Adapter for an electricity meter of a domestic installation

Abstract

Adapter (1) for an electricity meter (2) of a domestic installation, with a housing box (10) which encloses an interior space (100) and forms an interface (101) for connection to the electricity meter (2), and a support rail (11) for supporting at least one electrical or electronic device (3), characterized in that the support rail (11) is formed integrally with the housing box (10).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an adapter for an electricity meter of a domestic installation according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Such an adapter comprises a housing box that encloses an interior space and forms an interface for connecting to the electricity meter. The adapter also includes a mounting rail for supporting at least one electrical or electronic device.

[0003] Particularly for electronic electricity meters, so-called smart meters, there is a need to easily connect the electricity meter to a so-called smart meter gateway in the home installation area. Such a smart meter gateway represents a central communication unit of an intelligent metering system, which is used for secure data transmission within the intelligent metering system. Within the framework of such a smart meter gateway, data from a home network (HAN for short) is to be processed and bundled in particular in order to also make data available externally via a so-called wide area network (WAN for short). This can be used, for example, to provide consumption transparency for customers and energy suppliers and thus also enable remote data collection from an electricity meter by an energy supplier.

[0004] For an installer, there is a need for the possibility of quick installation in conjunction with an electricity meter.

[0005] EP 2 264 845 B1 discloses a domestic installation distribution system in which switching or control devices for remote control by an energy supply company are arranged on a support device.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide an adapter which is simple and cost-effective to manufacture, is easy to install and enables efficient assembly of an electricity meter in connection in particular with a smart meter gateway.

[0007] This object is achieved by an article having the features of claim 1.

[0008] Accordingly, the support rail is formed in one piece with the housing box.

[0009] The adapter has a housing box that encloses an interior space and provides an interface for connecting to the electricity meter. The adapter can thus be installed together with an electricity meter. For example, before installation in a building, the adapter is connected to the electricity meter and thus installed together with the electricity meter.

[0010] The adapter has a mounting rail formed integrally with the housing box, on which one or more electrical or electronic devices, in particular a smart meter gateway, can be mounted. The adapter thus enables easy installation of the electricity meter with one or more electrical or electronic devices, in particular a smart meter gateway. Additional installation equipment for installing the electrical or electronic device, in particular the smart meter gateway, is not required. The electrical or electronic device can be installed on the electricity meter via the adapter and electrically connected to the electricity meter.

[0011] The fact that the mounting rail is integral with the housing allows for simple, cost-effective production of the adapter. The adapter can be manufactured as a single component and easily installed together with the electricity meter.

[0012] The adapter can be manufactured in particular as a plastic molded part, in particular by means of plastic injection molding.

[0013] In one embodiment, the housing box has a box shape in a cross-sectional plane spanned by a transverse direction and a vertical direction. The housing box can be configured, in particular, rectangular in the cross-sectional plane, with two opposing side walls, an upper transverse wall and a lower transverse wall, which together form a box-like enclosure surrounding the interior space defined by the housing box.

[0014] In one embodiment, the housing box forms two side walls, with the support rail extending along the transverse direction between the side walls and being formed integrally with the side walls. The side walls delimit the housing box on opposite sides. The support rail extends between the side walls, allowing one or more electrical or electronic devices, in particular a smart meter gateway, to be mounted on the adapter via the support rail in order to be functionally coupled to the electricity meter.

[0015] In one embodiment, the housing box has at least one reinforcing wall extending between the side walls. The at least one reinforcing wall can, in particular, extend flatly along a plane spanned by the transverse direction and the vertical direction. While the housing box has a box shape and is, in particular, rectangular in the cross-sectional plane spanned by the transverse direction and the vertical direction, one or more reinforcing walls can extend between the outer walls of the housing box and thus provide reinforcement for the housing box to increase its load-bearing capacity.

[0016] In particular, the at least one reinforcing wall can have a U-shape, viewed along the plane spanned by the transverse direction and the vertical direction. A base of a respective reinforcing wall can, for example, extend along a transverse wall of the housing box. Legs of the U-shaped reinforcing wall, in contrast, can extend along the opposing side walls. The U-shape of the reinforcing wall provides reinforcement to increase the load-bearing capacity of the housing box.

