High-power plug connection system

Abstract

A high-power plug connection system has a cable connection housing for connecting at least two electric high-power plug connectors in order to transmit and/or distribute a high current strength and/or a high electric voltage. The cable connection housing receives at least two insulating bodies for receiving at least one respective high-power contact and at least one electrically conductive rail in an interior. The rail is designed to establish an electrically conductive connection between the at least two high-power contacts, and the insulating bodies protrude at least partly out of the interior through a respective housing opening and into a connection region, the connection region being designed to receive the high-power plug connector.

Claims

1.-24. (canceled)

25. A high-power plug connection system (1), comprising: a cable connection housing (2) for connecting at least two electrical high-power plug connectors (3) for transmitting and/or distributing high electrical current strengths and/or high electrical voltages, wherein the cable connection housing (2) comprises at least two insulating bodies (4) for accommodating at least in each case one of at least two high-power contacts (5) and at least one electrically conductive busbar (6) in an interior (7), wherein the busbar (6) is designed to establish an electrically conductive connection between the at least two high-power contacts (5), and wherein the insulating bodies (4) project at least partially through in each case one housing perforation (8) from the interior (7) into a connection region (9) of the cable connection housing (2), wherein the connection region (9) is designed to receive the at least two electrical high-power plug connectors (3).

26. The high-power plug connection system (1) as claimed in claim 25, wherein the cable connection housing (2) is designed with an essentially concave housing top side (G.sub.O).

27. The high-power plug connection system (1) as claimed in claim 25, wherein the cable connection housing (2) has at least two recesses (10) which make it possible to connect the cable connection housing (2) to a support structure.

28. The high-power plug connection system (1) as claimed in claim 27, wherein the recesses (10) are each arranged inside at least one protrusion (11) situated on an outside of the cable connection housing (2).

29. The high-power plug connection system (1) as claimed in claim 25, wherein the interior (7) has at least one first insulating shell (12) and one second insulating shell (12′), wherein the first insulating shell (12) and the second insulating shell (12′) overlap each other along at least one side wall.

30. The high-power plug connection system (1) as claimed in claim 25, wherein the cable connection housing (2) receives at least one closure cap (13) for closing a connection region (9) so that it is media-tight.

31. The high-power plug connection system (1) as claimed in claim 25, wherein the cable connection housing (2) has a housing cover (15) for closing the interior (7) so that it is media-tight.

32. The high-power plug connection system (1) as claimed in claim 25, wherein the housing cover (15) has a depression (16) for receiving a closure cap (13).

33. The high-power plug connection system (1) as claimed in claim 25, wherein the cable connection housing (2) is provided at least on a housing top side (G.sub.O) with at least two fundamentally plane contact surfaces (14).

34. The high-power plug connection system (1) as claimed in claim 33, wherein the contact surfaces (14) reach a height of a plane which is formed by a straight line running fundamentally parallel to the cable connection housing (2) and by a highest point of a concave deflection of a housing top side (G.sub.O).

35. The high-power plug connection system (1) as claimed in claim 25, wherein a housing underside (G.sub.U) is provided with at least one fundamentally plane contact surface (14′).

36. The high-power plug connection system (1) as claimed in claim 35, wherein the fundamentally plane contact surface (14′) is formed for connection of a ground conductor.

37. The high-power plug connection system (1) as claimed in claim 25, wherein a housing underside (G.sub.U) is formed from at least one essentially rectangular basic shape.

38. The high-power plug connection system (1) as claimed in claim 25, wherein the high-power plug connection system (1) has at least one thermochromic element.

39. The high-power plug connection system (1) as claimed in claim 38, wherein the thermochromic element is arranged in a region visible from outside the high-power plug connection system (1).

40. A current transmission system (17) having at least two high-power plug connection systems as claimed in claim 25, wherein at least one first high-power plug connection system (11) is attached to a first end (E1) of a segment (18) of a transportation system and at least one second high-power plug connection system (12) is assigned to an approximately central region of the segment (18).

41. The current transmission system (17) as claimed in claim 40, wherein at least one third high-power plug connection system (13) is attached to a second end (E2) of the segment (18) of the transportation system.

42. The current transmission system (17) as claimed in claim 41, wherein at least one fourth high-power plug connection system (14) with essentially the same structure is associated with at least the first high-power plug connection system (11) at the first end (E1) of the segment (18) of the transportation system in order to enable safety-related technical redundancy.

43. The current transmission system (17) as claimed in claim 42, wherein at least one fifth high-power plug connection system (15) with essentially the same structure is associated with at least the third high-power plug connection system (13) at the second end (E2) of the segment (18) of the transportation system in order to enable safety-related technical redundancy.

44. The current transmission system (17) as claimed in claim 40, wherein at least the second high-power plug connection system (12) receives at least one cable for operating at least one electrical consumer unit (19) of the segment (18) of the transportation system.

