Safety device for electrical equipment

Abstract

The invention relates to a safety device (1) for emergency shutdown of an electric water heater or heat pump, wherein the safety device (1) has at least one contact pair (70, 80, 90) with at least one first contact means (71, 81, 91) and at least one second contact means (72, 82, 92), which are designed to conduct the current for supplying the water heater or heat pump in the contact state and to interrupt the current supply of the water heater or heat pump in the open state, and a holding device (94) for holding the second contact means (72, 82, 92) at a pull rod (40), wherein the pull rod (40) is designed to detach the holding device (94) and the second contact means (72, 82, 92) from the first contact means (71, 81, 91) in order to interrupt the current supply of the water heater or heat pump. The safety device (1) further comprises a housing (10) with a cover (20) and a base element (30), wherein the base element (30) has a guide element (34) and a positioning element (32) for the cover (20), which cooperate with a counter guide element (22) and a counter positioning element (20d) of the cover (20).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a safety device for emergency shutdown of an electric water heater or heat pump. Background Technology

[0002] Safety devices for emergency shutdown of electric water heaters, such as electric continuous heaters, are known from the prior art. These safety devices establish a conductive connection between contacts and mating contacts located on a printed circuit board, and disconnect the connection in an emergency.

[0003] DE 10 2017 000 438 A1 illustrates one embodiment of a known safety device 100, which has a circuit board 110 and a contact carrier 120 listed thereon, the contact carrier having contact portions 122 disposed thereon in the form of contact rivets. A carrier element 130 receiving mating contact portions 132 can be moved relative to the contact portions 122 in a spring-supported manner to establish or disconnect a conductive connection between the contact portions and the mating contact portions. The carrier element 130 with the mating contact portions 132 is housed in a housing. Conversely, the contact carrier 120 with the contact rivets 122 disposed thereon is soldered to the circuit board 110 and contacts the mating contact portions 132 through an opening in the bottom of the housing. This known design of the safety device requires high installation costs when housing the various components within the housing. Furthermore, the contact carrier must be placed very precisely on the circuit board to ensure precise contact between the contact portions extending into the housing and the mating contact portions therein. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide an improved safety device for emergency shutdown of an electric water heater or heat pump.

[0005] The objective is achieved by a safety device for emergency shutdown of an electric water heater or heat pump, the safety device comprising: at least one contact pair having at least one first contact device and at least one second contact device, the first and second contact devices being configured to conduct current for supplying the water heater or heat pump in a contact state and to interrupt the current supply to the water heater or heat pump in a disconnected state; and a retaining device for holding the second contact device at a lever, wherein the lever is configured to disengage the retaining device and the second contact device from the first contact device to interrupt the current supply to the water heater or heat pump. The safety device also includes a housing having a cover and a basic element, wherein the basic element has a guiding element and a positioning element, the guiding element and the positioning element cooperating with a mating guiding element and a mating positioning element of the cover.

[0006] The specific design of the housing allows for the simple installation of the safety device, wherein all components of the safety device are first placed within the cover, and then secured within the cover by a base element. Guiding and positioning elements, along with their mating guiding and positioning elements, ensure proper orientation between the base element and the cover.

[0007] In another design of the safety device according to the invention, the cover may have a guide pin as a mating guide element. Besides precisely positioning the basic element relative to the cover, the guide pin may also be used to accommodate and guide other elements of the safety device, such as springs and / or carrier elements for mating contacts, which may be guided along the guide pin.

[0008] In addition to the guide pin, other guiding elements, such as protrusions or grooves, can be added to the guide pin to ensure precise positioning between the cover and the base element.

[0009] In another embodiment according to the invention, the basic element may have at least one wall element that extends between two at least approximately parallel sidewalls of the cover in the installed state of the safety device.

[0010] This wall element ensures that the sidewalls of the cover have a defined distance from each other. This is necessary to prevent the contact bearings moving within the cover from getting stuck between the sidewalls. By incorporating this wall element that increases the shape stability of the cover, additional stabilizing elements on the outside of the cover can be eliminated, thereby enabling a reduction in the size of the safety device.

[0011] In another embodiment of the safety device according to the invention, the safety device has at least two contact pairs, and at least one wall element of the basic element is positioned between the at least two contact pairs. In addition to the increased stability of the cover, such a wall element reliably prevents arcing and spark discharge between two adjacent contact pairs.

[0012] Electrical appliances with high power consumption, such as water heaters or heat pumps, are typically connected to a three-phase AC voltage network. Therefore, the safety device according to the invention can have three contact pairs, such that each of the three phases can be disconnected by the safety device in an emergency. In this case, the basic element has two wall elements arranged such that a wall element exists between two adjacent contact pairs.