[0017] In one embodiment, the at least one reinforcing wall has a stiffening structure formed by an arrangement of stiffening ribs. The at least one reinforcing wall is preferably formed integrally with the housing box. To provide sufficient stability to the at least one reinforcing wall, a stiffening structure in the form of stiffening ribs arranged, for example, in a cross-shaped manner is formed on the reinforcing wall. The reinforcing wall and the housing box as a whole can thus be designed to be lightweight, while maintaining high stability and a high load-bearing capacity for the housing box.

[0018] In one embodiment, the at least one reinforcing wall has at least one fastening point for connection to a housing cover. In a properly installed position, the adapter can be closed off from the outside, for example by a housing cover, in order to conceal electrical or electronic devices mounted on the adapter, in particular a smart meter gateway, and associated electrical connection cables from the outside. Such a housing cover can be connected to the housing box via one or more fastening points, for example screw points, wherein the one or more fastening points are preferably formed on one or more reinforcing walls.

[0019] The housing cover can, in particular, have a standardized shape, particularly according to the VDE-FNN standard (Forum for Network Technology / Network Operation in the VDE, VDE FNN for short). The adapter can, in particular, comply with the shape specifications of the VDE-FNN standard and thus be connected to a standardized housing cover.

[0020] In one embodiment, the at least one reinforcement wall has at least one screw point for screwing to the electricity meter. In the intended installed position, the adapter is connected to the electricity meter. For example, the adapter can be screwed to the electricity meter before or during installation in or on a building, with one or more screw points formed on one or more reinforcement walls, allowing the electricity meter to be connected to the housing box via the reinforcement walls.

[0021] In one embodiment, the housing box has a transverse wall extending between the side walls. The interface via which the adapter can be connected to the electricity meter has a recess formed in the transverse wall for connection to the electricity meter. In particular, the adapter can be attached to the electricity meter in such a way that the electricity meter engages in the recess and thus electrical cables can be routed from one or more electrical or electronic devices, in particular a smart meter gateway, on the mounting rail to connections on the electricity meter. Electrical cabling between the electricity meter and one or more electrical and electronic devices arranged on the mounting rail, in particular a smart meter gateway, can thus be carried out in the interior of the housing box, so that electrical cables of a wiring system are protected from the outside via the housing box.

[0022] In one embodiment, the housing box forms a housing contour that delimits the housing box along a depth direction perpendicular to the transverse direction and the height direction, wherein the support rail is arranged at a distance from the housing contour and a space is released between the housing contour and the support rail for electrically connecting the electricity meter to the at least one electrical or electronic device arranged on the support rail. In a properly installed position, the housing box with the housing contour can face, for example, a wall of an installation space, in particular a wall of a switch cabinet or a building wall. The support rail is arranged at a distance from the housing contour, viewed along the depth direction, such that a space is released between the housing contour and the support rail.In the space between the housing contour and the mounting rail, cabling can be installed between one or more electrical and electronic devices, such as a smart meter gateway, on the mounting rail and the electricity meter. If the adapter is accessed from the front, for example, after removing a housing cover, the electrical or electronic devices located on the mounting rail, such as the smart meter gateway, are accessible. The cabling is installed in a remote, rear compartment of the adapter with the associated electricity meter, thus ensuring that the cabling is at least not completely exposed to the front.

[0023] In one embodiment, the support rail comprises a rail body and edge sections formed on the rail body and projecting outward from the rail body. The support rail can be designed, in particular, as a top-hat rail with outwardly projecting edge sections. In particular, the cross-sectional shape of the support rail can correspond to a so-called standard profile support rail. However, the support rail is formed integrally and in one piece with the housing box and is thus made of the same material as the housing box, for example, a plastic material.

[0024] In one embodiment, the support rail extends longitudinally along a longitudinal axis, with the edge sections each having a wedge shape in a cross-sectional plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The edge sections extend along opposite edges of the support rail and point outwardly away from each other. The edge sections each taper outwardly in the cross-sectional plane, with the wedge surfaces of the edge sections defining an angle of between 10° and 30°, for example, between 15° and 25°, to each other.

