Electrical module for connecting to a mounting rail and contacting element therefor

Abstract

An electrical module (50) for connecting to a mounting rail comprises a contacting element (10) which can be inserted into the mounting rail profile (60) and which has connection contacts designed to be seated against lines of the bus bar when the contacting element (10) is inserted into the mounting rail profile (60). The contacting element (10) has an additional mechanical locking part (40), which is disposed as a separate component on a main body (15) of the contacting element (10) and which rotates with said main body. The locking part (40) effects mechanical locking between the mounting rail profile (60) and the support element (30) when the contacting element (10) is in the contacting position, and the additional locking part (40) is disposed as an insert part between the main body (15) and the contact holding body (20).

Description

[0001] Electrical module for connection to a mounting rail and contacting element for this

[0002] The present invention relates to an electrical module, which can be designed, for example, as a luminaire and is intended to be coupled to a mounting rail. The mounting rail has a mounting rail profile with two side walls and at least one busbar arranged in the mounting rail profile with contactable lines. Similarly, the module according to the invention can also be a camera or a sensor unit, or generally a unit intended for use in a strip lighting system and for arrangement on a correspondingly designed mounting rail.

[0003] Support rails with a support rail profile and a busbar held in the support rail profile are known from the prior art and are used, for example, to create elongated so-called continuous lighting systems. One known continuous lighting system is marketed by the applicant under the name 'TECTON' and is characterized by the fact that luminaires or other electrical consumers can be flexibly positioned on the support rail along the entire length of the system. This is made possible by the fact that, thanks to a special mounting of the busbar cables, they are accessible to the consumers along essentially the entire length of the continuous lighting system, so that contact with the cables can be made not only at fixed positions, but at any location. WO 2001 / 091250 A1, for example, shows such a continuous lighting system.

[0004] In the “TECTON” system mentioned above, two busbars are arranged opposite each other on the two side walls of a downwardly open, U-shaped support rail profile. The contacting of the busbar cables is then achieved by the luminaire or load having a rotatable contact element, which is inserted into the support rail from below and then rotated by approximately 45°. The contacts arranged on the contact element are designed in such a way that they are pivoted out laterally when rotated and ultimately contact the busbar cables in the rotated state. In addition to the electrical contacts, locking projections are also pivoted out laterally, with the help of which a mechanical attachment of the contact element to the support rail is achieved. A carrier element is also coupled to the contact element, to which, for example,in the case of a luminaire, the lamps and, if applicable, other electronic components for operating the lamps are installed.

[0005] Such contacting elements in the form of so-called rotary taps have proven themselves in practice many times and enable easy mounting of an electrical module on a mounting rail. Numerous further developments have been proposed to optimize the functionality of these contacting elements. For example, locking mechanisms are known from the prior art that prevent accidental rotation of the contacting element, which on the one hand facilitates the transport of the electrical module and on the other hand ensures that it cannot independently detach from its mechanical anchorage on the mounting rail profile. Furthermore, it is known to provide various sealing measures to ensure that the handles or levers required to operate the contacting element do not impair the sealing of the ultimately implemented lighting system.Finally, it is known to design the rotary taps and the mounting rail profile in such a way that the contacting element can only be arranged in the mounting rail in one correct orientation.

[0006] The contacting elements known from the prior art are usually made entirely of plastic. This also applies to the locking projections provided for mechanical attachment to the mounting rail, which are usually formed on the same body that holds the contacts. This is because this is a relatively complex component, primarily manufactured using injection molding. The component supporting the contacts must also be made of an insulating material, which is why the use of plastic is recommended.

[0007] However, the fact that the components responsible for the mechanical attachment to the mounting rail are also made of plastic means that the weight of the unit to be connected to the mounting rail cannot be too great in order to ensure permanent and secure attachment to the mounting rail. It would indeed be possible to form these locking projections from a more stable material, such as metal. However, the use of different materials for one component would significantly increase the effort required to manufacture the contacting element, which in turn would result in higher manufacturing costs. DE 103 19 510 A1 therefore discloses a solution in which the rotary tap is coupled to an additional mounting bracket which is mounted laterally to the rotary tap and is rotatably mounted on the support element of a luminaire to be connected to a mounting rail.The coupling between the two components—the rotary tap and the mounting bracket—is such that when the rotary tap is pivoted outward, the additional bracket also pivots outward so that, like the locking elements of the rotary tap, it engages behind projections in the mounting rail. This allows for a greater overall weight to be supported.

