspects or features of the invention are shown in each case in the figures, it is clear to the person skilled in the art—unless indicated otherwise—that the combinations illustrated and discussed are not the only options. In particular, mutually corresponding units or feature complexes from different exemplary embodiments can be interchanged with one another.

(19) In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should be construed to include all possible embodiments along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.