Stackable low profile electrical contact block

Abstract

The invention provides a stackable electrical contact block (100) comprising a housing (102) having a top side and a bottom side and accommodating first (108) and second (110) electrical terminals; an actuating pusher (112) adapted to move from a rest position (Pr) to an actuated position to break the contact between the first and second terminals (108, 110), the actuating pusher (112) having a head (130) protruding from the top side; a gap below the actuating pusher; and a return spring (114) biasing the actuating pusher (112) towards its rest position, the bottom end of the return spring extending into the gap. The bottom side of the housing is a connection interface having an inlet (128) providing access to the gap. A central portion of the gap is occupied by the bottom end of the return spring (114), a peripheral portion is a space for accommodating an actuation head of a component connected to the contact block (100) through the connection interface.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to a stackable electrical contact block comprising a housing defining its volume, wherein the housing has a top side and an opposing bottom side, and wherein the following elements are present within the housing:

[0002] -First and second electrical terminals;

[0003] - An actuator adapted to move between a rest position and an actuated position to establish or disconnect an electrical contact between the first and second terminals, the actuator having an actuation head that protrudes from the top side of the housing when in the rest position;

[0004] - The gap below the actuator when the actuator is in the stationary position; and

[0005] - A return spring biases the actuator toward its rest position, with the bottom end of the return spring extending into the gap. Background Technology

[0006] This type of electrical contact block is known. (WO 2015 / 091497 A1) Figure 1 and Figures 8 to 10 An example has been published.

[0007] This contact block has the advantage of a low profile. However, it is not fully stackable, which limits its use as a module, such as as part of a button assembly. In particular, this prior art contact block cannot be used as a top or middle member in a contact block stack. Summary of the Invention

[0008] In view of this, the object of the present invention is to provide a low-profile electrical contact block that can be fully stacked.

[0009] According to this disclosure, this objective is achieved by an electrical contact block as defined in §

[0001] above, characterized in that the bottom side of the housing is configured as a connection interface with an inlet providing access to the gap, the connection interface for connecting the contact block to another component, and wherein the central portion of the gap is occupied by the bottom end of a return spring, and the peripheral portion of the gap surrounding the central portion is an actuation head receiving space adapted to receive an actuation head of a component connected to the contact block via the connection interface.

[0010] By forming a connection interface on the bottom side of the housing, the contact blocks of this disclosure can be easily stacked onto another component, particularly onto another contact block. During stacking, the actuating head of the lower contact block can be inserted into the gap of the upper contact block due to the bottom inlet. Consequently, the actuating head of the lower contact block is positioned below the pusher of the upper contact block, allowing it to engage with it. By positioning the bottom end of the return spring at the center of the gap, the outer portion of the gap remains unobstructed, allowing the actuating head of the lower contact block to insert into the upper contact block.

[0011] The following features can be implemented selectively, either alone or in combination with other features:

[0012] - The actuator has an elongated shape defining a central longitudinal actuator axis, wherein the return spring has a cylindrical shape defining a central longitudinal spring axis, and wherein the two axes substantially coincide.

[0013] - An active electrical contact bridge for establishing and disconnecting electrical contact between the first and second terminals, wherein the contact bridge is housed in an actuating actuator and wherein a return spring extends through the contact bridge;

[0014] - The contact spring biases the contact bridge toward the first and second terminals, wherein the return spring extends through the contact spring;

[0015] - The contact spring and the return spring are arranged coaxially;

[0016] - The contact bridge has a central through-hole through which the return spring passes;

[0017] - The inlet consists of two parallel slits, suitable for receiving the fork head of the fork-shaped drive head;

[0018] - A spring support portion formed on the bottom side of the housing is used to support the bottom end of the return spring, wherein the spring support portion is located between two parallel slits;

[0019] - Viewed from the side, the drive actuator is basically shaped like the letter H;

[0020] -The drive head of the actuator is fork-shaped;

[0021] - The ratio of the height to the length of the shell is less than 0.4. Attached Figure Description

[0022] These and other features and advantages are described in detail in the following description and accompanying drawings of preferred embodiments, wherein:

[0023] Figure 1 This is a side view of a normally closed electrical contact block according to this disclosure;

[0024] Figure 2 It is similar to Figure 1A side view showing the outer casing removed;

[0025] Figure 3 It is along Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the electrical contact block taken from line III-III;

[0026] Figure 4 It is based on Figure 1 The bottom view of arrow IV in the image;

[0027] Figure 5 This is a perspective view of the actuator according to this disclosure;

[0028] Figure 6 This is a perspective view of the electrical contact bridge according to this disclosure;

[0029] Figure 7 It is a stack of two electrical contact blocks disclosed herein, one normally closed and one normally open;

[0030] Figure 8 yes Figure 7 A cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII of the stack;

[0031] Figure 9 yes Figure 7 A perspective view of the stacked details;

[0032] Figure 10 This is a side view of the stack of two electrical contact blocks of this disclosure, both of which are normally closed and are in their actuated positions; and

[0033] Figure 11 This is a perspective view of a button assembly including four electrical contact blocks according to the present disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0034] First refer to Figures 1 to 4 These figures illustrate an embodiment 100 of a stackable electrical contact block according to this disclosure.