[0008] However, this solution also has some disadvantages, as the additional bracket must be attached separately to the support element and secured there in a rotationally movable manner. For example, it is planned to rivet this additional bracket onto the support element, which leads to increased manufacturing costs. Nevertheless, the support element is then only held by the rivet, and the force flow is offset from the actual rotary tap.

[0009] The present invention is therefore based on the object of offering an alternative possibility to optimize the fastening of electrical modules to a mounting rail in a simple manner.

[0010] The object is achieved by an electrical module for connection to a mounting rail, which has the features of claim 1, and by a contacting element for an electrical module according to claim 11. Advantageous developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0011] The solution according to the invention is also based on the idea of ​​using a further element in addition to the contact holder body with the locking projections, which improves the mechanical fastening of the electrical module to the support rail and, in particular, allows even modules with a greater weight to be held securely. In contrast to the solution described above, however, the invention provides that the additional mechanical locking part is not arranged laterally offset from the rotary tap on the support element of the electrical module, but is carried by a base body of the rotary tap itself and rotates with it. The additional locking part is then also designed such that it effects a mechanical locking between the support rail and the support element when the contacting element is in the contacting position.

[0012] According to the present invention, an electrical module for connection to a mounting rail, which has a mounting rail profile with two side walls and at least one busbar, which is arranged on one of the two inner sides of the side walls of the mounting rail profile and provides electrically contactable lines, is proposed,

[0013] • wherein the electrical module comprises a contacting element which can be inserted into the mounting rail profile and has connecting contacts which are intended to come into contact with conductors of the busbar when the contacting element is inserted into the mounting rail profile,

[0014] • wherein the contacting element is mounted so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis relative to a carrier element of the electrical module between an open position, in which insertion and removal of the contacting element from the support rail profile is possible, and a contacting position, in which the connection contacts contact lines of the busbar,

[0015] • and wherein the contacting element has a base body rotatably received in the carrier element of the electrical module and a contact holding body which holds the connection contacts and is arranged on the base body and rotates with it, wherein according to the invention the contacting element has an additional mechanical locking part which is arranged as a separate component on the base body and rotates with it, and wherein the locking part effects a mechanical locking between the support rail and the carrier element in the contacting position of the contacting element.

[0016] Furthermore, according to the present invention, a contacting element for an electrical module for connection to a mounting rail is proposed, which has a mounting rail profile with two side walls and at least one busbar, which is arranged on one of the two inner sides of the side walls of the mounting rail profile and provides electrically contactable lines,

[0017] • wherein the contacting element can be inserted into the mounting rail profile and has connecting contacts which are intended to come into contact with lines of the busbar when the contacting element is inserted into the mounting rail profile, • wherein the contacting element is mounted so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation relative to a carrier element of the electrical module between an open position in which insertion and removal of the contacting element from the mounting rail profile is possible, and a contacting position in which the connecting contacts contact lines of the busbar,

[0018] • and wherein the contacting element has a base body rotatably received in the carrier element of the electrical module and a contact holding body which holds the connection contacts and is arranged on the base body and rotates with it, wherein according to the invention the contacting element has an additional mechanical locking part which is arranged as a separate component on the base body and rotates with it, and wherein the locking part effects a mechanical locking between the support rail and the carrier element in the contacting position of the contacting element.

[0019] According to the invention, the additional locking part is arranged directly on the rotary tap, which has the advantage that the force for mechanically locking the electrical module to the mounting rail is also absorbed directly at the rotary tap itself. A further advantage is that no additional space is required to the side of the rotary tap for another mechanical locking part, allowing other components of the electrical module to be arranged on the support element in this area.

[0020] The inventive concept is preferably designed such that the improved mechanical fastening to the mounting rail can be retrofitted if necessary. For this purpose, the additional locking part is arranged as an insert between the base body and the contact holder body. The contacting element can thus be essentially retained in its original design, with the additional locking part only needing to be inserted when necessary to achieve optimized mechanical fastening to the mounting rail.

[0021] It is preferably provided that the additional locking part is made of a different material than the base body and the contact holder body, in particular of a more stable material, with the additional locking part particularly preferably being designed as a sheet metal part or metal part. Implementation in the form of a plastic part made of a particularly stable plastic would of course also be conceivable.

