Electrical distributor

Abstract

The invention is based on an electrical distributor comprising a housing with a connection area, a plug-in area, and at least one distribution area. The connection area is electrically connected to the plug-in area and the distribution area by a contact arrangement. The contact arrangement has at least two contact bridges, each of which has at least 2 + N contact strands. N is equal to the number of distribution areas used on the housing. According to the invention, the contact strands form a common contact bifurcation.

Description

[0001] The invention is based on an electrical multiple connector according to the preamble of independent claim 1.

[0002] Such connectors are needed to distribute power and / or signals from a single source to different points. A simple example is the distribution of electrical power for high-bay lighting. IP protection is particularly advantageous in this case. State of the art

[0003] The current state of the art offers a variety of distribution systems. These typically use flexible wires, which are fitted with the desired contact elements and inserted into the desired connectors.

[0004] Prefabricated housings are often used, which are equipped with add-on housings for connectors to connect cables equipped with these connectors. To bridge the connections, one wire is soldered to at least one other wire in the housing, creating a so-called splice point. This connection can be provided with an insulating material, such as insulating tape and / or heat-shrink tubing. Alternatively, printed circuit boards are used, to which the wires to be bridged are connected. Other connection devices, such as cable clamps, are also sometimes used. For improved IP protection, the connector housings manufactured in this way are filled with a potting compound.

[0005] The disadvantages of such solutions are the increased cost factor due to the various components and the considerable labor required. Furthermore, the handling of epoxy resins, often used as casting compounds, is complex and time-consuming. Task

[0006] The object of the invention is to offer a ready-to-use and compact electrical connector which enables simple sub-distribution of electrical current and / or signals while being robust and offering improved protection, in particular IP protection.

[0007] The problem is solved by the subject matter of independent claim 1.

[0008] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims and the following description.

[0009] The invention is based on an electrical distributor comprising a housing with a connection area, a plug-in area, and at least one distribution area. The connection area is electrically connected to the plug-in area and the distribution area by a contact arrangement. The contact arrangement has at least two contact bridges, each of which has at least 2 + N contact strands. N is equal to the number of distribution areas used on the housing. According to the invention, the contact strands form a common contact bifurcation.

[0010] A distributor essentially refers to a component that preferably accommodates and electrically connects more than two connectors and associated electrical cables. The housing forms at least three connections, which can be electrically connected to a connector and / or a mating connector corresponding to the connector.

[0011] A housing essentially refers to a component that connects the connection area, plug-in area, and distribution area materially and / or mechanically. The housing is preferably made of a dielectric material. Particularly preferably, the housing is formed using a casting process.

[0012] The terms connection area, plug-in area, and distribution area are used for the connections, which are essentially synonymous. These terms are used primarily to simplify differentiation and improve understanding. The connection area refers to an area of ​​the distributor that can be engaged with a plug-in connector. A plug-in connector can also refer to a mating connector that corresponds to the connection area. Advantageously, the connection area, plug-in area, and distribution area are designed as insulating bodies, either known or novel insulating bodies.

[0013] The plug-in area refers to an area of ​​the distributor that can be engaged with a plug-in connector. The plug-in area preferably forms a plug-in face that differs from the plug-in face of the connection area. The connection area preferably has pin contact elements. Meanwhile, the plug-in area is preferably assigned socket contacts.

[0014] The distribution area thus represents a third area that is electrically connected to the connection area and the plug-in area, and which can be contacted by another connector. The distribution area can optionally form a plug-in face that is either identical to the plug-in face of the connection area and / or identical to the plug-in face of the plug-in area. Preferably, the distribution area forms a plug-in face that is identical to the plug-in face of the plug-in area.

[0015] A contact arrangement refers to a combination of contact elements that connect the three areas: connection area, plug-in area, and distribution area. Contact bridges are assigned to the contact arrangement for connection.

[0016] Contact bridges are contact elements that independently connect a contact in one of the connection area, plug-in area, and distribution area to the other areas. This means that a first contact in the connection area is electrically connected to a first contact in the plug-in area and the first contact in the distribution area via the contact bridge. At least two contact bridges are used to easily connect and connect a phase and a neutral conductor to the distributor.

[0017] Contact strands refer to the parts of the contact bridge that extend from the respective connection area, plug-in area, and distribution area into the housing. The respective contact strands of a contact bridge are electrically connected to each other by a contact fork. Each contact bridge has one contact strand for each of the connection area, plug-in area, and at least one distribution area.

[0018] In this context, a contact bifurcation is a common point for all contact strands of a contact bridge. Essentially, the contact bifurcation can be understood as a splice point.

[0019] A particularly advantageous embodiment is one in which each contact bridge is formed in one piece. This means that the contact bridge arranged in the housing is created in a single process. Additive or generative manufacturing processes, such as 3D printing, are suitable for this. Alternatively, a primary forming process, preferably a casting process such as investment casting, can be used. Furthermore, individually formed contact strands can be electrically connected by a material bond.