[0013] If the guiding element of the basic element is integrated into the wall element of the basic element, a simplified construction of the basic element is obtained, which in general can lead to a reduction in the size of the safety device.

[0014] If the safety device has a circuit board on which at least one first contact device is disposed, it can also be proposed that the guide pin of the cover engages with a corresponding receiving portion in the circuit board. Thus, precise orientation of the housing on the circuit board is feasible, ensuring precise positioning of the first and second contact devices relative to each other.

[0015] In one design of the safety device according to the invention, the first contact device comprises a first contact portion and a second contact portion, such as contact rivets, and the second contact device is formed by a contact bridge that is bent twice. The two contact portions forming the first contact device can be two contact rivets disposed on a circuit board, the two contact rivets making contact with two points of the contact bridge. Alternatively, the contact bridge can have the same specific contact elements, such as contact rivets, at the contact points relative to the contact rivets.

[0016] If the basic element according to the invention has two wall elements oriented parallel to each other, it can also be proposed that a rod-shaped stabilizing element be provided between the wall elements. This stabilizing element ensures that the spacing between the two wall elements of the basic element does not change, for example, during the installation of safety equipment, thereby also maintaining the defined position of the guide element integrated into the wall element.

[0017] In the safety device according to the invention, the cover and the base element may also have a pair of locking elements that work together. Thus, the cover and the base element can be secured to each other to stabilize the position of components housed in the housing, so that the housing can subsequently be mounted on a circuit board. This results in further simplification of the installation of the safety device. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Other advantageous design options and implementation methods are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0019] This is shown here:

[0020] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a security device according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0021] Figure 2 Showing according to Figure 1 Another schematic diagram of the safety equipment.

[0022] Figure 3 Showing according to Figure 1 and Figure 2 The safety equipment is shown in the cross-sectional view along section line AA.

[0023] Figure 4 Showing according to Figure 1 and Figure 2 The safety equipment is shown in a cross-sectional view along section line BB.

[0024] Figure 5 Showing according to Figure 4 A portion of the cross-sectional view.

[0025] Figure 6 Showing according to Figure 1 and Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the housing of the safety equipment, and

[0026] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of a security device based on existing technology to date is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0027] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a safety device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. The safety device 1 includes: a housing 10 having a cover 20 and a basic element 30, in which other components of the safety device 1, such as a lever 40, are disposed; a coil 50 for operating the lever 40; and a circuit board 60 on which the housing 10, together with the remaining components of the safety device 1, is disposed on its upper side 60a. The coil 50 is housed in a coil carrier 52, which is located on the housing 20... Figure 1 The cover 20 of the housing 10 is located on the left side and is positioned at a certain distance from the upper side 60a of the circuit board 60. The cover 20 has an upper side 20a, two side surfaces 20b extending parallel to each other, and two end faces 20c extending parallel to each other. Furthermore, two threaded tubes 21 are provided at the end faces 20c of the cover 20, by means of which the cover 20 is fastened to the circuit board 60. For this purpose, two bolts 21a are screwed into the threaded tubes 21 through corresponding holes in the circuit board 60 from the lower side 60b of the circuit board 60 (see...). Figure 2 ).

[0028] Cover 20 has two guide pins 22 that extend from the inside of the upper side 20a toward the circuit board 60 (see...) Figure 3 and Figure 5 The guide pin 22 protrudes from the side 20b and engages with a positioning aid in the form of two holes 62 in the circuit board 60.

[0029] At the cover 20, on its side pointing towards the circuit board 60, a locating pin 20e is provided in the region of the threaded tube 21. This locating pin further supports the precise positioning of the housing 10 on the circuit board 60. The locating pin 20e does not extend from the lower side 60b of the circuit board 60, but is preferably flush with said lower side. Furthermore, the locating pin 20e, located immediately adjacent to the threaded tube 21, prevents the housing 10 from twisting or sliding on the circuit board 60, particularly when tightening the bolt 21a (see...). Figure 2 and Figure 3 ).

[0030] Coil carrier 52 with its in Figure 1 The right side of the coil carrier 52 is located in the corresponding receiving portion of the cover 20. The coil carrier 52 has a support element 54 at its end away from the housing 10, which extends to the circuit board 60 and supports the coil carrier 52 together with the coil 50 on the circuit board 60. At the end of the support element 54 oriented towards the circuit board 60, the support element has a positioning element in the form of a pin 55, which extends through a corresponding hole in the circuit board 60 (see...). Figure 2 and Figure 3 In addition, especially in Figure 1 and Figure 2 As can be seen, the electrical terminals 51 of the coil 50 are guided to the lower side 60b of the circuit board 60 through the support element 54.