45. The current transmission system (17) as claimed in claim 41, wherein at least the first high-power plug connection system (11) and the third high-power plug connection system (13) are connected by at least one electrical cable.

46. The current transmission system (17) as claimed in claim 43, wherein at least the fourth high-power plug connection system (14) and the fifth high-power plug connection system (15) are connected by at least one electrical cable.

47. The current transmission system (17) as claimed in claim 41, wherein at least the first high-power plug connection system (11) and the third high-power plug connection system (13) are connected to the second high-power plug connection system (12) by in each case at least one electrical cable.

48. The current transmission system (17) as claimed in claim 40, wherein at least one high-power plug connection system (1) is provided with at least one thermochromic element.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045] An exemplary embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings and explained in detail below.

[0046] FIG. 1 shows a perspective illustration of a high-power plug connection system in a view from “above.”

[0047] FIG. 2 shows a perspective illustration of a high-power plug connection system in a view from “below.”

[0048] FIG. 3 shows an illustration in section through an approximately centrally positioned, horizontally oriented plane of a high-power plug connection system.

[0049] FIG. 4 shows an illustration in section through an approximately centrally positioned, vertically oriented plane of a high-power plug connection system.

[0050] FIG. 5 shows a current distribution system in a view below a railcar which is equipped therewith.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0051] The drawings contain partly simplified schematic illustrations. Identical reference symbols are partly used for the same but possibly not identical elements. Different views of the same elements could be to a different scale.

[0052] Specifications of directions such as, for example, “left”, “right”, “above”, and “below” are to be understood with reference to the respective drawing and can vary in the individual illustrations with respect to the object illustrated.

[0053] Superscript letters and numbers and subscript letters and numbers after a reference symbol are for the purpose of orientation and are intended fundamentally for the purpose of producing a simplified overview.

[0054] FIG. 1 shows a high-power plug connection system 1 according to the invention in a perspective view from “above”. In this case, the high-power plug connection system 1 illustrated has a cable connection housing 2 and two high-power plug connectors 3 fastened thereon. The high-power plug connectors 3 are inserted into connection regions 9 of the cable connection housing 2 and fixed there to the cable connection housing 2 with screw connections. Alternative options for fastening a high-power plug connector 3 to a cable connection housing 2 will be apparent to a person skilled in the art. A high-power plug connector 3 can be equipped, for example, with a locking hook mechanism such as a push-pull mechanism. A high-power plug connector 3 can be equipped with a union nut which is screwed onto an external thread, wherein the external thread is arranged on the connection region 9 of the cable connection housing 2. A high-power plug connector 3 can furthermore be provided with a threaded sleeve in order to be screwed into an internal thread arranged in the connection region 9. Retaining brackets, levers, wedges, clamping elements such as clamping arms or clamping bushes (for example, tapered bushes) can additionally be used. The housing top side (G.sub.O) of the cable connection housing 2 runs concavely, wherein the highest deflection of the housing top side (G.sub.O) is in the longitudinal axis of the cable connection housing 2. Protrusions 11 can be seen along the basic body of the cable connection housing 2. These protrusions 11 are provided with recesses 10. These recesses 10 are configured as through bores or through holes. In the illustration in FIG. 1, these recesses 10 are already provided with connecting elements, to be more precise with screws. The latter are screwed into a support structure, for example the chassis or a floor plate of a railroad car, and connected to threaded elements. Unlike the majority of the housing top side (G.sub.O), the protrusions 11 are not concave and instead configured at least fundamentally as plane contact surfaces 14. In order to obtain particularly advantageous electrical grounding, these plane contact surfaces 14 are connected to electrically conductive surfaces of the supporting component. This contact is subsequently sealed, for example by paint, to protect it from dirt and the weather. The contact surfaces 14 are furthermore provided to dissipate heat that is created in the cable connection housing 2. In the illustration in FIG. 1, the contact surfaces 14 of the protrusions 11 protrude beyond the highest deflection of the concavely configured housing top side (G.sub.O). It is thus obtained, on the one hand, that heat that is created is discharged during travel by an enabled airflow. Cleaning is furthermore simplified because dirt, dust, and water can run off or can be discharged simply on the sides of the cable connection housing 2.

[0055] FIG. 2 shows the high-power plug connection system 1 according to the invention in a view from “below”. The cable connection housing 2 is also connected to two high-power plug connectors 3 in FIG. 2. As in FIG. 1, a connection region 9 for a further high-power plug connector 3 is illustrated, unoccupied. The recess 10 in the protrusion 11 is already traversed by a connecting element. The connecting element, such as the screw illustrated, serves, for example, to fix the cable connection housing 2 to a support structure. A connecting element is furthermore designed to establish electrical grounding. The housing underside G.sub.U has two contact surfaces 14. These contact surfaces 14 are designed in particular for connection of at least one ground conductor. A copper mesh tape is often used as a ground conductor. The housing underside G.sub.U is provided with a housing cover 15. The interior 7 can be reached through the housing cover 15 for mounting and/or maintenance purposes. The housing cover 15 is furthermore formed with a depression 16. This depression 16 in turn is formed in such a way that a closure cap 13 can be accommodated in the depression 16 at least to a small extent. The closure cap 13 can ideally be connected detachably to the housing cover 15 by connecting elements, for example screws.