[0035] Electrical contact block 100 is designed to be integrated into a control unit, such as an industrial button assembly (see...). Figure 11 By actuating the electrical contact block 100, the electrical contact between two electrical terminals arranged within the contact block can be broken. In industrial applications, this allows the supply of current to electrical equipment to be stopped. For example, the electrical contact block 100 can be used as part of an emergency stop button, such as to stop a production line in the event of a hazard.

[0036] Generally, there are two types of electrical contacts: normally open electrical contacts and normally closed electrical contacts (normally open is abbreviated as NO, and normally closed is abbreviated as NC).

[0037] Figures 1 to 4The electrical contact block 100 shown is of type NC. It should be understood that this disclosure covers not only type NC contact blocks but also type NO contact blocks.

[0038] refer to Figures 1 to 4 The electrical contact block 100 includes a housing 102 defining its overall volume. The housing 102 consists of a housing cover 102a and a housing body 102b. The cover 102a is fitted onto the lateral side of the body 102b. Figure 2 In the middle, cover 102a is removed to reveal the internal structure of the electrical contact block 100. The housing 102 has a top side 104 and an opposite bottom side 106.

[0039] The electrical contact block 100 includes the following components, all of which are located within the housing 102:

[0040] -First and second electrical terminals 108 and 110,

[0041] -Actuator 112,

[0042] -Return spring 114,

[0043] -Active electrical contact bridge 116

[0044] -Contact spring 118; and

[0045] - Two incoming lines, 120 and 122.

[0046] Two cable inlets, 120 and 122, are located on opposite sides of housing 102. In other words, the first side of housing 102 has two cable inlets, and the opposite second side of housing 102 also has two cable inlets. In the figure, only one cable inlet of each pair 120, 122 is visible on each side of housing 102. Figure 7 and 10 An electrical contact block 100 with an inserted wire W is shown. When inserted, the wire W makes electrical contact with one of the two terminals 108, 110.

[0047] The bottom side 106 and top side 104 of the housing 102 are both configured as connection interfaces for connecting the contact block 100 to another component. In this way, the contact block 100 can be stacked on top of, for example, other contact blocks. Similarly, another contact block can be stacked on top of the illustrated contact block 100. This is in Figures 7 to 10 As shown in the diagram. Therefore, the electrical contact block 100 can be assembled with other components to construct a control device, such as an emergency stop button assembly.

[0048] When another contact block is installed on the top side 104 of contact block 100, it is secured to it with the help of double hooks 124 and opposite fastening shoe 126.

[0049] The bottom connection interface, i.e., the bottom side 106 of the housing, has an inlet 128, see... Figure 4 Preferably, the inlet consists of two parallel slits 128a and 128b.

[0050] The actuator 112 can move between a rest position Pr and an actuated position Pa to establish and disconnect electrical contact between the first and second terminals 108 and 110. Because Figures 1 to 4 The contact block shown is of type NC, and the rest position Pr is the closed position, where contact bridge 116 bridges the gap between the two electrical terminals 108 and 110. In this closed position, current can flow from one terminal to the other. Besides... Figure 10 All figures except those show the actuator 112 in its closed or stationary position Pr. Figure 10 In the middle, the actuator 112 is pressed down and positioned at its actuation position Pa.

[0051] Actuator 112 in Figure 5 It is represented separately. It has an actuating head 130, a crosslink 136, a spring end receiving area 132 located on the crosslink 136, and a double-forked (left & right) bridge guide base 134. The actuating head 130 and the base 134 are connected via the crosslink 136. The actuating actuator 112 has an elongated shape that defines a central longitudinal actuator axis XX. (As can be seen in...) Figure 3 As can be seen, when viewed from the side, the actuator 112 is essentially in the shape of the letter H. One will also notice that the actuator head 130 of the actuator 112 is fork-shaped. The fork 130 has two fork heads 130a and 130b.

[0052] The bridge guide base 134 also has a fork shape, with a first fork 134a and a second fork 134b. From Figure 2 and Figure 3 It is evident that the movable contact bridge 116 is housed between two base forks 134a and 134b. Each fork 134a, 134b serves as an outer guide wall on one side of the movable bridge 116, allowing the movable bridge 116 to slide up and down within the actuator 112.

[0053] The outer wall of the first fork 134a serves as a guide surface to guide the sliding movement of the movable bridge 116. A guide groove 138 is provided in the second fork 134b. The inner wall of the guide groove 138 also serves as a guide surface to guide the sliding movement of the movable bridge 116.

