Support rail fixing device, method, assembly and switch cabinet

Abstract

The present invention relates to a support rail fixing device (100) for fixing a support rail (200) on a wall (400), comprising a retaining element (110) that can be fixed to the wall (400), the retaining element having a receiving pocket (111); and a fixing body (112) that can be fixed to the support rail (200), wherein when the support rail (200) is fixed to the wall (400), the fixing body (112) is pushed into the receiving pocket (111) of the retaining element (110).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a support rail fixing device for fixing a support rail on a wall, for example, a wall of a switch cabinet. The invention also relates to a method for fixing a support rail to a wall by means of such a support rail fixing device, and an assembly and a switch cabinet having such a support rail fixing device. Background Art

[0002] The support rail can be formed as an elongated U-shaped or C-shaped profile and is used to accommodate a plurality of terminal blocks, in particular terminal boxes. The terminal blocks can be installed in the switch cabinet by means of the support rail. The support rail usually has a plurality of openings, through which the support rail can be fixed to the wall of the switch cabinet by means of screws. Since the screws are no longer accessible when the support rail is equipped with the terminal blocks, the support rail must first be fixed in the switch cabinet with screws, and the terminal blocks can only be assembled for the support rail after the support rail is fixed or mounted on the wall of the switch cabinet. Therefore, the support rail pre-assembled with the terminal blocks cannot be installed in the switch cabinet. This means that the automatic assembly of the support rail is also impossible. Therefore, the assembly workload for assembling the terminal blocks and the support rails for the switch cabinet is very large. Summary of the invention

[0003] The object of the present invention is to provide a support rail fastening device, a method, an assembly and a switch cabinet, in which the installation work can be reduced, in particular a support rail preassembled with connecting terminals can be fastened to a wall.

[0004] This object is achieved according to the invention by the features of the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments and advantageous developments of the invention are given in the dependent claims.

[0005] The supporting rail fixing device according to the present invention comprises a retaining element fixable to a wall, the retaining element having a receiving pocket, and a fixing body fixable to the supporting rail, wherein the fixing body is pushed into the receiving pocket of the retaining element when the supporting rail is fixed to the wall.

[0006] In order to fix the support rail on the wall, in particular on the wall of the switch cabinet, a support rail fixing device is now provided, to which the support rail is first fixed before the support rail is installed and fixed in the switch cabinet by means of the support rail fixing device. As a result, the support rail is no longer directly fixed on the wall, but is indirectly fixed on the wall by the fixing device. The support rail fixing device is formed by a plurality of parts. Basically, the support rail fixing device has a retaining element and a fixing body, wherein the retaining element is first fixed to the wall to which the support rail is to be fixed. The fixing body is directly fixed to the support rail. Before the support rail is equipped with a connecting terminal, the fixing body is preferably fixed to the support rail. The fixing body is preferably releasably fixed to the support rail. The fixing body is fixed to the bottom side of the support rail, and in the fixed state in which the support rail is fixed or installed on the wall, the bottom side points in the direction of the wall. After the fixing body is fixed to the support rail, the support rail can be equipped with a connecting terminal, wherein this can be done automatically or manually. The support rail equipped with the connecting terminals can then be fixed to the wall by inserting the fixing body together with the supporting rail arranged on the fixing body into the receiving pocket of the holding element already fixed to the wall. The insertion can be carried out by a purely axial insertion movement. With this support rail fixing device, the support rail already equipped with the connecting terminals can be fixed to the wall, in particular the wall of a switch cabinet, quickly and simply and thus with little installation effort. With the help of this support rail fixing device, the support rail can also be quickly and easily removed from the wall.

[0007] The support rail fastening device can have a threaded connection, by means of which the fixing body can be fixed to the support rail. The threaded connection can be formed by a screw and a nut which can be screwed onto the screw. The screw can be guided through an opening in the support rail and through the fixing body and fixed to the fixing body by means of the nut. The threaded connection makes it easy to assemble and disassemble the fixing body on the support rail.

[0008] The fixing body can be a slide block. The slide block can be formed in a block shape. The fixing body and the slide block can thus have a through hole in which a nut is arranged or a threaded hole in which a threaded connection can engage.

