Arrangement with a busbar

Abstract

The invention relates to an arrangement with a busbar with a support (CPR) and at least one conductor (CDC) extending along a longitudinal direction (LDR), wherein a tap (CNT) of the arrangement (ARR) is provided on the conductor (CDC), wherein the tap (CNT) has a contact surface (SRF) and the conductor (CDC) has a contact surface (SRF) and these two contact surfaces (SRF) are pressed against each other in a contact plane (PLN) by means of a contact force (PFC) such that an electrically conductive (CDC) contact is established.It is proposed that pressure elements (PRE) of the arrangement (ARR) are arranged on both sides of the contact plane (PLN), which exert the clamping pressure force between the contact surfaces (SRF) from the outside onto the conductor (CDC) and the tap (CNT), and that a web (CTL) extends laterally to the at least one conductor (CDC), on which the pressure elements (PRE) are supported, so that both pressure elements (PRE) introduce the forces from the clamping force (PFC) into the web (CTL).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an arrangement comprising a busbar with a carrier and at least one conductor extending along a longitudinal direction.

[0002] A busbar is an electrical line consisting of one or more conductors mounted on an insulated support, often called a rail. It is used to transport electrical energy from a power source to various consumers, such as in industry, trams, or lighting systems. Busbar is an alternative to conventional cables and is often used for long distances or high currents because it offers greater performance and safety.

[0003] Such busbars are often also referred to as busbars. Sometimes the term "busbar" is also used for a railway rail that conducts electrical current—for example, in EP2718142B1. The invention uses this term with a broader interpretation and is not limited to applications in the field of rail vehicles.

[0004] Busbars offer several advantages over cables when carrying higher currents. A key advantage is the lower electrical resistance of busbars compared to cables. This means that less energy is lost as heat at high currents.

[0005] Busbars can be easily lengthened or shortened to meet different requirements and require minimal insulation as they are mounted on an insulated rail.

[0006] Busbars are often a preferred option for industrial applications because they offer greater operational safety, for example, against fire. The transported energy or currents can be easily tapped and redesigned.

[0007] The structural difference between busbars and cables is that cables consist of one or more conductors surrounded by insulation, while a busbar consists of one or more conductors mounted on an insulated rail—referred to here as a support. Cables can be bent and twisted to fit into tight spaces or around corners, whereas busbars must be installed in straight lines.

[0008] A tap on a busbar is a connection point where an electrical load is connected to the busbar. A tap is used to transport electrical energy from the busbar to a specific load. Taps can be placed at various locations on the busbar, depending on the application requirements. They can be mounted either directly on the busbar or via special connectors. A tap can also serve as a pass-through point or distribution point for multiple loads. The positioning and number of taps are important factors in the design and installation of busbars, as they can affect the maximum current carrying capacity and the distance between loads.

[0009] When connecting conductors in a busbar stack, clearance and creepage distances must be maintained between different potentials to prevent short circuits and flashovers. When connecting busbars of the same potential, a conductive connection must be established by force or material connection.

[0010] Establishing a conductive connection between a conductor and an external tap is traditionally achieved by directly screwing the two conductors together. Penetrating the conductors of the busbar using the screw connection requires a lot of space in the design—also because appropriate accessibility with tools is required—and reduces the conductor cross-section at the busbars. This problem is exacerbated with a larger number of conductors with different potentials, because insulation must be ensured.

[0011] A busbar is already known from DE 10 2009 021 460 A1 in which the tapping is carried out by means of distribution modules that can be attached from the outside to the narrow sides of the flat rails.

[0012] The invention addresses the problem that the conductor of a busbar is weakened at a tap. Furthermore, taps on busbars are often designed to take up a lot of space. Installing a tap often requires irreversible damage to the conductor because a through-hole is required.

[0013] The invention aims to make busbars in the area of ​​taps more compact and safer.

[0014] The above problem is solved by an arrangement of the type defined above having the features of the characterising part of claim 1.

[0015] In detail, it is proposed that pressure elements of the arrangement are arranged on both sides of the contact plane, which exert the pressing pressure force between the contact surfaces from the outside onto the conductor or the conductors and the tap, and that a web extends laterally of the at least one conductor, on which the pressure elements are supported, so that both pressure elements introduce the forces from the contact pressure into the web.

[0016] The conductors of the arrangement each have a longitudinal direction and two orthogonal transverse directions. The cross-section of the conductor is rectangular with a wide side and a narrow side. The contact surfaces for the taps are provided on the wide side of the conductor. The lateral arrangement of the web relative to the conductor is essentially lateral to the narrow side of the cross-section. In the event that the web is an integral part of the carrier, the carrier is also located, at least in part, essentially lateral to the narrow side of the cross-section.

[0017] The support of the contact pressure on the web, which is arranged laterally of the conductors, enables the pressing of the contact surfaces and the mutual compensation of the contact pressures of the two opposing pressure elements by means of the web outside the spatial extension of the conductors.

[0018] A preferred embodiment of the invention provides for the web to be part of the support. This allows the number of required components to be reduced.

