Mounting device

Abstract

Fastening device (1) for the particularly detachable fastening of a support rail (2) in a housing (3), which support rail is designed for holding electrical or electronic equipment (4) in the housing (3), wherein the fastening device (1) has a retaining bracket (5) which is preferably detachably fastenable in the housing (3) with its underside (6) and which has an insert recess (7) into which the support rail (2) can be inserted and detachably locked in the insertion position (8), characterized in that the insert recess (7) is formed with locking devices between a first and a second lateral bracket arm (9, 10), and the first bracket arm (9) has a pivotable closing arm (21) which is detachably connected to the second bracket arm (10) in a closed position (24).

Description

The invention relates to a fastening device for a support rail having the features of the preamble of claim 1. This is used in electrical engineering for fastening electrical and / or electronic operating means in a housing. Such a housing is, for example, a distributor box, a switch cabinet, a connection box or the like.The electrical / electronic equipment can be relays, current switches, terminals or the like.A corresponding support rail is fastened within the housing by a fastening device in the form of screws, for example. The corresponding support rails generally have a support rail base with side surfaces projecting upward therefrom and side cheeks arranged at their upper ends. The support rails are used in standardized sizes, wherein different support rail types are summarized, for example, in the standard DIN EN 60715.The post-published document DE 10 2015 102 954 A1 discloses a connecting element which has a receptacle for a top-hat rail oriented transversely with respect to the carrier profile, wherein the receptacle has at least two opposing retaining noses which, when the top-hat rail is inserted, are elastically deformable by the lateral profile sections thereof, wherein the lateral profile sections of the top-hat rail engage behind the retaining noses. Similar arrangements are also known from GB 2 360 876 A or DE 10 2012 013 980 A1.In order to improve a fastening device of the type mentioned at the beginning to the effect that arranging and replacing support rails is easily possible even without the use of tools, the solution according to the invention having the features of claim 1 is proposed.This solution is characterized in particular in that the fastening device has a retaining bracket which can be fastened on its underside preferably in a releasable manner in the housing and which has an insert depression into which the support rail can be inserted and is releasably locked in its insert position. That is, the holding bracket is fastened in the housing, for example, by screwing or the like, and then serves for the simple latching of the carrier rail into the corresponding insert depression. If the support rail has assumed the corresponding insertion position in the insertion depression, the releasable latching takes place automatically. Conversely, for releasing the support rail, the latching engagement can be released manually in order to remove the support rails from the fastening device in a simple manner. Screws or the like for fastening the support rail are not required. This simplifies the effort for arranging and releasing support rails even in explosion-risk regions, wherein at the same time secure holding of the support rail is possible by the fastening device according to the invention.The corresponding insert depression can be determined in a simple manner by means of the retaining bracket in that the insert depression is formed between two lateral bracket arms with latching devices. These bow arms protrude in the direction of the support rail and from above the support rail is inserted between the bow arms into the insert depression and there, in the inserted position, is releasably locked with the corresponding locking devices of the bow arms. For removing the support rail, the bracket arms are pressed away from one another somewhat, so that the latching engagement is released and the support rail can subsequently be simply lifted upward out of the insert depression.That is to say, it is furthermore advantageous in this context if, for example, the stirrup arms extend upwards from a stirrup base plate. This bracket base plate essentially forms a lower end of the insert depression, wherein it is possible to arrange the support rail in its inserted position on this bracket base plate, for example with its support rail base. If, for example, the bracket base plate serves for fastening the holding bracket or the fastening device in the housing, it can prove to be more advantageous in this connection if, if appropriate, the insertion depression has a base support for the support rail base, which base support is arranged above the bracket base plate. This makes it easier to arrange the support rail at a distance from a corresponding housing wall and then also to more easily engage under the latter for removal.In order to be able to support the support rail even further, support arms for supporting side cheeks of the support rail can be arranged laterally with respect to the floor support. That is, the support rail then rests with its support rail base on the base support and with its side cheeks on upper ends of the corresponding support arms.The corresponding holding brackets can be arranged at different locations along the support rail for the purpose of holding it. It may be sufficient if such holding brackets are arranged at ends of the support rail. In order in this case to fix the support rail also in its longitudinal direction, it can be considered expedient if at least one support rail end stop is optionally formed transversely to the floor support. The support rail is in contact with this support rail end stop in its inserted position, so that when two corresponding holding brackets are used, the support rail is held securely in its longitudinal direction in addition to being latched via the holding brackets. Of course, further holding brackets can also be arranged between such holding brackets at ends of the support rail, which in this case do not have corresponding support rail end stops.A simple latching of the support rail in its inserted position can optionally be effected if each bracket arm has a latching hook which protrudes obliquely downwards in the direction of the floor support and can be latched onto a side cheek of the support rail in its inserted position.In order to not only hold the support rail in the inserted position by the latching engagement, it has proven