[0009] The support rail fixing device can also have a latching element, by which the fixed body can be locked on the holding element in a fixed state. By means of this latching element, the fixed body can be prevented from accidentally slipping out or coming loose from the receiving pocket of the holding element. At the same time, the latching element can releasably lock the fixed body on the holding element, so that the fixed body can be loosened from the holding element again when necessary in order to remove the support rail from the wall. A matching latching element is preferably formed on the holding element, which can be locked with the latching element on the fixed body. The matching latching element is preferably formed on the bottom side of the holding element as seen from the insertion direction of the fixed body into the holding element. The matching latching element can be in the form of an opening formed on the holding element and / or an undercut formed on the holding element, for example in the form of an edge, into which or on which the latching element can engage.

[0010] For example, the latching element can be formed by a latching tongue molded onto the fixed body. The latching tongue is preferably designed to be elastic. The latching tongue can be molded in one piece with the fixed body. The latching tongue can be designed, for example, in the form of a tongue, in particular an elongated tongue. The latching tongue can have a connecting tab, by which the latching tongue can be molded onto the fixed body. The connecting tab preferably has a smaller width than the latching tongue, whereby a good elastic effect of the latching tongue can be achieved. The latching tongue can be formed on the bottom side of the fixed body, wherein the latching tongue can extend transversely to the bottom side of the fixed body.

[0011] The latching element can also be formed by an additional body that can be inserted into the fixed body. The latching element can therefore be a separate component from the fixed body. The latching element can be detached from the fixed body. Preferably, the latching element is inserted into the fixed body before the fixed body is pushed into the receiving pocket of the holding element, so that the fixed body can be pushed into the receiving pocket of the holding element together with the additional body. However, it is also possible to first push the fixed body into the receiving pocket and only then insert the latching element onto the fixed body.

[0012] The additional body can have a latching contour which can engage with the retaining element in order to indirectly lock the fixing body to the retaining element via the additional body.

[0013] The latching profile can be formed in such a way that the additional body has two latching arms, wherein the fixed body can be maintained between the two latching arms in the plugged state, wherein the two latching arms can have free ends respectively, which can be maintained on the retaining element in the fixed state. The fixed body can be clamped between the two latching arms, thereby being maintained between the two latching arms. At the same time, a locking can be formed on the retaining element by the two latching arms, so that the latching arms can perform two functions. Through the two latching arms, the additional body can accommodate the fixed body therebetween in the manner of pliers. The two latching arms can be molded on the gripping section, wherein the additional body can be maintained by the gripping section, so that it can be inserted into the fixed body and removed from the fixed body again. The gripping section forms a U-shaped accommodation space for accommodating the fixed body together with the two latching arms. Therefore, the fixed body can be surrounded by the additional body in a U-shape. The two latching arms can extend substantially parallel to each other. The free ends of the latching arms can be angled respectively, wherein the two free ends of the two latching arms are angled in a manner away from each other. Due to the angled design, a secure locking of the latching arm and thus of the additional body on the retaining element can be achieved.

[0014] In order to further improve the locking, a toothing can be formed at the free end of each of the two latching arms, which toothing can be locked into engagement with the retaining element. The toothing can be formed on the outer surface of the free end of the latching arm facing away from the fixing body. The toothing can be designed in the form of a groove. The toothing enables the latching arms to engage from behind on an edge or undercut of the retaining element, respectively.

[0015] In order to insert the additional body onto the fixed body in the desired position, guide contours for guiding the two latching arms can be formed on two opposite sides of the fixed body. The guide contours can be formed by tabs, which can form a joint space for one of the latching arms. The latching arm can then be guided between the two tabs. The tabs preferably extend along the side of the fixed body in the insertion direction. In addition, the guide contours can also be designed in the form of groove-shaped recesses on the side of the fixed body.

[0016] The object according to the invention is also achieved by a method for fixing a support rail to a wall by means of at least one support rail fixing device as described, formed or expanded, in which method a holding element of the support rail fixing device is first fixed to the wall and a fixing body of the support rail fixing device is fixed to the support rail. The fixing body is then pushed together with the support rail fixed thereto into a receiving pocket of the fixing element in order to fix the fixing body to the fixing element.

