Modular housing including support rail connecting means

Abstract

A module connecting arrangement for mounting a module on a support rail includes a horizontal rectangular housing containing a longitudinal chamber, and a bottom surface that contains a recess for transversely receiving the support rail, the recess being in communication with the chamber. A pair of horizontal, superimposed, slidably-connected locking slide members are longitudinally mounted in the chamber. The slide members are spring-biased together toward a locking position in which integral opposed locking lip portions thereon extend below outwardly directed horizontal flange portions of the support rail. A separating member having a non-circular cross-section is rotatably connected with the housing and extends into a gap defined between spaced opposing walls on the slide members, whereby rotation of the separating members produces displacement of the slide members toward released positions relative to the support rail.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] A module connecting arrangement for mounting a module on a support rail includes a horizontal rectangular housing containing a longitudinal chamber, and a bottom surface that contains a recess for transversely receiving the support rail, the recess being in communication with the chamber. A pair of horizontal, superimposed, slidably-connected locking slide members are longitudinally mounted in the chamber, said slide members being spring-biased together toward a locking position in which integral opposed locking lip portions thereon extend below outwardly directed horizontal flange portions of the support rail. A separating member having a non-circular cross-section is rotatably connected with the housing and extends within a gap defined between spaced opposing vertical walls on the slide members, whereby rotation of the separating member produces displacement of the slide members toward released positions relative ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] Another object of the invention is to provide the locking tip portions of the locking slide members with inclined surfaces, thereby to permit mounting of the module by a simple downward displacement of the module relative to the support rail.

[0011] The invention is distinguished by a particularly simple and defined handling with low production and assembly costs. For the purpose of mounting on the mounting rail, the housing is locked in a simple manner upon the mounting rail in that, for example, a hook-shaped section behind one of the mounting rail edges is hooked in and that then the module base housing is swung upon the mounting rail. For release, it is only necessary to work on the spreading element with a tool such as a screwdriver.

[0013] It is practical when the spreading pin is so designed that it can be operated with a tool, in particular, a screwdriver, so that spreading pin has an operating slot for receiving the tip of a screwdriver. It is advantageous that the mounting rail edge can be arranged far to the side so that it can be easily reached.

Problems solved by technology

Therefore, fastening devices are also known where the separation is done “from above.” The known solutions of this type here, however, always entail the disadvantage of a relatively complicated operation and design.

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