Housing for housing a conductor connecting flat conductor rail to a connecting connector, a system including said housing, and method for manufacturing the system

Abstract

Housing for attachment to an electrical flat conductor rail with a flat conductor receptacle extending in a first axis, a connecting conductor receptacle extending transversely to the first axis in a second axis, wherein the flat conductor receptacle and the connecting conductor receptacle are formed from a upper housing side and a lower housing side with in each case an inner side and an outer side, which, in the closed state of the housing, receive the flat conductor rail with their inner sides lying opposite one another, characterized in that a shield contact element is arranged on at least one inner side, the shield contact element, in the closed state of the housing, bearing directly against a shield conductor of the flat conductor rail.

Claims

1. A system with a flat conductor rail having an inner conductor, an inner insulation surrounding the inner conductor, a shielding conductor surrounding the inner insulation, an outer insulation surrounding the shielding conductor, wherein in a contact area the inner conductor is exposed, wherein the shielding conductor is exposed surrounding the contact area, and wherein a connecting conductor is materially connected to the flat conductor rail in the contact area, and a housing with a flat conductor receptacle extending along a first axis, a connecting conductor receptacle extending transversely to the first axis along a second axis, wherein the flat conductor receptacle and the connecting conductor receptacle are formed from an upper housing side and a lower housing side each with an inner side and an outer side, which in a closed state of the housing receive the flat conductor rail with their inner sides lying opposite on another, wherein a contact area is formed in the flat conductor receptacle in an area in which the first axis and the second axis intersect each other and a shield contact element arranged two-dimensionally on at least one inner side and extending from the contact area into the flat conductor receptacle and the connecting conductor receptacle and the shield contact element bearing directly against a shielding conductor of the flat conductor rail when the housing is in the closed state, wherein the upper housing side and/or the lower housing side are arranged in the contact area as a multilayer laminate with an outer insulating material, an insulation element and the shield contact element arranged between the outer insulating material and the insulation element and the shield contact element is arranged laterally of the contact area and projects out of the plane of the inner side arch shaped, wherein the flat conductor rail is arranged in the flat conductor receptacle, wherein the connecting conductor is arranged in the connecting conductor receptacle, wherein the housing is closed such that the shield contact element directly abuts the shielding conductor, wherein the shield contact element on the inside of the upper side of the housing or the inside of the lower side of the housing abut the shielding conductor.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the insulation element made of a dielectric is arranged between the exposed shield contact element and the connecting conductor in the contact area.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the contact area is completely surrounded by the housing.

4. A method of manufacturing a system according to claim 1, comprising the steps of providing the flat conductor rail having the inner conductor, the inner insulation surrounding the inner conductor, the shielding conductor surrounding the inner insulation, and the outer insulation surrounding the shielding conductor; removing the outer insulation, the shielding conductor and the inner insulation in a contact area; removing the outer insulation in an area surrounding the contact area; providing the connecting conductor; connecting the connecting conductor to the inner conductor of the flat conductor rail in the contact area; providing the housing; arranging the flat conductor rail in the flat conductor receptacle; arranging the connecting conductor in the connecting conductor receptacle; closing the housing, such that the shield contact element directly abuts the shielding conductor.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the following, the subject matter is explained in more detail with reference to drawings showing embodiments. The drawings show:

(2) FIG. 1a-d flat conductor rails;

(3) FIG. 2a-b connecting conductors;

(4) FIG. 3 a connecting conductor connected to a flat conductor rail;

(5) FIG. 4 an opened housing;

(6) FIG. 5 a section through a housing top;

(7) FIG. 6a-b a housing with flat conductor rail inserted;

(8) FIG. 7 a side view of a housing with connecting conductor and flat conductor rail;

(9) FIG. 8 a sectional view of a housing with a flat conductor rail and a connecting conductor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

(10) FIG. 1a shows a flat conductor rail 2 with the outer insulation 2a still intact. The flat conductor rail, corresponding to FIG. 1a, is first provided and then, as shown in FIG. 1b, the outer insulation 2a is removed in a center area.

(11) FIG. 1b shows the flat conductor rail 2 with the outer insulation 2a removed. It can be seen that a shielding conductor 2b is arranged under the outer insulation 2a. The shielding conductor 2b can be formed as a braid, foil or combination thereof.