[0022] Locking with the aid of the additional locking part is preferably achieved in that it has two outward-facing arms, which, in the contacting position of the contacting element, effect the mechanical locking between the support rails and the support element. In particular, it can be provided that end regions of the two arms each engage behind both the support rail and the support element, with the end regions particularly preferably being C-shaped and engaging behind the support rail from above on one side and the support element from below on the other. This enables particularly stable fastening of even very heavy electrical modules or luminaires to a support rail.

[0023] A particularly advantageous development of the solution according to the invention can further consist in designing the contacting element in such a way that it is prevented from being rotated too early when inserted into the mounting rail, which would prevent individual contacts from accidentally contacting the wrong conductors of the busbar(s). The contact holder body of the contacting element is mounted adjustable relative to the base body along the rotational axis of the contacting element, namely between

[0024] • a locking position in which rotation of the contact element is blocked, and

[0025] • a release position in which rotation of the contacting element is possible, wherein the contact holding body is preferably elastically prestressed into the locking position and particularly preferably the contacting element has a spring, in particular a disc spring or a spiral spring, which is effective between the base body and the contact holding body.

[0026] The contact holder body preferably has contact surfaces designed to interact with the mounting rail profile such that the contact holder body is moved toward the release position upon insertion of the contacting element into the mounting rail profile. Preferably, the release position is only reached when the electrical module is fully seated against the mounting rail. During the connection of the electrical module to the mounting rail, the contact holder body is moved from the locked position toward the release position by corresponding interaction with the mounting rail profile, counter to the preferably present spring force. This position is only reached when the module is in the appropriate position.

[0027] In this case, it can preferably also be provided that the contact holder body has blocking elements which, in the locked position of the contact holder body, interact with the carrier element in such a way that rotation of the contacting element is blocked. In the release position of the contact holder body, however, these blocking elements then engage in recesses or undercuts in the carrier element in such a way that rotation of the contacting element is now possible. Ultimately, the additional security according to the invention when connecting an electrical module to a support rail can therefore be achieved by a special mounting and design of the contact holder body, which then interacts accordingly with the support rail on the one hand and with the carrier element on the other.

[0028] Preferably, the base body has an actuating element or is coupled to a corresponding actuating element, which enables easy rotation of the base body and thus of the contacting element. In particular, the actuating element can have a handle part that projects laterally beyond the support element of the electrical module and can thus be easily actuated during connection of the electrical module. The handle part can be connected or coupled to the base body, for example, via an elastic arm, in which case it is possible to implement an additional locking mechanism that ensures that, when connected to the mounting rail, the contacting element can no longer be easily rotated and thus unintentionally detached from the mounting rail.

[0029] Overall, the solution according to the invention provides a simple way to optimize the mechanical fastening of electrical modules to a mounting rail. A particular advantage of the solution is that it can be easily retrofitted and is therefore only used in cases where heavier electrical modules actually need to be fastened to a mounting rail, whereby an adaptation or modification of the original contact element is not necessary. The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. They show:

[0030] Figures 1 and 2 show exploded views of an electrical module according to the invention with a corresponding contacting element;

[0031] Figures 3a to 3c show various views of the additional locking part according to the invention;

[0032] Figures 4a to 4d are views of the electrical module in a state in which the contact holding body is in the locking position;

[0033] Figures 5a to 5d show further views of the electrical module, with the contact holder body now in the release position and the contacting element assuming the contacting position;

[0034] Figure 6 is a sectional view of an electrical module connected to a mounting rail, with the contacting element in the contacting position; and

[0035] Figures 7 and 8 show views of an electrical module with a contacting element according to the prior art.

[0036] As already mentioned, the present invention represents, for example, a further development of the known “TECTON” system. Before the solution according to the invention is described in more detail, the basic design of such a support rail system will therefore first be explained below with reference to Figures 7 and 8.

[0037] Figure 7 shows a view of the support rail in which the busbars are arranged, which are contacted by an electrical module - in this case a light. Figure 8, in turn, shows the design of a spit to be connected to this support rail system with a contacting element provided for this purpose. It can be seen here first of all that the known support rail system 100 uses an elongated support profile rail 101 with a U-shaped cross-section and an opening at the bottom, which, with its two side walls 102 and 103 and the upper connecting wall 104, delimits an elongated receiving space that is accessible from the underside via an elongated coupling opening. In the case shown, a so-called busbar 120 or 130 is arranged on the inner sides of both side walls 102, 103, each of which has a plurality of wires or conductors running in the longitudinal direction.Conductors 121, 131 arranged in elongated channels or grooves of a cable support structure 125, 135 made of an insulating material. The channels ensure secure storage of the conductors 121, 131 such that they cannot be accidentally touched. At the same time, however, the channels are each open toward the interior of the support profile rail 101, thus enabling contact between the conductors 121, 131.

