GB2276504A

GB2276504A - Plug socket box

Info

Publication number: GB2276504A
Application number: GB9405716A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Siegfried Schulte; Manfred Aulmann; Ralf Kniest
Original assignee: Modelec SA
Current assignee: Modelec SA
Priority date: 1993-03-24
Filing date: 1994-03-23
Publication date: 1994-09-28
Anticipated expiration: 2014-03-23
Also published as: GB2276504B; DE4309453C1; GB9405716D0

Description

4 2276504 1 Plug socket box

Description

The invention relates to a plug socket box having a housing which receives one or more plug socket inserts and connection lines and is closed by a housing base. The plug socket box is preferably for three phase electricity supply.

In a plug socket box of this type, line guidance of the phased conductors and of the protective conductor (or earth) taking into account the necessary safety clearances is difficult. Connection to the plug connectors (which are for connecting the plug socket box to an electricity supply or other plug socket boxes) also requires special measures. Aligning the plane connecting the plug sockets to be parallel or inclined or perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the plug socket box requires different electrical connection elements in each case.

The object of the invention is a line guidance within the plug socket box which is easily assemblable, secure and adaptable.

2 In accordance with the invention, this object is achieved in that plug connectors are arranged directly in mutually opposing housing walls, in that in each case a movable uninterrupted connection line connects inphase connections of the plug connectors and of the plug socket inserts to one another, and in that the connection lines each run between screening walls of the housing.

The invention differs from the prior art inasmuch as the connection lines are constructed in the form of wires to be moveable and thus can be adapted in their course to the respective requirements. The connection lines can be welded, soldered or electrically contacted in another way both to the plug connectors and to contact springs and an earthing contact bridge of plug socket inserts. The connection lines to the plug connectors and the contact elements may be preassembled and subsequently installed in the housing. The plug socket box can be constructed as a multiple plug socket, generally as an n-fold plug socket, including those with wattless inserts, or as an individual device or as a wattless device. It is also possible to connect a plurality of plug socket boxes directly to one another. Insulation-free connection lines are also important. This makes simple assembly possible.

i 3 Adequate insulation paths between contact parts are ensured if each plug socket insert has chambers, which are divided by walls, for receiving the contact springs and the earthing contact bridge.

Each plug socket insert may be rotatable to a limited extent within a receiver of the housing to allow aligning of the plug sockets.

The plug socket inserts may be latchably insertable in the receiver to facilitate assembly of the plug socket inserts.

Each plug socket inserts maybe latchable in a plurality of rotary positions to allow alignment of the plug socket inserts for straight plugs and right-angle plugs.

The line guidance for the phased and neutral conductor connection maybe constructed such that the connection lines for the phases are guided at the longitudinal walls and are connected in electrically conductive manner by means of loops to the contact springs in the chambers, and so that the connection line for the protective conductor is in each case guided between guide walls of the plug socket inserts. Such 4 loops enable the plug socket inserts to be rotated through an angular range of 90.

The ends of the loops may in each case be clamped firmly to the longitudinal walls to allow secure mounting of the connection lines. This means that the connection lines may be guided securely and the necessary moveability for rotation of the plug socket inserts is ensured.

For complete screening of the connection lines with respect to one another, each plug socket insert may have tongues aligned in the peripheral direction and matching the screen walls.

For mounting plug socket boxes which are connected to one another directly, pushbuttons having hooks and openings may be provided in the region of the narrow sides. This means that plug socket boxes can be combined with one another in any number and arrangement.

An embodiment of the invention is explained by way of example only with reference to the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a plan view of a plug socket box, Fig. 2 shows a section along the line I-J-G-H in Fig. 1, 11 Fig. 3 shows a bottom view with housing base removed, Fig. 4 shows a section along the line E-F in Fig. 2, Fig. 5 shows a section along the line A-B in Fig. 1, Fig. 6 shows the plug socket box with a plug connector, and Fig. 7 shows a plan view of Fig. 6.

The figures show a triple plug socket box 1 which is accommodated in a housing 2, closed by a housing base 3 shown in the removed state in Fig. 6, the housing 2 having three receiving chambers 4 for plug socket inserts 5. Plug connectors are shaped directly in mutually opposing narrow sides 32 of the housing 2, and of these one plug connector 6 is constructed as a plug part with plug pins 7 and the other plug connector 8 is constructed as a female part with plug sockets 9. In each case in- phase plug pins 7 and plug sockets 9 are connected to one another respectively by a flexible connection line 10 for the protective earth or a connection line 11 for each phase.

In accordance with Pigs. 6 and 7, in each case a 6 female part 33 is provided with plug sockets 34. Accordingly, a plug part (not illustrated) for the female part 8 is also provided. The plug socket box I can be connected to a female part and/or to a plug part. One or more plug socket boxes can be plugged directly into one another. In the region of the narrow sides 32, two pushbuttons 35 having hooks 36 which engage in openings in the associated narrow side of an adjacent plug socket box are provided so that adjacent plug socket boxes can be locked to one another firmly. Detachment is only possible by simultaneous actuation of both pushbuttons.