advantageous according to the invention that a first bracket arm has a pivotable closing arm which is detachably connected to a second bracket arm of the corresponding support bracket in a closed position of the closing arm. That is, as already described above, the support rail is inserted into the insert depression and locked there by means of the corresponding locking hooks. For further securing, the closing arm is then pivoted and detachably connected to the other bracket arm. This results in a double mounting of the support rail in the fastening device according to the invention. To remove the support rail, the releasable connection between the closing arm and the second bracket arm is first released and then the latching engagement between the side cheeks and the latching hooks is released.The releasable connection between the closing arm and the second bracket arm can be effected in different ways. For example, the second bow arm can have a latching groove on its inner side facing the first bow arm, in which a free end of the pivotable closing arm engages in a corresponding closed position. It is likewise possible for the closing arm to have a latching claw at its free end, which latching claw engages around a latching projection on the second bracket arm in the closed position.Further possibilities for the detachable connection of the closing arm and the second bracket arm are conceivable.In order to be able to pivot the closing arm simply relative to the first bracket arm, a film hinge can be formed between the closing arm and the first bracket arm as a hinge device. Such a film hinge is produced simultaneously with the production of the first bow arm and the closing arm, so that no additional working steps are necessary for the pivotable connection between the closing arm and the first bow arm.In order to be able to fasten the fastening device and in particular the retaining bracket in the housing in a simple manner, a screw opening can be formed in the bracket base plate, by means of which screw opening the base plate can be fastened to the housing by screwing. Of course, two or more screw openings can also be formed. The housing can be equipped with a series of such fastening devices or retaining brackets before the corresponding support rails are fitted with electrical and electronic operating means.In order to be able to screw in a corresponding screw for fastening the retaining bracket in a simple manner and fix it in a corresponding position, the screw opening can have a support edge projecting in the direction of the floor support. This projects beyond the screw opening or base plate and serves as a screw-in end stop for a corresponding screw.If the corresponding retaining bracket is fastened in the housing, this should be arranged in a specific orientation, in particular with respect to a further retaining bracket, in order to enable this in a simple manner, at least one or more and in particular two orientation projections can also be arranged on an underside of the bracket base plate of the retaining bracket laterally with respect to the screw opening. These orientation projections come into contact with corresponding stops when the retaining bracket is fastened in the housing by screwing. As a result, a twisting of the holding bracket both during the fastening by screwing in the screw and also during subsequent contact is avoided, i.e. a rotation protection is realized.In order to provide a corresponding device in the housing, the fastening device can furthermore have a retaining bracket mounting device which substantially has two or three mounting projections, of which one mounting projection is designed as a fastening projection which is designed for placing and screwing the corresponding screw opening of the retaining bracket. The further mounting projection or projections are connected via intermediate walls to the fastening projection in each case, the orientation projections being able to be placed against these intermediate walls in order to fix the position of the retaining bracket.In order to limit a pivoting movement away from one another when the bow arms are pushed apart, it is possible for protective arms to protrude laterally outwards relative to the bow arms from the base plate or also the base support. These limit pivoting of the bracket arms away from each other.The fastening device according to the invention can be formed in one piece, in particular with respect to the retaining bracket, and can be produced in particular from an elastic plastic material.An advantageous exemplary embodiment of the invention is described in more detail below with reference to the figures enclosed in the drawing.The following are shown: FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the fastening device according to the invention; FIG. 2 is a view analogous to FIG. 1 from an opposite side; FIG. 3 shows a fastening device 1 with a retaining bracket in a representation alone; FIG. 4 shows the fastening device according to FIG. 3 from another view; FIG. 5 is a top view of a support rail between two fastening devices; FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a bracket mounting device as part of the fastening device; FIG. 7 shows the fastening device 1 according to the preceding figures with a retaining bracket and retaining bracket mounting device, and FIG. 8 shows a top view of a housing with a fastening device according to the invention.FIG. 1 shows a holding bracket 5 of a fastening device 1 according to the invention. This is fastened by means of a bracket base plate 11, see also the following figures, in a housing 3, see for example FIGS. 7 and 8, in a releasable manner by means of a screw 42. The fastening device 1 serves for the detachable mounting of a support rail 2, for example in the form of a top-hat rail or a profiled rail made of metal. This serves for arranging different electrical or electronic operating means 4 within the corresponding housing. Such a housing can be a switch box, distributor box, connection box or the like.For fastening the holding bracket 5 according to FIG. 1, a holding bracket mounting device 32 is used as a further part of the fastening device 1, which is arranged in the housing 3, see in particular FIGS. 7 and 8 in this regard.The holding bracket extends substantially transversely to the support rail 2 and has an insert depression 7, see also FIG. 3, into which the support rail 2 can be inserted from above, wherein in the corresponding inserted position it then assumes its insert position 8 according to FIGS. 1 and 2. The support rail 2 is arranged essentially between two bracket arms 9, 10 of the support bracket 5, which extend upward from