[0038] A luminaire 140 to be connected to this support rail system 100 then has at least one rotatably mounted contacting or tapping element 145, as can be seen in particular in Figure 8, which is arranged on an elongated support element 142 of the luminaire 140. To connect the luminaire 140, it is attached to the elongated support rail 101 from the underside, whereby the contacting element 145 is inserted into the support rail 101 via the elongated coupling opening and is then rotated by approximately 45°. Contacts 146 arranged on the contacting element 145 are designed such that they are pivoted laterally by the rotation and then - as can be seen in particular in Figure 7 - engage in the receiving channels of the two busbars 120, 130 in order to contact the corresponding conductors 121, 131.

[0039] In the illustrated case, contacts 146 are arranged on both sides of the contacting element 145 in order to contact the busbars 120, 130 positioned on both side walls 102, 103 of the support profile rail 101. Because the contacts 146, with an associated contact holder part and the connected (not visible) cable, can be moved vertically with respect to a contact holder body 148 of the tapping element 145, they can be arranged according to the position of a desired conductor 121, 131 in order to then contact this corresponding conductor as desired. This provides the option of selecting the phase and the neutral conductor for the power supply. Depending on the number of conductors provided by the busbars 120, 130, these can also be used for other purposes, such as communication.This makes it possible to combine the luminaire units connected to the support profile rail 101 into a larger light strip system and to control the luminaires centrally from a central control unit.

[0040] Rotating the contacting element 145 to pivot the contacts 146 outward also causes locking or latching projections 149 arranged on the contact holder body 148 to pivot outward laterally. These latching projections 149 are also designed such that they do not initially hinder insertion of the contacting element 145 into the support profile rail 101. However, if the contacting element 145 is then in the rotated contacting position, these latching projections 149 also protrude outward and, in particular, overlap the inward-facing lower profile regions 105 of the support profile rail 101, thereby providing a mechanical fastening of the luminaire 140.

[0041] As a rule, these locking projections 149 represent the only components by means of which the luminaire 140 is held to the support rail profile 101. For longer luminaires, it is therefore often customary to use two corresponding rotary taps 145 purely for stability reasons, with only one of them also being used for contacting the busbars 129, 139.

[0042] In addition to the luminaire units shown in the figures, other electrical units can also be connected to the trunking system. Sensors such as presence or brightness sensors that support automated operation of the lighting system are particularly suitable. Units that enable communication or data transmission for other purposes independent of the lighting control system could also be considered useful units to be connected to the trunking system. Finally, a wide variety of luminaire types are also conceivable, which can be connected together to the trunking rail and thus fulfill different lighting technology tasks.

[0043] Compared to this previously known contacting element, the present invention provides additional mechanical security, ensuring that even electrical modules with a higher weight can be securely and reliably attached to the mounting rail. The particularly preferred embodiment discussed in more detail below also includes measures that further ensure that the contacting element can only be rotated once it has been fully inserted into the mounting rail, thus preventing the wrong lines on a busbar from being accidentally contacted. However, it would also be conceivable to implement the additional mechanical fastening according to the invention independently of this further security mechanism.

[0044] Figures 1 and 2 show a sectional view and a perspective view of an electrical module 50 according to the invention, which, like the luminaire explained with reference to Figures 7 and 8, has a support element 30 and a contacting element 10. The other components of the electrical module 30, which can be, for example, a luminaire to be connected to a support rail system, are not shown in the illustrations for reasons of clarity. Depending on the type of module 50, this will therefore, for example, have suitable lighting means and associated components for operating the lighting means or, for example, a sensor and / or corresponding means for communication. As mentioned above, this can be a module that can be used in a variety of ways within the framework of an elongated lighting strip system.

[0045] The support element 30 itself is designed in the form of an elongated profile part, which is attached to the support rail profile and locked to it in the manner shown in more detail below. In the illustrated case, the support element 30 is a correspondingly formed elongated sheet metal part, which then supports the other components of the module 50. It is also known from the prior art to use a circuit board used to support LEDs directly as a support element and then deform it accordingly. This would, of course, also be conceivable within the scope of the present invention.