[0020] In a further embodiment, the contact bridge has at least three contact terminals. In other words, each of the three contact strands of the contact bridge has an area that can directly accommodate a contact. The contact terminals can be designed as contact pins in a simple manner, so that only a connector with a socket contact needs to be implemented to establish an electrically conductive connection.

[0021] A further developed embodiment provides that the contact terminals optionally accommodate a contact pin or a contact socket. This means that a contact bridge with at least three contact receptacles accommodates a contact pin at the first contact receptacle. Preferably, the second contact receptacle accommodates a contact socket corresponding to the contact pin. Preferably, the contact bridge also accommodates a contact bridge at the third contact receptacle.

[0022] A clever design provides for each contact bridge to accommodate at least one contact socket. This allows for a particularly simple through connection between the connection area, the plug-in area, and at least one distribution area. Connectors that can be connected to the distributor can generally be designed with contact pins.

[0023] In an alternative embodiment, each contact bridge accommodates at least one contact pin. This allows for a particularly simple through connection between the connection area, the plug-in area, and the at least one distribution area. Connectors that can be connected to the distributor can generally be designed with contact sockets.

[0024] In a practical embodiment, the distribution area forms a mating face that is identical to the mating face of the connection area or the mating area. This means that at least two areas are designed with identical mating faces. In this way, the cables to be used can generally be designed with a connector and a mating connector, making cable assembly particularly simple, uniform, and cost-effective. In conjunction with this, an embodiment in which the connection area and the mating area form corresponding mating faces makes particular sense.

[0025] To simplify application, one embodiment proposes that the distributor has at least three connection areas with identical mating faces, each mating face being engageable with an identical mating face. In other words, the distributor is designed with at least three connection areas, the contact elements of which are designed as hermaphroditic contacts. Furthermore, it may be expedient to design the connection areas themselves in a hermaphroditic form. This design allows for direct connection and distribution in a particularly simple and cost-effective manner, since the connectors and distributors can be designed with the same mating face, thereby streamlining the production of both components.

[0026] Similarly, one embodiment proposes that each of the connection area, plug-in area, and distribution area be assigned at least one adjustable coding element. In this way, accidental plugging of unintended combinations can be quickly and effectively prevented. This embodiment is particularly advantageous in combination with hermaphroditic connection areas and connectors. Thus, an insulating body can be used as the basic building block for connectors and distributors, enabling further cost efficiency.

[0027] In a practical embodiment, the housing is formed from a dielectric material around the distributor contact arrangement using a casting process. Preferably, the connection area, plug-in area, and distribution area are each provided with an insulating body into which the contact arrangements are inserted. This partially assembled group is then placed in a mold and provided with the housing using a casting process.

[0028] Finally, one embodiment allows the housing to insulate each contact bridge of the contact arrangement from every other contact bridge. This embodiment first requires that the contact bridges are shaped in a way that enables reliable reproducibility. For this purpose, the contact bridges can be manufactured using one of the previously mentioned processes, 3D printing or investment casting. After optionally attaching the contact elements, the placement of the insulating bodies for the claim area, plug-in area, and distribution area allows the contact bridges to remain in a contact arrangement, which then enables the housing to be formed around the contact bridges in a primary forming process. A casting process, particularly an injection molding process, is preferably used here, which seals the insulating bodies and isolates the contact bridges of the contact arrangement from one another.For this purpose, the housing is logically formed from a dielectric material, in particular a plastic. Example

[0029] An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings and explained in more detail below. They show: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a distributor according to the invention; Fig. 2 an advantageous distributor contact arrangement of the distributor; Fig. 3 an alternative embodiment of the distributor without housing; Fig. 4 an advantageous alternative embodiment of the distributor contact arrangement.

[0030] Some of the figures contain simplified, schematic representations. Identical reference symbols are used for similar, but possibly not identical, elements. Different views of the same elements may be scaled differently. Directional references such as "left," "right," "top," and "bottom" are to be understood with reference to the respective figure and may vary in the individual illustrations relative to the object depicted.

[0031] The Fig. 1 shows a distributor 1 in an embodiment according to the invention. The distributor 1 has a housing 2. The housing 2 further has a connection area 20, a plug-in area 21, and a distribution area 22. Each of the connection area 20, plug-in area 21, and distribution connection 22 areas is assigned a locking element 3. The locking elements 3 are pivotally held in each of the areas by means of a locking receptacle 28. The visible plug faces 23 of the plug-in area 21 and the distribution area 22 have a plurality of contact cavities 24. The contact cavities 24 are typically provided for receiving contact sockets 45. Furthermore, the plug-in area 21 and distribution area 22 areas each have a PE connection 25. The connection area 20 is also assigned a PE connection 25, although this is not visible here.To protect against accidental or incorrect plugging of a connector, the plug faces 23 of the connection area 20, plug-in area 21, and distribution area 22 each have at least one coding element 26. The plug-in area 21 and distribution area 22 are generally designed with identical plug faces 23 for receiving contact sockets 45. Accordingly, the connection area 20 has a plug face that corresponds to the plug faces 23 shown. Accordingly, the plug face of the connection area 20 receives contact pins 43. Finally, mounting forms 27 are molded onto the housing 2. These mounting forms 27 are suitable, for example, for connecting a PE connection, or in the simplest way, for mounting the distributor 1 to a substrate, for example a ceiling or a wall.