[0019] A preferred embodiment of the invention provides that a pressure element is firmly connected to the web or is formed integrally with the web. Accordingly, a pressure element can be a component of the support. This design is expedient because, for guiding the conductors along the longitudinal direction, the support has contact surfaces at least at specific intervals from one another. These contact surfaces ensure a specific position of the conductors on the support. At least one of these contact surfaces can simultaneously fulfill the function of one of the two pressure elements. A contact surface on one broad side of the conductor or of the multiple conductors is expediently used for this purpose.

[0020] Particularly expediently, the arrangement comprises several conductors that are insulated from one another by electrical insulators extending flat along the conductors and arranged between the conductors with different potentials. This sandwich arrangement of conductors and insulators can be pressed together by the pressure elements in the area of ​​the tap, together with the contact surfaces of the tap and the tapped conductor.

[0021] The structural design of the arrangement can advantageously provide for a pressure element to be movable relative to the web, at least in the direction of the compressive force. This allows the tap to be pressed against the conductor without having to overcome other mechanical resistances.

[0022] An advantageous development provides that the arrangement has a movable wedge, and the wedge is arranged such that the wedge interacts with the movable pressure element in such a way that a displacement of the wedge increases the contact force of the contact surfaces in the contact plane. This adjustment of the contact force by means of the wedge is compact, effective, and robust.

[0023] A particularly expedient further development provides that the wedge is supported on the web by means of a support element and the movable pressure element introduces the forces from the contact pressure into the web by means of the wedge by means of the support element.

[0024] The wedge is preferably designed so that it can be secured in a position of sufficient contact pressure by means of a securing element of the arrangement. A recess extending through the wedge can preferably accommodate the securing element in the form of a screw that is screwed into the web or the support. The screw, the wedge, the recess, and the web are preferably arranged such that the wedge can be moved into a position of higher contact pressure by screwing the screw through the recess in the wedge into the web. If the contact pressure is introduced from the wedge into the support element into the web, the screw is advantageously largely only subjected to axial load. It is particularly expedient for the wedge to have a through-bore in the tapering direction of the wedge, so that the screw serves as an adjustment tool for the pressing.

[0025] Another embodiment provides for the wedge to have two opposing, mutually inclined surfaces arranged symmetrically to form a through hole for the screw. One inclined surface is supported on the support element at the web, and the other inclined surface interacts with the movable pressure element in such a way that displacement of the wedge causes an increase in the contact force of the contact surfaces in the contact plane. In this way, a greater increase in compression can be achieved upon displacement of the wedge.

[0026] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing that merely illustrates one exemplary embodiment. In the figures, recurring components with the same function are not always provided with complete reference numerals. Identical components with essentially the same function are designated identically. They show: Figure 1: a schematic cross-section through a busbar according to the invention in the region of a tap. Figures 2 - 6: each show a schematic cross-section through an alternative embodiment of a busbar according to the invention in the region of a tap.

[0027] The embodiment shown in the figures and preferred in this respect relates to an arrangement ARR with a busbar CCC with a carrier CPR and at least one conductor CDC extending along a longitudinal direction LDR, wherein a tap CNT of the arrangement ARR is provided on the conductor CDC, wherein the tap CNT has a contact surface SRF and the conductor CDC has a contact surface SRF and these two contact surfaces SRF are pressed against each other in a contact plane PLN by means of a contact force PFC such that an electrically conductive contact is established. Figure 1shows an arrangement with 3 conductors CDC, each separated from each other by electrical insulation ISO.

[0028] It is now essential that pressure elements PRE of the arrangement ARR are arranged on both sides of the contact plane PLN, which exert the pressing pressure force between the contact surfaces SRF from the outside onto the conductor CDC and the tap CNT, and that a web CTL extends to the side of at least one conductor CDC, on which the pressure elements PRE are supported, so that both pressure elements PRE introduce the forces from the contact force PFC into the web CTL.

[0029] In the exemplary embodiment, the web CTL is provided as part of the support CPR. Furthermore, a pressure element PRE is formed integrally with the web CTL. A pressure element PRE is designed to be movable relative to the web CTL or the support CPR, at least in the direction of the compressive force. For this purpose, a play CLR is provided in the transverse direction between the pressure element PRE, arranged to the left of the conductor CDC, and the web CTL or the support CPR.

[0030] The arrangement ARR has a movable wedge WDG, wherein the wedge WDG is arranged such that the wedge WDG interacts with the movable pressure element PRE such that a displacement of the wedge WDG causes an increase in the contact force PFC of the contact surfaces SRF in the contact plane PLN.

[0031] The wedge WDG is supported on the web CTL by means of a support element SPE and the movable pressure element PRE transfers the forces from the contact pressure PFC by means of the wedge WDG via the support element into the web CTL or the carrier CTL.

[0032] Furthermore, it is preferably provided here that the wedge WDG is secured in a position of sufficient contact pressure PFC by means of a securing element SEL of the arrangement ARR.