[0046] As shown, the support element 30 has a horizontal transverse web 31, which is bounded on both longitudinal sides by corresponding lateral regions 32 and 33. These lateral regions 32, 33, together with the transverse web 31, form a receiving region 5 extending in the longitudinal direction of the support element 30, which in particular serves to receive at least the lower part of the contacting element 10. In particular, this contacting element 10—as explained in more detail below—is received in the receiving region 5 in such a way that it can be rotated relative to a vertically extending axis I, specifically between an open position on the one hand and a contacting position on the other.

[0047] In the illustrated embodiment, however, this twisting of the contacting element 10 can only be carried out under certain conditions.

[0048] For this purpose, the contacting element 10 is formed essentially from two components, on the one hand, a base body 15 and, on the other hand, a contact-holding body 20. Both components 15, 20 are coupled to one another in such a way that they can only be rotated together relative to the axis I. They therefore have a fixed relationship to one another with respect to this axis I.

[0049] It is provided that a relative displacement can occur between the base body 15 and the contact holder body 20 along the rotation axis I, as shown by the double arrow. This opens up the possibility of moving the contact holder body 20 in the direction of the rotation axis I into various positions, which then optionally enable or prevent rotation of the contacting element 10 as a whole.

[0050] With the aid of a spiral spring 19 arranged between the base body 15 and the contact holder body 20 and supported on both elements, it is initially ensured that, in the unloaded state, the contact holder body 20 is pressed into a position remote from the base body 15, which represents a so-called locking position in which the contacting element 10 cannot be rotated. However, if the contact holder body 20 is moved toward the base body 15, from a certain point onward it is in a position in which the contacting element 10 can be rotated into the contacting position, which will be explained in more detail later.

[0051] According to the present invention, the fastening of the electrical module 50 to the support rail is further supported with the aid of an additional locking part 40, which is shown in isolation in Figures 3a to 3c, when the contacting element 10 is in the contacting position. This locking part 40 is preferably a metal part, for example a sheet metal or die-cast aluminum part, although production from a plastic material, in particular a plastic material that is more stable than the material for the contact holder body 20, would also be conceivable. As the figures show, the locking part 40 initially has a central region 41 with a circular opening 42. This opening 42 can be used to place the locking part 40 onto an upwardly projecting pin 14 of the base body 15 and to mount the locking part 40 in a defined manner thereon.As Figures 1 and 2 particularly illustrate, the locking part represents an insert that is inserted between the base body 15 and the contact holder body 20 or the spring 19. This opens up the possibility of retrofitting the contacting element 10 only when necessary, while possibly omitting the locking part 40 in the case of lighter electrical modules.

[0052] Two arms 43 extend outward from the central region 41 and engage in corresponding recesses in the base body 15. This means that when the base body 15, and thus the contacting element as a whole, is rotated, the locking part 40 is also rotated. Like the contact holder body 20, the locking part 40 has a fixed relationship to the base body 15. Corresponding projections or webs 46, 47 are located at the end regions 45 of the arms 43, which provide additional mechanical fastening when the locking part 40 is pivoted out.

[0053] However, pivoting out of the locking part 40 together with the contacts of the contact holder body 20 is only possible when the contacting element 10 has been completely inserted into the support rail, which can be seen from the further figures 4 to 6.

[0054] Figures 4a to 4d show the electrical module in different views, in particular the carrier element 30 with the contacting element 10 arranged thereon, wherein the latter is in the open position and in particular is not inserted into a support rail, i.e., in the case shown, the contact holder body 20 is in the above-mentioned locking position further away from the base body 15.

[0055] In the open position of Figures 4a-4d, the contact holder body 20 is also in a rotational position in which, for example, wing-like locking elements 22 projecting laterally from the contact holder body 20 are aligned in such a way (see in particular the top view in Figure 4c) that they - for example in contrast to the illustration according to Figure 1 - do not project laterally, in particular do not project beyond the upwardly extended receiving area 5 of the carrier element 30.Contact elements provided on the contact holder body 20, not shown in the figures, as well as the lateral arms 43 of the locking part 40 are pivoted in such a way due to the rotational position of the contacting element 10 that the contacting element 10 can be easily inserted into the elongated receiving space of a mounting rail profile from the underside, and neither the contacts nor the locking elements 22 and the locking part 40 collide with the mounting rail profile. In this open position, the electrical module can be attached to or removed from the mounting rail, as is also the case with the known contacting elements.