[0056] FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 enable a view of the interior 7. These views show, in the case of FIG. 3, a high-power plug connection system 1 in a horizontal illustration in section and, in the case of FIG. 4, a high-power plug connection system 1 in a vertical illustration in section. FIG. 3 shows the cable connection housing 2 with a high-power plug connector 3 in a connection region 9, and a closure cap 13 in an adjacent connection region 9, whilst one connection region 9 is illustrated as unused. Three individually positioned insulating bodies 4 are arranged in the interior 7. In the case illustrated, the very rough shape of an (inverted) Y is assumed. The insulating bodies 4 run through associated housing perforations 8 and thus establish a connection between the interior 7 and the respective connection regions 9. The insulating bodies 4 furthermore each have a high-power contact 5. The high-power contacts 5 are guided through the insulating bodies 4 and through the housing perforations 8 into the respective connection region 9. The high-power contacts 5 are fixed to a busbar 6 approximately centrally in the interior 7 in order to establish an electrical connection. In the embodiment illustrated, the high-power contacts 5 are fastened to the busbar 6 by screws. The illustrations in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 also show that there is no electrically conductive component in direct contact with the cable connection housing 2. By virtue of this design, despite the particularly compact structure of the high-power plug connection system 1, the required air gaps and creepage distances can be observed. In order to further increase protection, the interior 7 is provided with two insulating shells 12 and 12′ which are nested inside each other. For this purpose, the insulating shell 12′ is configured so that it is slightly smaller than the insulating shell 12 such that the insulating shell 12′ is inserted into the insulating shell 12.

[0057] A current transmission system 17 consisting of the high-power plug connection systems 1 according to the invention is illustrated in FIG. 5. In addition, a first high-power plug connection system 1.sub.1 is fastened at a first end E1 of a segment 18 of a transportation system. The transportation system is, for example, a passenger transport railcar. A first high-power plug connection system 1.sub.1 is connected to a second high-power plug connection system 1.sub.2 with the same structure. The second high-power plug connection system 1.sub.2 is connected to a third high-power plug connector 1.sub.3 by an electrical conductor. The first high-power plug connection system 1.sub.1 is connected to a fourth high-power plug connection system 1.sub.4 in order to produce redundancy. This fourth high-power plug connection system 1.sub.4 is linked electrically conductively directly to a fifth high-power plug connection system 1.sub.5. For redundancy reasons, the high-power plug connection systems 1.sub.5 and 1.sub.3 are furthermore in electrically conductive contact. The high-power plug connection systems 1.sub.1 and 1.sub.4 are thus situated at the first end E1 of the segment 18. The high-power plug connection systems 1.sub.3 and 1.sub.5 are situated at the opposite end E2 of the segment 18. An electrical consumer unit 19 is situated between the two ends E1 and E2 of the segment 18. This electrical consumer unit 19 can be, for example, a temperature control system, in particular an air-conditioning unit or an electrical heating unit. The electrical consumer unit 19 is connected to the high-power plug connection system 1.sub.2 by an electrical line. The high-power plug connection systems 1 here have the same structure and are interchangeable as required. The high-power plug connection systems 1.sub.1, 1.sub.2, and 1.sub.3 here form an electrical connection from the first end E1 of the segment 18 to the second end E2 of the segment 18. The high-power plug connection system 1.sub.2 here acts not only as an electrical connection but also as a branching option for supplying power to an electrical consumer unit. The high-power plug connection systems 1.sub.4 and 1.sub.5 form a further electrical connection from the first end E1 of the segment 18 to the second end E2 of the segment 18.

[0058] Even though different aspects or features of the invention are shown in the drawings in each case in combination, unless otherwise stated, it is clear to a person skilled in the art that the combinations illustrated and discussed are not the only ones possible. In particular, corresponding units or bundles of features from different exemplary embodiments can be interchanged.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0059] 1 high-power plug connection system [0060] 2 cable connection housing [0061] 3 high-power plug connector [0062] 4 insulating body [0063] 5 high-power contact [0064] 6 busbar [0065] 7 interior [0066] 8 housing perforation [0067] 9 connection region [0068] 10 recess [0069] 11 protrusion [0070] 12, 12′ insulating shell [0071] 13 closure cap [0072] 14, 14′ contact surface [0073] 15 housing cover [0074] 16 depression [0075] 17 current transmission system [0076] 18 segment [0077] 19 consumer unit [0078] G.sub.O housing top side [0079] G.sub.U housing underside [0080] E1 first end of the segment [0081] E2 second end of the segment