Within the housing 2 there are arranged two screening walls 12 which are substantially continuous in the longitudinal direction and whereof the end sections lie in each case between adjacent plug pins 7 and plug sockets 9. Approximately semicircular segments 13, which each define a receiving chamber 4 for a plug socket insert 5, follow. The middle section 14 of the segments 13 has only a relatively small axial height so that a gap remains free there with respect to the housing base 3 for the lines 11, see in particular Fig. 2. Webs 15 go out in the transverse direction from the segments 13 and leave a narrow gap free with respect to the longitudinal wall 16 for receiving and fixing the lines 11. At the edges of the receiving chambers 4, latching tongues 18 are 7 provided for mounting a plug socket insert 5. Additionally, there are associated with the receiving chambers 4 latching lugs 19 which enable latching of each plug socket insert in different angular alignments, which will be described in detail below.

Each plug socket insert 5 has a collar 20 and a base 21, from which chambers 22 for receiving and mounting the contact springs 23 project downwards. Gripping recesses 37 allow the plug socket insert 5 to be held and rotated. The contact springs 23 are laid in the chambers 22 and if necessary latched therein. A wall 29 of the chamber 22 leaves part of the central web of the contact spring 23 free so that the contact spring is laterally accessible for contacting the connection line. Guide walls 24 for the earthing contact bridge 25 adjoin the chambers 22 and are aligned parallel to one another. On the other side, approximately radially aligned closure webs 26 reach as far as the respective segment 13. Sickle- shaped tongues 27 which leave a gap 28 free to the base 21 adjoin the guide walls 24. The dimension is such that the middle section 14 and a tongue 27 are overlapping. The earthing contact bridge 25 is riveted to the base 21 of the plug socket insert 5. The latching tongues 18 engage in peripheral channels 31 of the plug socket inserts 5. Stops 34 in the peripheral channels 31 limit rotation of the plug socket 8 inserts 5.

The plug socket box can be constructed as a tripl box, double box, single box or in another multiple. A blank box for devices such as switches, fault-current circuit breakers and the like is also possible.

The connection lines 10 and 11 are flexible wires which are threaded in and soldered or welded on. The uninsulated and uninterrupted connection lines directly connect the plug sockets, plug pins and contact springs or earthing contact bridge to one another. Pre-fabrication of the connection lines to the contact elements is thus possible, so that pre-fabricated parts are inserted in the plug socket insert. This enables economical assembly. The arrangement of the connection lines in different planes with respect to the housing base and the arrangement of the intermediate walls guarantee secure electrical insulation of all the electrically conductive parts, so that safety regulations can be maintained.

The plug socket inserts 5 can be adjusted in three angular positions, in each case rotated by 90 with respect to one another, so that all consumer needs can be fulfilled as regards the outgoing lines of the plugs. Figs. 1 and 3 and 6 and 7 show in the left-hand d e i -1 9 third the alignment of the plug socket insert 5 in the 0' position, in which the plane determined by the contact springs is aligned perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the plug socket box. In the central third, the 45 position is shown and in the right-hand third the 90 position is shown. Since the connection lines 10 and 12 are constructed as yielding and flexible wires, rotation of the plug socket inserts within the frame of the loops is readily possible. The loops of the connection lines 11 for the contact springs permit sufficient travel in accordance with the illustration of Fig. 3. The connection line 10 for the earthing contact bridge 25 is laid to be virtually linear without substantial loops, since the travel necessary on pivoting is small. The plug socket inserts are in each case latched in the said three positions. Rotation of the plug socket inserts is possible at any time. This provides a very flexible layout of the plug socket box.

The invention has been described by way of example only and modifications can be made within the invention.

Cl ai ms 1. Plug socket box having a housing which receives one or more plug socket inserts and connection lines and is closed by a housing base, characterized in that plug connectors are arranged directly in mutually opposing housing walls, in that in each case a movable uninterrupted connection line connects in-phase connections of the plug connectors and of the plug socket inserts to one another, and in that the connection lines each run between screening walls of the housing.

Claims

2. Plug socket box according to Claim 1, characterized in that each plug

socket insert has chambers, which are divided by walls, for receiving the contact springs and the earthing contact bridge.

3. Plug socket box according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that insulation-free connection lines are provided.

4. Plug socket box according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each plug socket insert is arranged to be rotatable to a limited extent within a receiver of the housing.

e 1 k c 11 5. Plug socket box according to Claim 4, characterized in that the plug socket insert is latchably insertable in the receiver.

6. Plug socket box according to Claim 4 or 5, characterized in that each plug socket insert is latchable in a plurality of rotary positions.

7. Plug socket box according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the plug socket insert has in each case gripping recesses.

8. Plug socket box according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the connection lines for the phases are guided along the longitudinal walls and are connected in electrically conductive manner by means of loops to the contacts of the plug socket inserts, and in that the connection line for the protective conductor is in each case guided between guide walls of the plug socket inserts.

9. Plug socket box according to Claim 8, characterized in that the ends of the loops are in each case clamped firmly to the longitudinal walls.

10. Plug socket box according to one of Claims 1 to 9, 12 characterized in that each plug socket insert has tongues aligned in the peripheral direction and matching the screening walls.

11. Plug socket box according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that pushbuttons having hooks and openings are provided in the region of the narrow sides.

12. Plug socket box according to Claim 11, characterized in that pushbuttons having hooks are arranged at both ends of the narrow side.

13. Plug socket box substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.