[0056] A special feature of the preferred embodiment shown is that, due to the action of the spring 19, the contact holding body 20 is now also in an elevated position relative to the base body 15 and thus also to the carrier element 30, this representing the already mentioned locking position in which rotation of the contacting element 10 is not possible.

[0057] Responsible for this are blocking elements 25 and 26 provided in the lower region of the contact holder body. These blocking elements are formed by corresponding protrusions and, in the locking position, are located at the level of inwardly projecting projections 32a and 33a of the side wall regions 32 and 33 of the carrier element, respectively. The distance between these two inwardly facing projections 32a and 33a is dimensioned with regard to the dimensions of the blocking elements 25, 26 of the contact holder body 20 such that they only fit between the two projections 32a, 33a when the contact holder body 20 or the contacting element 10 as a whole is in the rotated open position.However, pivoting out from this open position into a contacting position is not possible in this state, since the blocking elements 25, 26 already rest on the inner sides of the projections 32a and 33a and accordingly cannot be pivoted out any further.

[0058] Only when the contact holder body 20 is pressed downward relative to the base body 15 does the two blocking elements 25 and 26 move further downward, such that they are now located at the level of undercuts 32b and 33b of the side wall regions 32, 33 of the carrier element 30. These undercuts or recesses 32b and 33b then enable the rotation of the contacting element 10 about the axis I, since the blocking elements 25 and 26 can now engage in these recesses 32b, 33b.

[0059] This can be seen in particular from the sectional view of Figure 5a, in which the contact holding body 20 is in a lower position, the release position, compared to the view according to Figure 4a, and now in the pivoted state (the contacting element 10 is therefore already in the contacting position in the views) the blocking elements 25 and 26 engage in the previously mentioned undercuts 32b, 33b of the carrier element 30.

[0060] The pressing down of the contact holder body 20 into the release position should occur as automatically as possible when the electrical module 50 is attached to a support rail, such that the release position is reached the moment the electrical module 50 has been fully attached to the support rail. For this purpose, the contact holder body 20 designed according to the invention has additional lateral contact surfaces 27 and 28, which in turn protrude laterally opposite one another, but are offset with respect to the rotation axis I compared to the locking wings 22 and the blocking elements 25 and 26. In particular, these contact surfaces 27 and 28 point outwards when the contacting element 10 is in a rotational position that corresponds to the open position.

[0061] If, in this state, the electrical module 50 is placed from the bottom side onto a U-shaped mounting rail, these contact surfaces 27 and 28 come into contact with inwardly projecting projections 67 and 68 (see Figure 5) of the mounting rail profile 60. If the electrical module 10 is now pressed further against the mounting rail 60, this causes the contact holder body 20 to move against the spring force in the direction of the carrier element 30 until it is in the lower release position when the electrical module 50 is fully attached to the mounting rail 60. If, in this state, the contacting element 10 is rotated from the open position into the contacting position, the contacts arranged on the contact holder body 20 then pivot out in the previously known manner in order to contact the lines of the busbar.

[0062] At the same time, the locking elements 22 also pivot out laterally, whereby they then engage over the upper sides of the corresponding projections 67 and 68 of the support rail profile, so that in addition to the electrical contact, a (first) mechanical locking of the electrical module to the support rail 60 is also achieved.

[0063] In addition, however, according to the invention, the mechanical fastening to the support rail is further improved with the aid of the locking part 40. As can be seen, the end regions 45 of the locking part 40 are designed in a C-shaped manner, with an upper web 46 and a lower web 47. According to the sectional view in Figure 6, in the contacting position of the contacting element 10, the upper webs 46, analogous to the locking elements 22, engage over the inwardly projecting projections 67 and 68 of the support rail profile, while the lower webs 47 engage under the inwardly projecting projections 32a, 33a of the carrier element 30 of the electrical module 50.The C-shaped design of the end regions 45 therefore results in the mechanical locking part 40 engaging the joined combination consisting of the support rail profile 60 and the support element 30 on the sides both from the top side and from the bottom side, which ultimately results in a very reliable and extremely stable fastening of the electrical module 50 to the support rail.