[0025] In one embodiment, the support rail has a stiffening structure formed by an arrangement of stiffening ribs. The support rail is formed integrally with the housing box. The support rail can be lightweight and formed from the material of the housing box. By forming a stiffening structure on the support rail, for example, a cross-shaped arrangement of stiffening ribs, the support rail is stiffened along its length and thus has sufficient load-bearing capacity to support a specified number of electrical or electronic devices, in particular a smart meter gateway.

[0026] In one embodiment, the housing box has at least one breakout point for creating a housing recess. In its initial form, the housing box can be closed along its outer walls (except, for example, for a recess in the area of ​​the interface for connection to the electricity meter). One or more breakout points can be formed as predetermined breaking points on the housing box in order to create a housing recess in the housing box by breaking out a breakout point during installation, through which, for example, electrical cables can be introduced into the housing box.

[0027] A respective breakout point can, for example, be formed by a material weakening on the respective associated wall, so that a breakout of an area of ​​the wall at the breakout point is made easier.

[0028] A domestic installation device preferably comprises an adapter of the type described above and an electricity meter connected to the adapter. Furthermore, the domestic installation device can, for example, comprise a smart meter gateway, which is arranged on the mounting rail and thus connected to the electricity meter via the adapter.

[0029] The concept underlying the invention will be explained in more detail below using the exemplary embodiment shown in the figures. Fig. 1 a view of an embodiment of an adapter; Fig. 2 another view of the adapter; Fig. 3 a rear view of the adapter; Fig. 4 a front view of the adapter; Fig. 5 a side view of the adapter; Fig. 6 a sectional view along the line AA according to Fig. 4; Fig. 7 an enlarged view in section B according to Fig. 6; Fig. 8 an enlarged view in section C according to Fig. 6; Fig. 10 a side view of the adapter together with a housing cover; and Fig. 11 another view of the adapter together with the housing cover.

[0030] Fig. 1 to 8 show views of an embodiment of an adapter 1 which, together with an electricity meter 2, as shown Fig. 9 and Fig. 10, can be installed on a building wall 4 as part of a domestic installation.

[0031] The adapter 1 comprises a housing box 10 formed integrally and in one piece with a support rail 11. The housing box 10 is defined by side walls 105, between which the support rail 11 extends, an upper transverse wall 106, and a lower transverse wall 107, and forms a rectangular box shape. The side walls 105 are spaced apart from one another along a transverse direction Q. The transverse walls 106, 107, in contrast, are spaced apart from one another along a height direction H.

[0032] When installed as intended, a rear housing contour 108 of the housing box 10, with respect to a depth direction T, faces a wall 4 of an installation area, for example a control cabinet or a building wall, wherein a housing cover 14 for closing the adapter 1 to the outside is to be mounted on a front side facing away from the housing contour 108, as can be seen from Fig. 10 and Fig. 11 can be seen.

[0033] The support rail 11 is formed between the opposing side walls 105 of the adapter 1 and is formed integrally with the side walls 105. The support rail 11 is designed as a top-hat rail and forms a rail body 110 and outwardly projecting edge sections 111 formed laterally on the rail body 110, which taper outwards in a wedge shape in cross-section along a cross-sectional plane spanned by the depth direction T and the height direction H, as can be seen from the sectional views according to Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 is evident.

[0034] With the edge sections 111, the support rail 11 can in particular form a standard profile support rail for attaching electrical or electronic devices, in particular a smart meter gateway.

[0035] In order to provide sufficient rigidity on the support rail 11, a stiffening structure 112 in the form of stiffening ribs arranged crosswise to one another is formed on the rear side of the support rail 11, i.e. on a side facing the housing contour 8, as can be seen from Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 is evident.