(12) Following the removal of the outer insulation 2a, a center area of the shielding conductor 2b is removed, as shown in FIG. 1c. An inner insulation 2c is located below the shielding conductor 2b. It can be seen that the shielding conductor 2b surrounds the exposed area of the inner insulation 2c in a U-shape.

(13) The outer insulation 2a as well as the inner insulation 2c may be formed of a plastic. The inner insulation 2c may be an insulation material (a dielectric or comprising a dielectric) having suitable properties to achieve electromagnetic compatibility of the flat conductor rail 2.

(14) After the shielding conductor 2b is cut open, the inner insulation 2c is exposed, as shown in FIG. 1d, thus exposing a contact area 4 where the core 2d of the flat conductor bar 2 is bare. The core 2d, also called the cable core, may be formed of a solid material, for example aluminum material or copper material. A connecting conductor can be attached intermetallically to the contact area 4 thus exposed.

(15) The layers 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d may be removed on one or both sides. A view of only one broad surface is shown, but it is also disclosed that the layers are correspondingly removed on the other surface not shown.

(16) In the following, it is shown how a lateral outlet is made on the flat conductor rail 2 in an area around the contact area 4 with a present housing with shielding. It is understood, however, that not only a lateral outgoing feeder but also an outgoing feeder at an end area, in particular at the end face of the flat conductor rail 2, is possible. Accordingly, what has been said here can also be applied to housings which are arranged at the end face of the flat conductor rail 2. As in this case, the flat conductor housing, which is shown below as being continuous, can also be formed with only one opening.

(17) A connecting conductor 6 is shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 2a shows a connecting conductor 6 (here the stranded wire or cable core) formed as a bimetallic component having a first end 6 and a second end 6, which may be formed of different metallic materials, for example aluminum material and copper material. With one of the ends 6, 6, the connecting conductor 6 can be materially connected to the core 2d of the flat conductor rail 2 in the contact area 4. In particular, the end 6, 6 is connected to the core 2d, which is formed from the same or similar material as the core 2d.

(18) FIG. 2b shows a further connecting conductor 6, which has a multi-layer shielded structure, corresponding to the flat conductor rail 2 and can also be bimetallic as shown above. The core 6d of the connecting conductor 6 is surrounded by an inner insulation 6c, a shielding conductor 6b and an outer insulation 6a. The connecting conductor 6 may be exposed at one end, for example.

(19) At the exposed end, the core 6d can be directly intermetallically connected to the core 2d of the flat conductor rail 2 in the contact area 4, in particular by material bonding. The exposed end of the connecting conductor 6 can be exposed in such a way that first the core 6d is exposed and lies on the inner insulation 6c at a distance from the end face of the shielding conductor 6b. Then, an electrical connection can be made between the shielding conductor 2b and the shielding conductor 6b via a shield contact element as will be shown below.

(20) FIG. 3 shows a connection between the flat conductor rail 2 and the connecting conductor 6. In FIG. 3 it can be seen that an exposed end 6, 6 of the core 6d of the connecting conductor 6 is intermetallically connected to the core 2d of the flat conductor rail 2. This connection is in the contact area 4. Surrounding the contact area in a U-shape are the inner insulation 2c and the shielding conductor 2b. There is no shielding in the area of the connection between the core 6d and the core 2d.

(21) To be able to provide such shielding, a housing 8 as shown in FIG. 4 is proposed. The housing 8 may have a upper housing side 8a and a lower housing side 8b. Upper housing side 8a and lower housing side 8b may be hinged to each other, for example via a film hinge 10. Other hinge elements are also possible. FIG. 4 shows a view of an unfolded housing 8, in which the inner sides of housing top 8a and housing bottom 8b can be seen.

(22) The structure of the upper housing part 8a is described below. A corresponding structure may alternatively or cumulatively also be provided on the lower housing part 8b.

(23) A flat conductor receptacle 12 may be provided along the longitudinal extent of the housing top 8a. The flat conductor receptacle 12 may be trough-shaped and embrace a flat conductor rail 2 at least along two, preferably along 3 sides. A connecting conductor receptacle 14 can extend transversely to this longitudinal extension of the flat conductor receptacle 12. The connecting conductor holder 14 can also be trough-shaped and hold a connecting conductor 6 on two, preferably 3 sides.