[0017] This enables the support rail equipped with the connecting terminals to be indirectly fixed to the wall, wherein the support rail can be mounted on the wall in a simple manner and can also be removed from the wall again together with the connecting terminals engaged on the support rail. The support rail can be mounted on the wall without the aid of additional tools. Preferably, the support rail is equipped with connecting terminals after the fixing body is fixed to the support rail and before the fixing body is fixed to the holding element.

[0018] Furthermore, the object according to the invention is achieved by an assembly having a support rail and at least one support rail fixing device formed and extended as described above. Preferably, a plurality of such support rail fixing devices can be arranged along the length of the support rail, so that the support rail can be fixed to the wall with a high degree of stability and a high degree of reliability. The support rail fixing devices arranged along the length of the support rail are preferably arranged at a distance from each other.

[0019] Furthermore, the object according to the invention is achieved by a switch cabinet having at least one component formed and developed as described above, which is fastened to a wall of the switch cabinet. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The present invention will be explained in more detail below in conjunction with preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0021] In the figure:

[0022] Figure 1 shows a schematic exploded view of an assembly according to the invention having a support rail and a support rail fixing device for fixing the support rail to a wall,

[0023] Figure 2 Shown is a wall mounted Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the components shown,

[0024] Figure 3 shows a schematic exploded view of another assembly according to the invention, which assembly has a support rail and a support rail fastening device for fastening the support rail to a wall,

[0025] Figure 4 Shown is a wall mounted Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the components shown, and

[0026] Figure 5 A further schematic illustration of a fastening body with a screw connection for fastening to a support rail is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] Figure 1 and Figure 2An embodiment of a support rail fixing device 100 is shown, by which a support rail 200 already equipped with connecting terminals (not shown here) can be fixed on a wall 400. The wall 400 can be a wall 400 of a switch cabinet. The wall 400 can also be a mounting plate. The support rail fixing device 100 together with the support rail 200 forms an assembly 300 that can be fixed on the wall 400.

[0028] The fixing device 100 has a plurality of parts. The fixing device 100 has a retaining element 110. The retaining element 110 is fixed to the wall 400. The retaining element 110 can be fixed to the wall 400, for example, by a force-fitting or material-fitting connection. For example, the retaining element 110 can be screwed or glued to the wall 400. The retaining element 110 can be formed from a metal sheet. However, it can also be made of a plastic material.

[0029] The holding element 110 has a receiving pocket 111, into which a fixing body 112 of the support rail fixing device 100 can be pushed or inserted along the insertion direction S. The receiving pocket 111 is bounded by two side walls 113, 114 arranged opposite to each other, a front wall 115 formed at right angles to the two side walls 113, 114, and a bottom side 116. In addition, the receiving pocket 111 is bounded by the wall 400 when it is fixed to the wall 400. The side walls 113, 114 here each have an L-shaped cross section and are arranged directly on the wall 400. In contrast, the front wall 115 is arranged at a distance from the wall 400. The front wall 115 extends parallel to the wall 400. A notch 117 is formed on the front wall 115, which forms a guide for the fixing body 112 when it is inserted into the receiving pocket 111. The notch 117 has a U-shape. The fixing body 112 has a guide edge 118 that engages with the notch 117.

[0030] The fixing body 112 is formed in a block shape. The fixing body 112 is a sliding block in this case. The fixing body 112 has an opening 119 .

[0031] The fixing body 112 is fixed to the bottom side 210 of the support rail 200, which in the fixed state points in the direction of the wall 400. The fixing is carried out by means of a screw connection 120. Here, the screw connection 120 has a screw 121, a nut 122 and two washers 123. The screw 121 passes through the top side 211 of the support rail 200 through an opening 212 formed in the support rail 200, is introduced into the opening 119 of the fixing body 112 at the bottom side 210 of the support rail 200 and is locked by means of a nut 122 embedded in the fixing body 112, in particular in the opening 119, as shown in FIG. Figure 5 The opening 119 is designed in the form of a hexagonal opening and is therefore matched to the outer contour of the nut 122 .

[0032] Furthermore, the supporting rail fastening device 100 has latching elements, by means of which the fastening body 112 can be fastened to the holding element 110 when inserted into the receiving pocket 111 of the holding element 110 .