[0036] When installed as intended in a building, the upper transverse wall 106 points upwards along the height direction H. An interface with a recess 101 is formed on the transverse wall 106, via which the electricity meter 2 can be connected to the adapter 1. In the mounted position, the electricity meter 2 engages via the recess 101 into an interior space 100 enclosed by the housing box 10 and can be wired within the interior space 100 to electrical and electronic devices arranged on the mounting rail 11, in particular a smart meter gateway.

[0037] The support rail 11 is, as can be seen from Fig. 2, is arranged at a distance from the rear housing contour 108 of the housing box 10, so that a space is released between the housing contour 108 and the mounting rail 11 and thus cabling between electrical and electronic devices arranged on the mounting rail 11, in particular a smart meter gateway, and the electricity meter 2 can be established in an area rear of the mounting rail 11. While the adapter 1 is accessible from the front after removing the housing cover 14 when installed as intended, cabling is thus established in an area behind the mounting rail 11 and thus behind electrical and electronic devices on the adapter 1.

[0038] Reinforcing walls 12, 13 are formed within the housing box 10, which extend flatly along a plane spanned by the transverse direction Q and the vertical direction H and reinforce the housing box 10 to increase the load-bearing capacity. The reinforcing walls 12, 13 each have a U-shape in the plane spanned by the transverse direction Q and the vertical direction H (see in particular Fig. 3 and Fig. 4), wherein the base of each U-shape extends along a respective associated transverse wall 106, 107 and legs of the U-shape extend inside the opposite side walls 105.

[0039] The reinforcing walls 12, 13 are formed integrally and in one piece with the housing box 10. In order to provide sufficient rigidity to the reinforcing walls 12, 13, stiffening structures 121, 131 in the form of crosswise arranged stiffening ribs are formed on the reinforcing walls 12, 13, as can be seen from Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 is evident.

[0040] A fastening point 120, 130 is formed on each of the reinforcing walls 12, 13 for attaching the housing cover 14 to the housing box 10. The housing cover 14 can be screwed to the housing box 10 via the fastening points 120, 130.

[0041] As can be seen from the enlarged view according to Fig. 8 in conjunction with Fig. As can be seen in Figure 6, threaded inserts 122 are joined to the reinforcing walls 12, 13 of the housing box 10 in the area of ​​the fastening points 120, 130, for example, overmolded with the material of the housing box 10. Screws can be screwed into the threaded inserts 122 of the fastening points 120, 130 to connect the housing cover 14 to the adapter 10.

[0042] On the front side facing away from the housing contour 108, the housing box 10 forms a standard contour so that a housing cover 14 according to the VDE-FNN standard can be arranged on the adapter 10 and connected to the adapter 10.

[0043] Screw points 123 are formed on the reinforcement wall 12 for screwing the adapter 1 to an associated electricity meter 2. When installed as intended, the adapter 1 is firmly connected to an associated electricity meter 2.

[0044] On the side walls 105 and the (lower) transverse wall 107, a breakout point 102, 103, 104 is formed, which, as a predetermined breaking point in the form of a material weakening on the wall 105, 107, enables a portion of the respective wall 105, 107 to be broken out in order to create a recess in the respective wall 105, 107. Such a breakout can, for example, enable the insertion of electrical cables into the interior of the housing box 10.

[0045] Fig.Figure 9 shows a schematic view of the adapter 1 together with an electricity meter 2 and an arrangement of electrical and electronic devices 3, in particular a smart meter gateway, on the mounting rail 11. A communication interface can be provided via an electronic device forming a smart meter gateway, enabling communication within an intelligent metering system. A smart meter gateway can be used to collect and process measurement data within a home area network (HAN). The data can be accessed externally via a wide area network (WAN), with the smart meter gateway providing encryption for the required data security.

[0046] A smart meter gateway, in particular, allows energy providers to read consumption data, eliminating the need to read the electricity meter on-site. Consumers can also access data generated within their home network in a transparent manner.

[0047] The idea underlying the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but can also be implemented in other ways.

[0048] The adapter can be used to connect one or more electrical or electronic devices to an electricity meter. The adapter can advantageously be used with a smart meter gateway, but is not limited to this.

[0049] The adapter can be manufactured particularly cost-effectively as a plastic molded part using plastic injection molding.