[0031] The basic element 30 is essentially composed of two connecting plates 32 arranged parallel to each other and two wall elements 33 connecting the ends of the connecting plates 32 to each other, such that the basic element has at least an approximately rectangular shape (see...). Figure 5 A guide element 34, in the form of a guide sleeve, is integrated into the wall element 33, the guide sleeve extending perpendicularly to the plane formed by the connecting plate 32 and the wall element 33. The spacing between the guide sleeves 34 relative to each other corresponds to the spacing of the guide pins 22 of the cover 20, such that the guide pins extend through the guide sleeves 34 in the installed state. Furthermore, a rod-shaped stabilizing element 35 extends between the guide sleeves 34 and parallel to the connecting plate 32.

[0032] As in Figure 1 As can be seen, the side 20b of the cover 20 has a recess 20d at its lower edge. The shape and size of the recess correspond to the shape and size of the connecting plate 32 of the basic element 30, so that the basic element can be joined into the recess 20d by means of the shape fit of the connecting plate 32. In addition, the ends of the connecting plate 32 and the ends of the recess 20d are provided with corresponding inclined portions to further facilitate the insertion of the basic element 30 into the cover 20.

[0033] A protrusion 36 is provided at the upper edge of the wall element 33. This protrusion, together with a protrusion 24 provided on the inner side of the side wall 20d of the cover 20, forms a pair of locking elements to secure the base element 30 within the cover 20 (see [link]). Figure 6 ).

[0034] according to Figure 1The safety device 1 has three contact pairs 70, 80, and 90. Each of the three contact pairs 70, 80, and 90 has a first contact device 71, 81, and 91 formed by two contact rivets 71a, 71b, 81a, 81b, 91a, and 91b respectively disposed on a circuit board 60. The contact rivets have their heads placed on the upper side 60a of the circuit board 60 and their stems extending out from the lower side 60b of the circuit board.

[0035] It should be considered that in another embodiment of safety device 1, more or fewer contact pairs 70, 80, 90 may also be proposed, wherein the cover 20 and the basic element 30 are then adjusted accordingly.

[0036] Additionally, it is feasible that safety device 1 can also be assembled without intermediate contact pairs, without having to adjust the components. Importantly, the switch is symmetrically loaded in terms of force, so, for example, three or two contact pairs are feasible as an assembly, wherein these contact pairs must then be external.

[0037] Contact pairs 70, 80, and 90 also have second contact devices 72, 82, and 92 formed by contact bridges 72a, 82a, and 92a respectively bent twice, such that each of the contact bridges 72a, 82a, and 92a has two contact points for contacting contact rivets 71a, 71b, 81a, 81b, 91a, and 91b. Figure 4 Contact pair 80 is visible in the image. As can also be seen there, in addition to contact bridge 82a, the second contact device 82 may also have additional contact elements in the form of contact rivets 82b and 82c. Of course, in this case, in addition to contact bridges 72a and 92a, the second contact devices 72 and 92 also include corresponding pairs of contact rivets 72b, 72c, 92b, and 92c.

[0038] The second contact devices 72, 82, and 92 are elastically held in the contact retainer 94 by means of a spring 95. The contact retainer 94 has a generally square base 94a and an operating pin 94b extending vertically upward from the base. In the installed state of the safety device 1, the operating pin 94b extends through the pull rod 40 and further extends through an opening in the upper side 20a of the cover 20 (see...). Figure 3 Furthermore, the base 94a of the contact retainer 94 has two vertical through openings 94c aligned with the guide pin 22 of the cover 20, and the contact retainer 94 for establishing and disengaging connections between the first contact devices 71, 81, 91 and the second contact devices 72, 82, 92 can move along the guide pin.

[0039] To install safety device 1, the pull rod 40 is first inserted into cover 20. Then, contact retainer 94 is placed in cover 20 by means of mating contacts 72, 82, 92 that are elastically held therein, such that operating pin 94a passes through pull rod 40 and the opening into cover 20. Contact retainer 94 is guided here along guide pin 22 extending through through opening 94c of contact retainer 94. Two springs 95 can then be placed on guide pin 22, and then basic element 30 is pushed onto guide pin 22 to lock with protrusion 24. The assembly thus implemented can then be placed on the upper side 60a of circuit board 60 having first contact devices 71, 81, 91 already fastened thereto, and fastened to circuit board 60 by means of bolt 21a. Here, the guide pin 22, which extends from the underside of the housing 20 and engages in the opening 62 of the circuit board 60, ensures the correct orientation of the second contact devices 72, 82, 92 relative to the first contact devices 71, 81, 91 on the circuit board 60.