[0033] exist Figure 1 and Figure 2 In the embodiment shown, the latching element is formed by an additional body 125 which can be inserted in an insertion direction S onto the fixing body 112 .

[0034] The additional body 125 has latch arms 126, 127 arranged opposite to each other. The latch arms 126, 127 are formed to be elongated respectively. The latch arms 126, 127 extend substantially parallel to each other. The two latch arms 126, 127 are connected to each other by a gripping section 128. The gripping section 128 extends away from the two latch arms 126, 127. The gripping section 128 together with the two latch arms 126, 127 form a U-shaped accommodating space 129, in which the fixed body 112 can be accommodated. If the fixed body 112 is arranged in the accommodating space 129, the fixed body 112 is surrounded by the additional body 125 in a U shape.

[0035] The two latching arms 126, 127 each have a free end 130, 131. The two free ends 130, 131 are angled. The two free ends 130, 131 are angled away from each other. On the outer surface 132 of the latching arms 126, 127 facing away from the receiving space 129, a toothing 124 in the form of a groove is formed in each case in the region of the free ends 130, 131.

[0036] A guide profile for guiding the two latching arms 126, 127 when the additional body 125 is inserted onto the fixed body 112 is formed on two opposite side surfaces 133, 134 of the fixed body 112. The guide profile is formed by two tabs 135 arranged parallel to each other, wherein an engagement space 136 is formed between the two tabs 135, in which one of the two latching arms 126, 127 can engage and be guided. The tabs 135 extend along the corresponding side surfaces 133, 134 of the fixed body 112 in the insertion direction S.

[0037] When mounting the support rail 200 on the wall 400 , the additional body 125 is inserted in the insertion direction S onto the fixing body 112 until the fixing body 112 is received in the receiving space 129 between the two latching arms 126 , 127 .

[0038] Subsequently or before this, the support rail 200 is fixed to the fixing body 112. For this purpose, the fixing body 112 is placed on the bottom side 210 of the support rail 200 and fixed to the support rail 200 by means of the screw connection 120. If the fixing body 112 is fixed to the support rail 200, the support rail 200 can be equipped with connection terminals.

[0039] For fastening to the wall 400 , the fastening body 112 together with the additional body 125 and the support rail 200 equipped with connecting terminals are pushed in the insertion direction S into the receiving pocket 111 of the retaining element 110 already fastened to the wall 400 .

[0040] The inserted and thus fixed state is Figure 2 Shown in.

[0041] The fixing body 112 is pushed into the receiving pocket 111 together with the additional body 125 arranged thereon, so that the latching arms 126, 127 can pass with their free ends 130, 131 through the opening formed on the bottom side 116 of the holding element 110 and can lock with their teeth 124 on the undercut formed there, for example in the form of an edge. The latching arms 126, 127 have a spring effect to form the lock.

[0042] Alternatively, the assembly sequence can also be such that the fixing body 112 is fixed to the support rail 200 by means of the screw connection 120. The support rail 200 is then pushed into the retaining element 110 together with the fixing body 112. Finally, the additional body 125 is inserted to secure the system. In this assembly sequence, there is an acoustic feedback (audible click) when the final locking occurs.

[0043] Figure 3 and Figure 4 Another design of the support rail fixing device 100 is shown, wherein the design is similar to Figure 1 and Figure 2 The embodiments shown differ in particular in the shape of the latching element.

[0044] The holding element 110 is used here with Figure 1 and Figure 2 The holding element 110 shown in FIG. 1 is formed in the same manner. The fixing body 112 is also a slide with an opening 119 , into which a screw connection 120 can engage in order to fix the support rail 200 to the fixing body 112 .

[0045] The latching element for fixing the fixing body 112 on the retaining element 110 in the inserted state is designed in the form of a latching tongue 137. In the embodiment shown here, the latching tongue 137 is formed integrally on the fixing body 112 via a connecting tab 138. The width of the connecting tab 138 is smaller than the width of the latching tongue 137, so that the latching tongue 137 can have a spring effect via the connecting tab 138. The latching tongue 137 extends from the bottom side 139 of the fixing body 112 in the insertion direction S away from the fixing body 112. The bottom side 139 extends transversely to the two side faces 133, 134 of the fixing body 112. The latching tongue 137 is tongue-shaped here.

