OVERVOLTAGE PROTECTION ARRANGEMENT FOR INFORMATION AND TELECOMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY

Abstract

The invention relates to an overvoltage protection arrangement for information and telecommunication technology, consisting of a housing with means formed on the housing base for mounting top-hat rails, overvoltage protection elements which can be found in the housing, electric connection means, and at least one circuit board as a wiring support for the overvoltage protection elements. When viewed laterally, the housing is designed approximately in the shape of a T standing on its head and has a beam-shaped main part with a protruding head part, wherein the electric connection means can be accessed and actuated via the upper face of the beam-shaped main part. A first and second circuit board are located on a respective inner face of the lateral walls of the housing in a mutually spaced manner, and the electric connection means in the form of electric connection terminals, connection sockets, and/or plugs for example are arranged in the spacing between the first and second circuit board such that first connection means can be accessed on the horizontal plane of the beam-shaped main part and second connection means can be accessed on the vertical plane of the beam-shaped main part. The flat shape of the circuit board corresponds to the T shape of the housing or approximates the shape of the housing.

Claims

1. An overvoltage protection arrangement for information and telecommunication technology, consisting of a housing with means (3) formed on the housing base for top-hat rail mounting, overvoltage protection elements (12) disposed in the housing, electric connection means (6; 7) and at least one printed circuit board (10; 11) as a wiring support for the overvoltage protection elements (12), furthermore with a shape of the housing with a beam-shaped main part (1) and a protruding head part (2), characterized in that a first (10) and a second (11) printed circuit board are respectively spaced from one another on the inner sides of the side walls of the housing, wherein in the distance space the electric connection means (6; 7) are arranged in the form of electric connection terminals, connection sockets and/or plugs in such a way that the first connection means (6) are accessible in the horizontal (4) plane of the beam-shaped main part (1) and second connection means (7) in the vertical (5) plane thereof, and the surface shape of the printed circuit boards (10; 11) approximates the shape of the housing or corresponds to this shape.

2. An overvoltage protection arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the first connecting means (6) are formed as lockable socket strips fixed on the printed circuit board for clamping wires.

3. An overvoltage protection arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the second connection means (7) are formed as coaxial plugs or sockets.

4. An overvoltage protection arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the horizontal plane (4) of the beam-shaped main part is formed as an inclined surface (8) for the angled guidance and receiving of connecting wires when the overvoltage protection device is arranged under a distributor cover.

5. An overvoltage protection arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that it is arranged in a stackable manner.

6. An overvoltage protection arrangement according to claim 5, characterized in that a closable opening (15) is provided at the head part (2) of the housing respectively in the region of the printed circuit boards (10; 11), which opening provides access to a printed circuit board section.

7. An overvoltage protection arrangement according to claim 6, characterized in that in the case of at least two adjoining overvoltage protection devices, a plug-in element (14) can be attached by means of the openings (15), which element mechanically and/or electrically connects the respective devices.

8. An overvoltage protection arrangement according to claim 7, characterized in that the plug-in element (14) is realised as a moulded part, which comprises extensions (16) which are adjusted to the opening contour and are complemented relative thereto.

9. An overvoltage protection arrangement according to claim 7, characterized in that the plug-in element (14) is conductive or comprises a conductive section (17).

10. An overvoltage protection arrangement according to claim 7, characterized in that the plug-in element (14) is formed as an electric connection bridge.

11. An overvoltage protection arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that in the region of their ends facing the housing base the printed circuit boards (10; 11) are connected via a common contact element (19), wherein the connection to the top-hat rail (18) can be produced via the common contact element (19).

Description

[0025] The invention will be explained in more detail below by reference to exemplary embodiments and with the aid of the drawings, wherein:

[0026] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the overvoltage protection arrangement with housing in the form of an inverted T;

[0027] FIG. 2 shows a view similar to that of FIG. 1, but with a freely accessible view of the spaced-apart circuit boards which approximate the housing shape, together with connecting means;

[0028] FIG. 3 shows a view of three adjoining overvoltage protection arrangements (omitting parts of the housing);

[0029] FIG. 4 shows an enlarged view of the connecting element, which is formed as a connecting bridge, which can already be seen in FIG. 3;

[0030] FIG. 5 sows a perspective view (top view) of three adjoining overvoltage protection arrangements, which are connected via plug-in elements;

[0031] FIG. 6 shows a detailed view of two adjoining overvoltage protection arrangements with a closable opening respectively disposed in the head part of the housing and a part of a respective circuit board which can be seen in the opening section;

[0032] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the arrangement of an overvoltage protection device on a top-hat rail with a partially broken-away housing, and

[0033] FIG. 8 shows a detail view of the circuit boards with a common contact element.