[0040] In the contact state, the contact retainer 94 is pressed downward against the force of a spring 95 placed on the guide pin 22 within the housing 10 by means of the second contact devices 72, 82, 92, establishing a conductive contact between the first contact devices 71, 81, 91 and the second contact devices 72, 82, 92. The pull rod 40 is locked to the operating pin 94b, thereby securing the contact retainer 94 in the position. In an emergency, the pull rod 40 is operated via the coil 50, thereby disengaging the lock between the pull rod 40 and the operating pin 94, and the contact retainer 94 moves away from the first contact devices 71, 81, 91 along the guide pin 22 by spring force.

[0041] Figure 5 Showing the corresponding Figure 4 A magnified section of the cross-sectional view showing contact pairs at 80°. (As in...) Figure 5 As can be seen, in the contact state, the contact rivets 82b and 82c of the second contact device 82 are placed on the contact rivets 81a and 81b of the first contact device 81. Figure 5 Arrow S shown in the diagram indicates the current flow through contact pair 80. As can be seen there, the current first flows through contact rivet 81a of the first contact device 81, contact rivet 82b of the second contact device 82, and further flows through contact bridge 82a and contact rivet 82c to contact rivet 81b of the first contact device 81.

[0042] If the current loop is interrupted by lifting the contact retainer 94, whereby the second contact device 82 is lifted from the first contact device 81, then not only the second contact device 82 but also the contact rivet 81b of the first contact device 81 is in a non-current state.

[0043] To ensure the function of safety device 1, it is mandatory that the contact retainer 94 can move freely within the housing 10. The wall element 33 of the basic element 30 here ensures that the spacing between the side walls 20b of the cover 20 is maintained, and in particular, the spacing is not reduced, thereby preventing the contact retainer 94 from getting stuck or jammed in the cover 20.

[0044] Furthermore, the above-described design of the basic element 30 allows for a narrower design of the cover 20, thus eliminating the need for additional stabilizing elements for the cover 20.

[0045] Furthermore, as described above, the housing 10 of the safety device 1 according to the invention facilitates the installation of the safety device 1, particularly by providing a guide pin 22 together with a contact retainer 94 guided at the guide pin and a basic element 30, which facilitates the installation of the safety device, such that the contact retainer 94 is securely held in the cover 20 of the housing 10, and a final precise fit can be achieved on the circuit board 60.

Claims

1. A safety device (1) for emergency shutdown of an electric water heater or heat pump, wherein the safety device (1) comprises: At least one contact pair having at least one first contact device and at least one second contact device, the first contact device and the second contact device being configured to conduct current for supplying the water heater or the heat pump in a contact state, and to interrupt the current supply to the water heater or the heat pump in a disconnected state. A retaining device (94) for holding the second contact device at the pull rod (40). The pull rod (40) is configured to disengage the retaining device (94) and the second contact device from the first contact device in order to interrupt the current supply to the water heater or the heat pump. The safety device (1) further includes a housing (10) having a cover (20) and a base element (30), wherein the base element (30) has a guide element (34) and a positioning element (32) for the cover (20), the guide element and the positioning element working together with a mating guide element and a mating positioning element (20d) of the cover (20) that mate with the guide element (34) and the positioning element (32). Its features are, The first contact device consists of a first contact rivet and a second contact rivet, and the second contact device is formed by a contact bridge that is bent twice. At least one of the contact bridges has two contact points for contacting the first contact rivet and the second contact rivet. The basic element (30) has at least one wall element (33) that extends between two approximately parallel sidewalls (20b) of the cover in the installed state of the safety device (1), and The safety device (1) has at least two contact pairs, and at least one wall element (33) of the basic element (30) is positioned between the at least two contact pairs.

2. The safety device according to claim 1, Its features are, The cover (20) has a guide pin (22) as a mating guide element.

3. The safety device according to claim 1 or 2, Its features are, The guiding element (34) of the basic element (30) is integrated into the wall element (33) of the basic element (30).

4. The safety device according to claim 2, wherein the safety device has a circuit board (60) on which the at least one contact device is provided, Its features are, The guide pin (22) of the cover (20) engages in a receiving portion (62) in the circuit board (60) that mates with the guide pin (22).

5. The safety device according to claim 1, Its features are, The basic element (30) has two wall elements (33) oriented parallel to each other, with a rod-shaped stabilizing element (35) disposed between the wall elements.

6. The safety device according to claim 1 or 2, Its features are, The cover (20) and the basic element (30) have a pair of locking elements (24, 36) that work together.

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