[0064] Furthermore, as the illustrations show, the two webs 46 and 47 are designed to be slightly angled, so that run-on bevels are formed which ensure that when the contacting element is rotated, the two webs 46 and 47 actually engage over or under the aforementioned areas of the support rail 60 and the carrier element 30.

[0065] The pivoting of the contacting element 10 can be accomplished by means of an actuating element 12, which is connected or correspondingly coupled to the base body 15 via a laterally projecting arm 13. This arm 13 extends through a corresponding opening in the side wall region 32 of the support element 30 and is preferably slightly flexible. By appropriately designing the opening of the support element 30 in the form of an integrated ramp, step, or the like, a locking mechanism can be implemented as an additional safety feature, ensuring that the actuating arm and thus also the contacting element 10 as a whole remain in the locking position.

[0066] Connecting the illustrated electrical module according to the invention to a mounting rail is thus as follows: a) In the initial state, the contacting element 10 is in the open position relative to the carrier element 30, in which, due to the rotational position, both the locking elements 22 and the blocking elements 25 and 26 as well as the arms 43 of the locking part are pivoted in. In this unloaded state, the spring force also presses the contact holding body 20 into the upper locking position, in which, due to the above-described interaction between the blocking elements 25 and 26 and the projections 32a, 33a of the side wall regions 32 and 33 of the carrier element 30, the contacting element 10 cannot be rotated.b) If the electrical module is now attached to a mounting rail, the interaction between the mounting rail profile and the contact surfaces 27 and 28 causes the contact holder body 20 to be pressed downward from the locked position toward the carrier element 30, whereby the lower release position is reached when the electrical module has been fully attached to the mounting rail. c) In this state, the blocking elements 25 and 26 are at the level of the recesses 32b and 33b of the side wall regions 32, 33 of the carrier element 30, so that the contacting element 10 can now be rotated by, for example, 45 degrees using the actuating element 12 in order to reach the contacting position.In this contacting position, the conductors of the busbar are contacted by the pivoted-out contacts of the contacting element 10, while the now pivoted-out locking elements 22 engage over corresponding projections of the mounting rail profile. In addition, the C-shaped end regions 45 of the locking part 40 engage over and under the mounting rail profile and the support element, so that the electrical module 50 is particularly securely mechanically attached to the mounting rail.

[0067] It can therefore be seen that, if necessary, the inventive solution can further improve the mechanical fastening of an electrical module to a mounting rail profile. These additional measures also ensure that the contacts can only be pivoted out when the electrical module is in the appropriate position or arrangement relative to the mounting rail, thus preventing incorrect contact with the wrong cables. However, as already mentioned, the inventive solution of using the additional locking element can also be implemented independently of the described measures regarding the additional safety mechanism.In this case, the contact holder body is not mounted so as to be adjustable along the axis of rotation relative to the base body, but is permanently in a position that allows the contacting element to be pivoted from the open position to the contacting position and vice versa.

Claims

Claims 1. Electrical module (50) for connection to a mounting rail, which has a mounting rail profile (60) with two side walls and at least one busbar, which is arranged on one of the two inner sides of the side walls of the mounting rail profile and provides electrically contactable lines, • wherein the electrical module (50) has a contacting element (10) which can be inserted into the mounting rail profile (60) and has connection contacts which are intended to come into contact with conductors of the busbar when the contacting element (10) is inserted into the mounting rail profile (60), • wherein the contacting element (10) is rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation (I) relative to a support element (30) of the electrical module (50) between an open position, in which insertion and removal of the contacting element (10) from the mounting rail profile (60) is possible, and a contacting position, in which the connection contacts contact conductors of the busbar, • and wherein the contacting element (10) has a base body (15) rotatably received in the carrier element (30) of the electrical module (50) and a contact holder body (20) holding the connection contacts, which is arranged on the base body (15) and rotates with it, wherein the contacting element (10) has an additional mechanical has a locking element (40) which is arranged as a separate component on the base body (15) and rotates with it, wherein the locking element (40) is in the contacting position of the The contacting element (10) provides a mechanical locking mechanism between the support rail profile (60) and the support element (30), characterized in that the additional locking part (40) is arranged as an insert between the base body (15) and the contact holder body (20).

2. Electrical module according to claim 1, characterized in that the additional locking part (40) is made of a different material than the base body (15) and / or the contact holder body (20), in particular a more stable material, wherein the additional locking part (40) is preferably designed as a sheet metal part or metal part.