the bracket base plate 11. Each bracket arm 9, 10 has corresponding latching hooks 19, 20 as fastening means, which rest from above on corresponding side cheeks 16, 17 of the support rail 2, see underside 6, in the insertion position 8. This is illustrated, for example, in FIGS. 1 and 2. The corresponding support rail is also known as a hat rail because of the profile shown, since it has a substantially U-shaped profile similar to a hat. The support rail 2 further comprises a support rail base 13 which extends between the corresponding side cheeks 16, 17. The support rail base 13 rests on a base support 12 of the holding bracket 5, which is arranged at a distance from the bracket base plate 11, see also FIG. 3. The side cheeks 16, 17 are also laterally contacted by corresponding support arms 14, 15, which support the side cheeks from below and laterally when the support rail 2 is arranged in its corresponding insertion position 8. The support arms 14, 15 extend upwards from the bracket base plate 11 and extend substantially parallel to the bracket arms 9, 10 and in each case at a distance from them.Furthermore, the mounting bracket 5 has mounting rail end stops 18 which project plate-like upwards from the bracket base plate 11 and form end stops for free ends of the mounting rail 2, see also the arrangement of the mounting rail according to FIG. 5.The mounting bracket 5 rests in its underside from above on the corresponding mounting bracket mounting device 32, which has three mounting projections 33, 34 and 35. A central mounting projection 33 serves as a fastening projection 36, with the holding bracket 5 being screwed on by means of said fastening projection. For this purpose, the bracket base plate 11 has a screw opening 27 approximately in the middle, which in FIGS. 1 and 2 rests on the fastening projection 35 from above, see underside 29. Here, the corresponding screw 42 is screwed in. The remaining mounting projections 34 and 35 are connected to the fastening projection 36 by means of partitions 37 and 38. These partitions 37, 38 form stops for orientation projections 30, 31, see also FIG. 6, which, when the retaining bracket 5 is fastened, bear against the partitions for the corresponding orientation of the retaining bracket 5.In order to secure the support rail in its inserted position, apart from by the engagement of the latching hooks 19, 20 with the side walls 16, 17, a closing arm 21 is pivotably mounted on the upper end of at least one bracket arm 9. For this purpose, a joint device 26 is formed between the yoke arm 9 and the closing arm 21, in particular in the form of a film hinge 25. Around this articulation device 26, the closing arm 21 can be folded down and arranged in the closed position 24 according to FIGS. 1 and 2, see also FIGS. 3 and 4 in comparison therewith. In the corresponding closed position 24, a latching claw 23 arranged at the free end 22 of the closing arm 21 engages via a latching projection 41 of the other yoke arm 10, see once again FIGS. 1 and 2. the corresponding latching projection 41 is arranged on an outer side of the yoke arm 10, i.e. opposite the corresponding latching hook 20, see also FIG. 4.With regard to the screw 42 and the corresponding screw opening 27, it should also be noted that the screw opening 27 is surrounded by a support rim 28 which projects somewhat upward, see FIGS. 1 and 4. This support rim 28 serves as an end stop when the corresponding screw 42 is screwed in or as a support for a washer beneath the screw 42, see FIG. 1. The corresponding retaining bracket 5 is produced in one piece with its corresponding parts, see FIGS. 3 and 4, and is formed, for example, from an elastic plastic material. It is also possible that, for example, such a holding bracket 5 is used not only at ends of the support rail 2, see FIG. 5, but, for example, in particular with omission of the support rail end stops 18, is also fastened at further points in the longitudinal direction of the support rail 2 for the purpose of holding it within the housing 3 via corresponding holding bracket mounting device 32.However, an arrangement of holding brackets 5 according to FIG. 5 is sufficient, i.e. at corresponding ends of the support rail 2; as a result, the support rail 2 can be used along its entire longitudinal alignment between the holding brackets 5 for arrangement corresponding to the operating means 4, see FIG. 8 in this regard.The holding bracket 5 according to the illustrated exemplary embodiment also has protective arms 39 and 40, which are arranged opposite the support arms 14, 15 relative to the bracket arms 9, 10. These protective arms 39, 40 prevent the bow arms 9, 10 from expanding too far outwards if the corresponding latching engagement between the same and the support rail 2 according to FIGS. 1 and 2 is to be released.According to the invention, the corresponding holding bracket mounting devices 32 are arranged at different locations within the housing 3, but form parts of the fastening device 1 according to the invention. Each of the bracket mounting means 32 may be used for mounting a corresponding bracket 5. It is of course possible for the corresponding retaining brackets 5 to be adapted depending on the profile of the corresponding support rail, see in this respect different top hat rails according to EN 50022, a so-called G-rail or also other support rails with further profiles. The holding bracket mounting device 32 can always be the same, if necessary, independently of the corresponding holding bracket 5.The mode of operation of the fastening device 1 according to the invention is briefly explained below.If the corresponding holding brackets 5 are fastened in the housing 3 by means of the associated holding bracket mounting device 32, see screw 42 and the corresponding orientation projections 30, 31 are resting on intermediate walls 37, 38, the support rail 2 is inserted into the insert depression 7 until it has reached its insertion position 8. In this position, the support rail base 13 rests on the base support 12 and at the same time the side cheeks 16, 17 are held both laterally by support arms 14, 15 and from above by latching hooks 19, 20. To further secure the support rail 2 in this insertion position 8, the closing arm 29 is subsequently pivoted into the corresponding closing position 24, see FIGS. 1 and 2. the support rail 2 can already be equipped with corresponding operating means 4 during its installation or these are only applied after the support rail 2 has been arranged in its insertion position 8, see in this respect, for example, FIG. 8.If the support rail 2 is to be removed, the above-described process takes place in the reverse manner.