[0034] According to the exemplary embodiment, an overvoltage protection arrangement is provided which has a housing having the shape of an upside-down T. The housing has a beam-shaped main part 1 and a protuberant head part 2.

[0035] Provided at the bottom of the beam-shaped main part 1 is a recess 3 for the purpose of the top-hat rail mounting of the overvoltage protection arrangement.

[0036] A first plane on the beam-shaped main part 1 is designated as a horizontal plane 4 and a second plane as a horizontal plane 5. Electric connection means 6 are accessible or arranged on the horizontal plane 4 as well as electric connection means 7 on the vertical plane 5.

[0037] In a preferred embodiment, the first connection means 6 are designed as terminals for the wire connection. The horizontal plane 4 is inclined, i.e. it is designed as an inclined surface, so that an optimal introduction of connecting lines is possible and the connecting lines are located under a distribution cover (not shown).

[0038] Sockets or plugs can be arranged for example in the vertical plane 5 (plane 2). The illustration according to FIG. 1 shows a BNC socket as a connection means 7. Further embodiments may be provided as RJ sockets, sub-D plug sockets or the like.

[0039] The aforementioned inclined surface is symbolised in FIG. 1 by the reference numeral 8.

[0040] A further plane 9 (plane 3) is used for the arrangement of a terminal, which is described below, in alignment with the neighbouring device when a series of overvoltage protection arrangements is arranged side-by-side, for example, for the through connection of a bus/communication line for the data exchange between correspondingly adjacent devices.

[0041] The illustrations according to FIGS. 2 and 3 show that within the housing two spaced-apart printed circuit boards 10 and 11 are arranged, which have a surface shape substantially corresponding to the longitudinal sectional area of the housing. In the space between the printed circuit boards 10 and 11, respective terminals 6, for example, are disposed for the wire connection or a plug/socket 7 for connecting a coaxial conductor. The printed circuit boards also carry the actual overvoltage protection elements 12, e.g. varistors, and serve to fix function indicators 13, which are formed as light-emitting diodes for example.

[0042] As can be seen from FIGS. 3 and 4, an electric connection between adjacent devices can be established by the arrangement of the printed circuit boards 10; 11 on the side of the respective housing inner wall via a printed circuit board plug connector 14 in order to realise data exchange or to also provide a power supply.

[0043] As can be seen in FIG. 4, the plug element 14 can be designed as a moulded part, which has extensions 16 adapted to the opening contour in opening 15 disposed in the head part 9 of the housing.

[0044] If, for example, the plug element 14 is provided with a conductive contour or a conductive section 17, the desired electric connection between the circuit boards 10 and 11 can be realised.

[0045] In the illustrated example, the plug element 14 consists of the two pin-shaped extensions 16, which are connected via a web. The respective opening 15 in the head part 9 of the corresponding housing is correspondingly adapted to this plug element contour.

[0046] The connector can thus be designed in such a way that, via the contour of the plug element and the complementary design as a housing contour, a mechanical latching between adjacent devices occurs at the same time. An improvement in the stability of the overall arrangement is thus achieved. After removal of the plug element or the corresponding plug elements 14, a corresponding device can be detached from the assembly. It is thus not necessary to disconnect wires or cables.

[0047] FIG. 7 shows an overvoltage protection arrangement according to the invention with a partially broken-away housing, arranged on a top-hat rail 18. For the purpose of contacting the top-hat rail, it is possible to mechanically connect the printed circuit boards 10; 11 via a contact element 19 and to contact them electrically.

[0048] In this respect, the aforementioned contact element 19 is provided in the lower part of the housing, which element connects the printed circuit boards 10 and 11 to the top-hat rail 18. In addition, with regard to this solution element, good mechanical strength of the printed circuit boards in the housing with seat on the top-hat rail 18 is achieved. The arrangement can be fixed in the housing lower part by means of detent elements 20 on the contact element 19.