[0054] Turn now Figure 6The movable electrical contact bridge 116 is a metal element having two lateral electrical contact points 116a and 116b, a central through hole 116c, a guide recess 116d, and a guide protrusion 116e. The guide recess 116d mates with the outer wall of the slotless guide fork 134a. The guide recess 116d and the outer wall together form the outer guide assembly. The guide protrusion 116e mates with the guide groove 138 of the second guide fork 134b. Thus, the guide protrusion 116e and the guide groove 138 together form the inner guide assembly. Overall, the sliding movement of the movable bridge 116 is guided by two lateral guide assemblies, namely the outer guide assembly and the opposing inner guide assembly.

[0055] Alternatively, the movable bridge 116 may be guided by two external guide components or two internal guide components. In the first case, the guide forks 134a and 134b will be slotless and the movable bridge 116 will have two opposing guide recesses 116d. In the second case, the guide forks 134a and 134b will each have guide grooves 138 and the movable bridge 116 will have two opposing guide protrusions 116e.

[0056] Each contact point 116a, 116b cooperates with one of electrical terminals 108 and 110.

[0057] In the illustrated embodiment, the return spring 114 is a helical compression spring. Figure 3 As can be clearly seen, it has a bottom end 114a near the bottom side 106 of the housing and a top end 114b near the top side 104 of the housing. The return spring 114 has a cylindrical shape, which defines a central longitudinal spring axis YY. The longitudinal spring axis YY coincides with the longitudinal actuator axis XX. The return spring 114 extends through the contact bridge 116. More specifically, the return spring 114 passes through a central through hole 116c. The function of the return spring 114 is to bias the actuating actuator 112 to its rest position Pr. For this purpose, its top end 114b pushes against the actuator 112, while its bottom end 114a pushes against the housing 102.

[0058] The top end 114b of the return spring 114 is received in the spring end receiving area 132 of the actuator 112. A spring support portion 140 is formed in the bottom side 106 of the housing. The spring support portion 140 supports the bottom end 114a of the return spring 114. Figure 4 As shown, the spring support portion 140 is located between two parallel slits 128a and 128b.

[0059] like Figure 9As shown, when the actuator 112 is in its rest position Pr, the gap 142 is located below the actuator 112. The bottom end 114a of the return spring 114 extends into the gap 142. Inlets 128, namely two slits 128a and 128b, provide passage to the gap 142. The central portion 142a of the gap 142 is occupied by the bottom end 114a of the return spring 114. The peripheral portion 142b of the gap 142 surrounding the central portion 142a is the actuator head receiving space. Figures 7 to 9 As can be seen, the actuator head receiving space 142b is adapted to receive the actuator head 130 of the component connected to the contact block via its bottom side 106. The actuator head receiving space 142b is subdivided into two separate receiving areas. Each area can receive one of the two forks 130a, 130b of the fork-shaped actuator head 130.

[0060] refer to Figure 2 The contact spring 118 biases the contact bridge 116 toward the first and second terminals 108 and 110. For example... Figure 3 As shown, the contact spring 118 is fitted into the base 134 of the actuator 112. The top of the contact spring 118 abuts against the bottom side of the contact bridge 116. The bottom of the contact spring 118 rests against the bracket 144 of the base 134. In the illustrated embodiment, the contact spring 118 is a helical compression spring. Therefore, it has a cylindrical shape. Figure 3 As shown, the return spring 114 extends through the contact spring 118. Preferably, the contact spring and the return spring are arranged coaxially. In this case, they share a common longitudinal axis YY. Preferably, the diameter of the return spring 114 is smaller than the diameter of the contact spring 118.

[0061] We will now explain the operation of the electrical contact block 100. In the rest position Pr, the actuator head 130 protrudes from the top side 104 of the housing, see [reference needed]. Figure 1 and 2 The electrical contact block 100 is then actuated by pushing the actuator 112 into the housing 102. This is accomplished by pressing down the actuator head 130. The pressure applied to the actuator head 130 must be sufficient to overcome the relative force exerted by the return spring 114. The actuator 112 then moves toward the bottom side 106 of the housing until it reaches... Figure 10 The actuation position Pa is shown. In this position, the actuating head 130 is fully retracted into the housing 102. The active contact bridge 116, which moves in conjunction with the actuating actuator 112, is separated from the electrical terminals 108 and 110. Therefore, the electrical contact between the first and second terminals 108 and 110 is broken.