(24) A shield contact element 16 can be provided in a central area of the housing top side 8a, in particular in a area in which the longitudinal axes of the flat conductor receptacle 12 and the connecting conductor receptacle 14 intersect. The shield contact element 16 may extend in a planar manner and abut the inner side of the upper side of the housing 8a. The shield contact element 16 may be formed of a metal. The shield contact element 16 may protrude out of the plane of the inner wall in the area of the longitudinal axis of the flat conductor receptacle 12. The shield contact element 16 may thereby be shaped in the manner of a spring out of the plane of the drawing, for example in an arcuate manner.

(25) An insulating element 18 may be provided in a central area of the shield contact element 16, which may be formed as a dielectric or may comprise a dielectric. The insulating element 18 may extend from the central area of the shield contact element 16 toward the flat conductor receptacle 14 into the flat conductor receptacle 14.

(26) The shield contact element 16 may also extend into the connecting conductor receptacle 14, preferably being arranged, for example, on the side walls, in particular on one or both side walls and/or the inner side of the upper side 8a of the housing of the connecting conductor receptacle 14. Also, on one or both side walls of the connecting conductor receptacle 14, the shield contact element 16 may protrude from the surface of the side wall in an arcuate manner as indicated in FIG. 4.

(27) In particular, the insulating element 18 is shaped such that, in the joined state, it rests directly on the contact area 4, in particular on the cores 2d, 6d. In particular, it is congruent with the contact area 4 or preferably overlaps the contact area 4 on all sides so that a short circuit between the shield contact element 16 and the cores 2d, 6d is excluded.

(28) FIG. 5 shows a section parallel to the flat conductor receptacle 12. Seals 20 can be provided at the side edges in the area of the flat conductor receptacle 12. Centrally, the shield contact element 16 may be arranged, which is covered with the insulation element 18 in the area associated with the contact area. It can also be seen that the shield contact element 16 projects out of the plane in an arcuate manner.

(29) FIG. 6a shows the housing 8 joined with a flat conductor rail 2 and a connecting conductor 6. It can be seen that the flat conductor 2 is inserted into the flat conductor receptacle 12. Inside the housing 8, in particular surrounded by the seals 20, the flat conductor rail 2 is stripped and the shielding conductor 2b is exposed. As described with respect to FIG. 3, the connecting conductor 6 is connected with its core 6d to the flat conductor rail 2, in particular its core 2d, by a material bond.

(30) The upper side of the housing 8a is then placed on the lower side of the housing 8b. In the process, the insulation element 18 rests on the area in which the flat conductor rail 2 and the connecting conductor 6 are stripped and their cores 2d, 6d are exposed. The shield contact element 16 lies in an area in which the shield conductor 2b is exposed and makes mechanical and electrical contact with it. By extending the shield contact conductor 16 into the connecting conductor receptacle 14, the shield contact element 16 can also come into contact with a shield conductor 6b of the connecting conductor 6.

(31) FIG. 6b shows the housing 8 in the joined state. By means of latching elements 22, the upper side of the housing 8a and the lower side of the housing 8b are latched together in a force-locking and form-locking manner, so that a contact pressure can be exerted on the shield contact element 16 and the latter rests against the shielding conductor 2b and/or the shielding conductor 6b with a contact pressure.

(32) In a side view into the connecting conductor receptacle 14, the housing 8 is shown in FIG. 7. The latching elements 22, which connect the upper side of the housing 8a and the lower side of the housing 8b, can be seen. The connecting conductor 6 protrudes out of the connecting conductor receptacle 14 from the drawing plane.

(33) FIG. 8 shows the structure of the joined housing 8 in a view parallel to the longitudinal extent of the connecting conductor receptacle 16. It can be seen that the core 2d is directly connected to the core 6d. Spaced from the exposed core 2d, the insulating element 18 can insulate the shield contact element 16 from the core 2d.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(34) 2 flat conductor rail 2a outer insulation 2b shielding conductor 2c inner insulation 2d core 4 contact area 6 connecting conductor 6a outer insulation 6b shielding conductor 6c inner insulation 6d core 6, 6 end 8 housing 8a, b top/bottom 10 film hinge 12 flat conductor receptacle 14 connecting conductor receptacle 16 shield contact element 18 insulation element 20 gasket 22 latching element