[0032] The Fig. Figure 2 provides a view of the interior of the distributor 1. This shows a contact arrangement 4 which has several contact bridges 40. Each contact bridge 40 has a contact fork 41. The contact fork 41 connects all contact strands 42 of the respective contact bridge 40. Each contact strand 42 ends with a contact terminal 47. The contact terminals 47 are simply designed as pins, pegs, or bolts, so that a contact pin 43 or a contact socket 45 can be connected to the contact terminals 47. A contact socket 45 or a contact pin 43 is cleverly connected to the respective contact terminal 47 by means of crimping, pressing, or a similar forming process. Fig. 2 further shows that different contact elements are used for the PE connections 26, namely a PE pin contact 44 and a PE socket contact 46. The contact bridges 40 are not in contact with any other contact bridge 40'. In other words, in the used form, all contact bridges 40 are spatially separated from one another such that no contact bridge 40 touches an adjacent contact bridge. If the housing 2 is now formed around the contact arrangement 4, preferably cast, most preferably using an injection molding process, it is ensured that no malfunctions occur.

[0033] In the Fig. 3 shows a contact arrangement 4' with the provided insulating bodies 29, which hold the inserted, alternatively designed contact bridges 40' in position before a housing 2 is formed around the contact bridges 40', thereby completing the distributor 1. An insulating body 29 is assigned to the connection area 20, which forms a plug-in face 23' with contact pins 43. An insulating body 29' corresponding to the insulating body 29 is assigned to the plug-in area 21 and the distribution area 22. The insulating bodies 29' each accommodate contact sockets 45. Furthermore, it is clear that the contact bridges 40' can be formed identically at similar plug-in locations in the insulating body 29 or insulating body 29', for example the contact bridges 40', 40'', and 40'''.

[0034] In the Fig.4, the contact arrangement 4' is shown as a single assembly, which makes some details clearer. In the embodiment shown, it is particularly clear that the contact bridges 40' each have a contact terminal 47 at an end of the contact strands 42 opposite the contact fork 41. These contact terminals 47 can optionally accommodate contact pins 43 or contact sockets 45, depending on the intended insulating body 29 or 29'. The embodiment shown also has PE connectors 48, which can be used during a process for forming the housing 2 and optionally for the assembly mold 27. Advantageously, the PE connector 48 is brought into electrically conductive contact with the contact bridge 40', which receives the PE pin contacts 44 and / or PE socket contacts 46. In this way, the distributor 1 can be brought into PE connection with an element to which the distributor 1 is to be attached.

[0035] Although various aspects or features of the invention are shown in combination in the figures, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art—unless otherwise stated—that the illustrated and discussed combinations are not the only possible ones. In particular, corresponding units or feature complexes from different embodiments can be interchanged. List of reference symbols 1 distributor 2 housings 20 Connection area 21 Plug-in area 22 Distribution area 23 Plug-in face 24 contact cavity 25 PE connection 26 coding element 27 Mounting form 28 Locking receptacle 29 Insulating body 3 locking element 4 Contact arrangement 40 contact bridge 41 Contact fork 42 contact strand 43 contact pin 44 PE pin contact 45 contact socket 46 PE socket contact 47 Contact connection 48 PE connectors

Claims

[1] Electrical distributor (1), comprising a housing (2) with a connection area (20), a plug-in area (21) and at least one distributor area (22), wherein the connection area (20) is electrically connected to the plug-in area (21) and the distributor area (22) by a contact arrangement (4), wherein the contact arrangement (4) has at least two contact bridges (40), characterized by that the contact bridges (40) each have a contact fork (41), wherein at least 2 + N contact strands (42) extend from the contact fork (41) and wherein N is equal to the number of distribution areas (22) used on the housing (2). [2] Distributor (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that each contact bridge (40) is formed in one piece. [3] Distributor (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the contact bridge (40) has at least three contact connections (47). [4] Distributor (1) according to claim 3, characterized bythat the contact terminals (47) optionally accommodate a contact pin (43) or a contact socket (45). [5] Distributor (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that each contact bridge (40) accommodates at least one contact socket (45). [6] Distributor (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that each contact bridge (40) accommodates at least one contact pin (43). [7] Distributor (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the distribution area (22) forms a plug-in face (23) which is similar to the plug-in face (23) of the connection area (20) or the plug-in area (21). [8] Distributor (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the connection area (20) and the plug-in area (21) form plug faces corresponding to one another. [9] Distributor (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the distributor has at least three connection areas with identical plug-in faces, wherein each plug-in face can be brought into corresponding engagement with an identical plug-in face. [10] Distributor (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that each of the connection area (20), plug-in area (21) and distribution area (22) is assigned at least one adjustable coding element (24). [11] Distributor (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the housing (2) is formed from a dielectric material around the contact arrangement (4) in a casting process. [12] Distributor (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the housing (2) insulates each contact bridge (40) of the contact arrangement (4) from each further contact bridge (40).

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