[0050] The adapter enables a uniform installation of an electricity meter in conjunction with, for example, a smart meter gateway, thus simplifying installation. List of reference symbols 1 adapter 10 housing box 100 interior 101 Interface (recess) 102-104 outbreak 105 side walls 106 Transverse wall 107 Transverse wall 108 Housing contour 11 Support rail 110 rail bodies 111 edge 112 Stiffening structure (stiffening ribs) 12 Reinforcing wall 120 attachment point 121 Reinforcement structure 122 threaded insert 123 screw point 13 Reinforcing wall 130 attachment point 131 Reinforcement structure 14 Cover element 2 Electricity meter device 3 Electrical or electronic functional unit 4 Building wall 30, 31 Electrical cable α angle L Longitudinal axis H Altitude direction Q transverse direction T Depth direction QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] EP 2 264 845 B1

[0005]

Claims

[1] Adapter (1) for an electricity meter (2) of a domestic installation, with a housing box (10) which encloses an interior space (100) and forms an interface (101) for connection to the electricity meter (2), and a support rail (11) for supporting at least one electrical or electronic device (3), characterized by that the support rail (11) is formed integrally with the housing box (10). [2] Adapter (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the housing box (10) has a box shape in a cross-sectional plane spanned by a transverse direction (Q) and a height direction (H). [3] Adapter (1) according to claim 2, characterized by that the housing box (10) forms two side walls (105), wherein the support rail (11) extends along the transverse direction (Q) between the side walls (105) and is formed integrally with the side walls (105). [4] Adapter (1) according to claim 3, characterized by that the housing box (10) has at least one reinforcing wall (12, 13) extending between the side walls (105). [5] Adapter (1) according to claim 4, characterized by that the at least one reinforcing wall (12, 13) extends flatly along a plane spanned by the transverse direction (Q) and the height direction (H). [6] Adapter (1) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized by that the at least one reinforcing wall (12, 13), viewed along the plane spanned by the transverse direction (Q) and the height direction (H), has a U-shape. [7] Adapter (1) according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized by that the at least one reinforcing wall (12, 13) has a stiffening structure (121, 131) formed by an arrangement of stiffening ribs [8] Adapter (1) according to one of claims 4 to 7, characterized bythat the at least one reinforcing wall (12, 13) has at least one fastening point (120, 130) for connection to a housing cover (14). [9] Adapter (1) according to one of claims 4 to 8, characterized by that the at least one reinforcing wall (12, 13) has at least one screw point for screwing to the electricity meter (2). [10] Adapter (1) according to one of claims 3 to 9, characterized by that the housing box (10) has a transverse wall (106) extending between the side walls (105), wherein the interface (101) has a recess formed on the transverse wall (106) for connection to the electricity meter (2). [11] Adapter (1) according to one of claims 2 to 10, characterized byin that the housing box (10) forms a housing contour (108) which delimits the housing box (10) along a depth direction (T) perpendicular to the transverse direction (Q) and the height direction (H), wherein the support rail (11) is arranged at a distance from the housing contour (108) and a space is released between the housing contour (108) and the support rail (11) for electrically connecting the electricity meter (2) to the at least one electrical or electronic device (3) arranged on the support rail (11). [12] Adapter (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the support rail (10) has a rail body (110) and edge sections (111) formed on the rail body (110) and projecting outwards from the rail body (110). [13] Adapter (1) according to claim 12, characterized bythat the support rail (11) extends longitudinally along a longitudinal axis (L), wherein the edge sections (111) each have a wedge shape in a cross-sectional plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (L). [14] Adapter (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the support rail (11) has a stiffening structure (112) formed by an arrangement of stiffening ribs. [15] Adapter (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the housing box (10) has at least one breakout point (102,-104) for creating a housing recess. [16] Domestic installation device, comprising an adapter (1) according to one of the preceding claims and an electricity meter (2) connected to the adapter (1). [17] Domestic installation device according to claim 16, characterized by that a Smart Meter Gateway is arranged on the mounting rail (11).

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