[0062] To attach the contact block to the bottom side 106 of the contact block 100, the forks 130a and 130b of the actuator head 130 of the contact block must be inserted into the parallel slits 128a and 128b of the contact block 100. In this way, the forks 130a and 130b are drawn into the actuator head receiving space 142 of the contact block 100. Figures 7 to 9 As can be seen, two contact blocks are assembled to form a stack, and the two forks 130a and 130b of the actuator head 130 of the lower contact block are arranged directly below the actuator of the upper contact block. Therefore, when the upper actuator is pressed down, the downward force is directly transmitted to the lower actuator, causing both contact blocks to be actuated simultaneously.

[0063] Figures 7 to 9 A stack of normally open upper contact blocks 200 and normally closed lower contact blocks is shown. The scope of this disclosure also extends to these NO-type contact blocks having the same inventive design as the bottom inlet, the gap below the actuator, and the arrangement of the return spring, contact spring, and contact bridge.

[0064] Figure 11 The present disclosure provides a perspective view of a button assembly 300, comprising two stacks 302 and 304 containing two contact blocks. The left stack 302 is made of an NC-type upper contact block 100 and a NO-type lower contact block 200. The right stack 304 is made of a NO-type upper contact block 200 and an NC-type lower contact block 100. Therefore, the assembly 300 has a total of four contact blocks. With the aid of a collar 306, the four contact blocks correspond to a button 308.

[0065] The special feature of the contact blocks 100 and 200 of this disclosure is their low profile. In fact, typically, the ratio between the height h and length l of the housing 102 of the contact block is less than 0.4 (see...). Figure 1 Due to the small height h, more contact blocks 100, 200 can be assembled behind the collar 306 and still fit into the slim control panel.

[0066] The novel contact block architecture described in this disclosure is particularly well-suited to meet the needs of all current customers:

[0067] – The new contact blocks 100 and 200 are compatible with existing contact blocks. This specifically means that the new contact blocks 100 and 200 can be stacked under existing contact blocks;

[0068] - New contact blocks 100 and 200 can be completely stacked on top of each other, regardless of the stacking order;

[0069] – Compared to conventional contact blocks with greater height, the new contact blocks 100, 200 of this disclosure can be installed in the same available top space.

[0070] The contact blocks 100 and 200 disclosed herein also fully comply with industrial safety standards regarding clearance and creepage distance.

[0071] This disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments described herein, which are merely examples. The invention includes every alternative still covered by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A stackable electrical contact block (100) comprising a housing (102) defining its volume, wherein the housing (102) has a top side (104) and an opposing bottom side (106), wherein the following elements are present within the housing (102): - First electrical terminal (108) and second electrical terminal (110); - An actuating actuator (112), adapted to move between a rest position (Pr) and an actuated position (Pa) to establish or disconnect electrical contact between the first and second terminals (108, 110), the actuating actuator (112) having an actuating head (130) protruding from the top side (104) of the housing in the rest position (Pr); and A movable electrical contact bridge (116) is used to establish and disconnect electrical contact between the first and second terminals (108, 110), wherein the contact bridge (116) is housed in an actuator (112). - When the actuator is in its rest position (Pr), the gap (142) located below the actuator; and - The return spring (114) biases the actuator (112) toward its rest position, and the bottom end (114a) of the return spring extends into the gap (142). Its features are: - The bottom side (106) of the housing is configured as a connection interface with an inlet (128) that provides passage to the gap (142) for connecting the contact block (100) to another component. - The central portion (142a) of the gap is occupied by the bottom end (114a) of the return spring (114), and the peripheral portion (142b) of the gap surrounding the central portion (142a) is an actuator head receiving space adapted to receive the actuator head (130) of a component connected to the contact block (100) via a connection interface, and The return spring (114) extends through the contact bridge (116).

2. The contact block (100) according to claim 1, wherein the actuating actuator (112) has an elongated shape defining a central longitudinal actuator axis (XX), wherein the return spring (114) has a cylindrical shape defining a central longitudinal spring axis (YY), and wherein the two axes coincide.

3. The contact block (100) of claim 1 further includes a contact spring (118) biasing the contact bridge (116) toward the first and second terminals (108, 110), wherein a return spring (114) extends through the contact spring (118).

4. The contact block (100) as described in claim 3, wherein, The contact spring (118) and the return spring (114) are arranged coaxially.

5. The contact block (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein, The contact bridge (116) has a central through hole (116c) through which the return spring (114) passes.

6. The contact block (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the inlet (128) comprises two parallel slits (128a, 128b) adapted to receive the fork tip (130a, 130b) of the fork-shaped actuator head (130).

7. The contact block (100) of claim 6 further includes a spring support portion (140) formed in the bottom side (106) of the housing for supporting the bottom end (114a) of the reset spring, wherein the spring support portion (140) is located between two parallel slits (128a, 128b).

8. The contact block (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the actuating actuator (112) has the shape of the letter H when viewed from the side.

9. The contact block (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the actuating head (130) of the actuating actuator is forked.

10. The contact block (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the ratio between the height (h) and length (l) of the housing is less than 0.4.

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