[0046] When the fixing body 112 is pushed into the retaining element 110 , the latching tongue 137 emerges through an opening formed on the bottom side 116 of the retaining element 110 and locks there.

[0047] Here too, the support rail 200 is fastened to the wall 400 in that the fastening body 112 is first fastened to the underside 210 of the support rail 200 by means of the screw connection 120. The support rail 200 can then be equipped with connecting terminals.

[0048] The fixing body 112 is fixed to the holding element 110, which is already fixed to the wall 400, together with the support rail 200 equipped with the connecting terminal, by pushing the fixing body 112 into the receiving pocket 111 of the holding element 110 in the insertion direction S. The fixing body 112 is pushed into the receiving pocket 111 until the latching tongue 137 passes through the opening on the bottom side 116 of the holding element 110 and is locked, for example, on the edge on the bottom side 116 or the lower edge of the front wall 115 of the holding element 110.

[0049] Description of Reference Numerals

[0050] 100 Support rail fixing device

[0051] 110 holding element

[0052] 111 receiving bag

[0053] 112 fixed body

[0054] 113 side wall

[0055] 114 side wall

[0056] 115 front wall

[0057] 116 bottom side

[0058] 117 Gap

[0059] 118 Guide Edge

[0060] 119 Open

[0061] 120 thread connection

[0062] 121 screw

[0063] 122 Nut

[0064] 123 Washer

[0065] 124 teeth

[0066] 125 episome

[0067] 126 Latch Arm

[0068] 127 Latch Arm

[0069] 128 grip sections

[0070] 129 Accommodation Space

[0071] 130 free end

[0072] 131 Free end

[0073] 132 External surface

[0074] 133 side

[0075] 134 side

[0076] 135 splice

[0077] 136 Joint Space

[0078] 137 Latch tongue

[0079] 138 connection piece

[0080] 139 bottom side

[0081] 200 support rail

[0082] 210 bottom side

[0083] 211 Top Side

[0084] 212 Opening

[0085] 300 components

[0086] 400 wall

[0087] S Insertion direction

Claims

1. A support rail fixing device (100) for fixing a support rail (200) on a wall (400), comprising: a retaining element (110) capable of being fixed to the wall (400), the retaining element having a receiving pocket (111); and a fixing body (112) capable of being fixed to the support rail (200), wherein in a state where the support rail (200) is fixed to the wall (400), the fixing body (112) is pushed into the receiving pocket (111) of the retaining element (110), wherein: The receiving pocket (111) is delimited by the wall (400) when it is fixed to the wall (400), characterized in that it has a latching element by which the fixing body (112) is locked to the holding element (110) in the fixed state, the latching element being formed by an additional body (125) which can be plugged onto the fixing body (112), the additional body (125) having two latching arms (126, 127), wherein the fixing body (112) is held by the two latching arms (126, 127) in the plugged state The two latch arms (126, 127) respectively have free ends (130, 131) which are retained on the retaining element (110) in a fixed state, and toothed portions (124) for locking engagement with the retaining element (110) are respectively formed on the free ends (130, 131) of the two latch arms (126, 127), and guide contours for guiding the two latch arms (126, 127) are respectively formed on two opposite side surfaces (133, 134) of the fixed body (112).

2. The support rail fixing device (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that: A threaded connection (120) is provided, by means of which the fixing body (112) can be fixed to the support rail (200).

3. The support rail fixing device (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The fixed body (112) is a sliding block.

4. The support rail fixing device (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that: The latching element is formed by a latching tongue (137) which is molded onto the fixing body (112).

5. A method for fixing a supporting rail (200) to a wall (400) by means of at least one supporting rail fixing device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which method a retaining element (110) is fixed to the wall (400) and a fixing body (112) is fixed to the supporting rail (200), and then the fixing body (112) together with the supporting rail (200) fixed to the fixing body (112) is pushed into a receiving pocket (111) of the retaining element (110).

6. An arrangement (300) comprising a support rail (200) and at least one support rail fastening device (100), the support rail fastening device (100) being formed according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

7. Switch cabinet comprising at least one component (300) according to claim 6, which is fastened to a wall (400) of the switch cabinet.

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