3. Electrical module according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the additional locking part (40) has two outwardly extending arms (43) which, in the contacting position of the contacting element (10), effect the mechanical locking between the support rail profile (60) and the carrier element (30).

4. Electrical module according to claim 3, characterized in that end regions (45) of the two arms / 43) each include both the support rail profile (60) as well as the support element (30), wherein the end areas (45) are preferably C-shaped and engage the support rail profile (60) from above and the support element (30) from below.

5. Electrical module according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact holder body (20) is adjustable along the axis of rotation (I) relative to the base body (15) between a) a locking position in which rotation of the contacting element (10) is blocked, and b) a release position in which rotation of the contacting element (10) is enabled, wherein the contact holder body (20) is preferably elastically pre-tensioned into the locking position and the contacting element particularly preferably has a spring (19), in particular a disc spring or a coil spring, which is effective between the base body (15) and the contact holder body (20).

6. Electrical module according to claim 5, characterized in that the contact holder body has contact surfaces (27, 28) which are designed to interact with the mounting rail profile (60) in such a way that the contact holder body (20) is moved in the direction of the release position when the contacting element (10) is inserted into the mounting rail profile (60), wherein preferably the release position is only reached when the electrical module (50) is in contact with the mounting rail profile (60).

7. Electrical module according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the contact holder body (20) has locking elements (25, 26) which, in the locked position of the contact holder body (20), interact with the carrier element (30) such that rotation of the contacting element (10) is blocked, wherein preferably the locking elements (25, 26) engage in recesses or undercuts (32b, 33b) of the carrier element (30) in the release position of the contact holder body (10) such that rotation of the contacting element (10) is made possible.

8. Electrical module according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact holder body (20) has further locking elements (22) which interact with the mounting rail profile (60) in such a way that the electrical module (50) is secured in the contacting position of the contacting element (10) on the mounting rail.

9. Electrical module according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base body (15) has an actuating element (12) or is coupled to an actuating element (12), wherein the actuating element (12) preferably has a handle part which projects laterally beyond the support element (30), wherein the handle part is particularly preferably connected or coupled to the base body (15) via an elastic or deflectable arm (13). 10, Contacting element (10) for an electrical module (50) for connection to a mounting rail, which has a mounting rail profile (60) with two side walls and at least one busbar, which is arranged on one of the two inner sides of the side walls of the mounting rail profile and provides electrically contactable lines, • wherein the contacting element ( 10) can be inserted into the mounting rail profile (60) and has connection contacts which are intended to be used in a state of insertion into the mounting rail profile (60) contacting element (10) in system to come into contact with conductors of the busbar, • wherein the contacting element (10) is rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation (I) relative to a support element (30) of the electrical module (50) between an open position, in which insertion and removal of the contacting element (10) from the mounting rail profile (60) is possible, and a contacting position, in which the connection contacts contact conductors of the busbar, • and wherein the contacting element (10) has a base body (15) rotatably received in the carrier element (30) of the electrical module (50) and a contact retaining body (20) holding the connection contacts, which is arranged on the base body (15) and rotates with it, characterized in that the contacting element (10) has an additional mechanical locking part (40) which is arranged as a separate component on the base body (15) and rotates with it, wherein the locking part (40) in the contacting position of the contacting element (10) causes a mechanical locking between the support rail profile (60) and the carrier element (30).

11. Contacting element according to claim 10, characterized in that the additional locking part (40) is designed as an insert between the base body (15) and the contact holder body (20).

12. Contacting element according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the additional locking part (40) is made of a different material than the base body (15) and / or the contact retaining body (20), in particular a more stable material, wherein the additional locking part (40) is preferably designed as a sheet metal part or metal part.

13. Contacting element according to one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the additional locking part (40) has two outwardly projecting arms (43) which, in the contacting position of the contacting element (10), mechanical locking between the support rail profile (60) and the support element (30) is effected.

14. Contacting element according to claim 13, characterized in that end regions of the two arms (45) each engage behind both the support rail profile (60) and the support element (30), wherein the end regions (45) are preferably C-shaped and engage behind the support rail profile (60) from above and the support element (30) from below.

15. Contacting element according to one of claims 10 to 14, characterized in that the contact retaining body (20) is adjustable along the axis of rotation (I) relative to the base body (15) between a) a locking position in which rotation of the contacting element (10) is blocked, and b) a release position in which rotation of the contacting element (10) is enabled.

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