Claims

Fastening device (1) for the in particular releasable fastening of a support rail (2) in a housing (3), which support rail is designed for holding electrical or electronic operating means (4) in the housing (3), wherein the fastening device (1) has a retaining bracket (5), which can be fastened with its underside (6) preferably releasably in the housing (3) and which has an insert depression (7), into which the support rail (2) can be inserted and is releasably locked in the insert position (8), characterized in that the insert depression (7) is formed between a first and a second lateral bracket arm (9, 10) with locking devices, and the first bracket arm (9) has a pivotable closing arm (21), which is releasably connected to the second bracket arm (10) in a closed position (24).Fastening device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the insert depression (7) has a base support (12) for a mounting rail base (13) of the mounting rail (2).Fastening device according to claim 2, characterised in that arranged laterally to the floor support (12) are support arms (14, 15) for supporting side cheeks (16, 17) of the support rail (2).Fastening device according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterised in that at least one support rail end stop (18) is formed transversely to the floor support (12).Fastening device according to one of Claims 2 to 4, characterized in that each bracket arm (9, 10) has a latching hook (19, 20) which projects obliquely downwards in the direction of the base support (12) and can be latched onto a side cheek (16, 17) of the mounting rail (2) in its insertion position (8).Fastening device according to one of Claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the bracket arms (9, 10) extend upwards from a bracket base plate (11).Fastening device according to claim 6, characterised in that at least one screw opening (27) is formed in the bracket base plate (11), by means of which screw opening the bracket base plate (11) can be fastened to the housing (3) by screwing.Fastening device according to claim 7, characterised in that the screw opening (27) has a support edge (28) projecting in the direction of the floor support (12).Fastening device according to claim 7 or 8, characterised in that orientation projections (30, 31) are arranged on an underside (29) of the bracket base plate (11) of the holding bracket (5) laterally with respect to the screw opening (27).Fastening device according to one of Claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the fastening device (1) furthermore has a retaining bracket mounting device (32) which substantially has two or three mounting projections (33, 34, 35), of which a first is designed as a fastening projection (36) for bearing on and screwing the screw opening (27), and the further mounting projection or projections (34, 36) are connected to the fastening projection (36) via intermediate walls (37, 38), on which at least one orientation projection (30, 31) can be placed.Fastening device according to one of Claims 6 to 10, characterized in that protective arms (39, 40) project laterally outwards relative to the bracket arms (9, 10) upwards from the bracket base plate (11).Fastening device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closing arm (21) has, at its free end (22), a latching claw (23) which, in the closed position (24), engages around a latching projection (41) on the second bracket arm (10).Fastening device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a film hinge (25) is formed as a hinge device (26) between the closing arm (21) and the first bracket arm (9).Fastening device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the retaining bracket (5) is produced in one piece from an elastic plastic material.

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