[0033] The SEL locking element is an SCR screw, which, when screwed in, allows the WDG wedge to be moved to a position with a higher contact force (PFC). The screw is screwed into the CTL carrier or an extension of the ACT carrier.

[0034] Alternatively, the wedge WDG can have two opposite, mutually inclined surfaces, which are preferably arranged symmetrically to a through hole THH for the screw SCR, wherein one inclined surface is supported on the support element SPE on the web CTL and the other inclined surface interacts with the movable pressure element PRE in such a way that a displacement of the wedge WDG causes an increase in the contact force PFC of the contact surfaces SRF in the contact plane PLN.

[0035] Figure 2 shows an arrangement ARR in which the contact pressure is applied to the stacked arrangement of the conductors CND with the tap CNT by means of a screw screwed laterally into the support element SPE.

[0036] Figure 3 shows an arrangement ARR comparable to that of the Figure 1in which the wedge WDG is guided by a support element SPE that is firmly connected to the web CTL, wherein the support element SPE extends centrally through the wedge WDG along a recess provided in the wedge WDG. The recess in the wedge WDG and the support element SPE are cylindrical in shape, preferably with a round or rounded, polygonal cross-section.

[0037] Figure 4 shows an arrangement ARR comparable to that of the Figures 1 , 3 In order to prevent the arrangement ARR from settling due to a reduction in the contact pressure PFC, disc springs TFD are provided which clamp the wedge WDG against the locking element SEL designed as a screw SCR.

[0038] Figure 5 shows an arrangement ARR comparable to that of the Figures 1 , 3 , 4in which a wedge arrangement WAR braces two stacks of conductors CND with taps CNT against the support element SPE on the web CTL. Here, at least one conductor CDC and at least one tap CNT are provided on both sides of the wedge WDG, and on the side of the conductor CDC facing away from the wedge WDG, a pressure element PRE is provided on each side, which is firmly connected to the web CTL, so that inserting the wedge WDG increases the contact force PFC between the conductors CDC and the pressure elements PREE and the tap CNT.

[0039] In the embodiments of the Figures 3 , 4 , 5 , 6the wedge WDG is provided as a wedge arrangement WAR comprising the wedge WDG and a counter-wedge CWG, such that the wedge WDG and the counter-wedge CWG each have an inclined surface which is each facing the other inclined surface, such that a movement of the wedge WDG in the direction of the counter-wedge CWG causes a widening of the wedge arrangement in a transverse direction to the direction of movement of the wedge WDG, wherein the wedge arrangement AWG is arranged in the arrangement ARR such that this widening acts in the direction of an increase in the contact force PFC.

[0040] Figure 6 shows an arrangement ARR comparable to that of the Figure 5in which a wedge arrangement WAR clamps two stacks of conductors CND with taps CNT against the support element SPE on the web CTL. Furthermore, the wedge arrangement is also doubled transversely to the clamping direction, so that the axial forces acting on the screw SCR, used as a securing element SEL to generate the contact force PFC, cancel each other out and are not introduced into the web CTL.

Claims

1. Arrangement (ARR) with a busbar (CCC) with a carrier (CPR) and at least one conductor (CDC) extending along a longitudinal direction (LDR), wherein a tap (CNT) of the arrangement (ARR) is provided on the conductor (CDC), wherein the tap (CNT) has a contact surface (SRF) and the conductor (CDC) has a contact surface (SRF), and these two contact surfaces (SRF) are pressed against one another in a contact plane (PLN) by means of a contact force (PFC) such that an electrically conductive contact is established, characterized in thatPressure elements (PRE) of the arrangement (ARR) are arranged on both sides of the contact plane (PLN) in such a way that they exert the pressing pressure force between the contact surfaces (SRF) from the outside onto the conductor (CDC) and the tap (CNT) and that a web (CTL) extends to the side of the at least one conductor (CDC), on which web the pressure elements (PRE) are supported, so that both pressure elements (PRE) introduce the forces from the contact pressure (PFC) into the web (CTL).

2. Arrangement (ARR) according to claim 1, wherein the web (CTL) is part of the carrier (CPR).

3. Arrangement (ARR) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a pressure element (PRE) is fixedly connected to the web (CTL).

4. Arrangement (ARR) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a pressure element (PRE) is formed integrally with the web (CTL).

5. Arrangement (ARR) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a pressure element (PRE) is designed to be movable relative to the web (CTL) at least in the direction of the pressing pressure force.

6. Arrangement (ARR) according to claim 5, characterized by , the arrangement (ARR) has a movable wedge (WDG) and the wedge (WDG) is arranged such that the wedge (WDG) interacts with the movable pressure element (PRE) such that a displacement of the wedge (WDG) causes an increase in the contact force (PFC) of the contact surfaces (SRF) in the contact plane (PLN).

7. Arrangement (ARR) according to claim 6, wherein the wedge (WDG) is supported on the web (CTL) by means of a support element and the movable pressure element (PRE) introduces the forces from the contact pressure (PFC) by means of the wedge (WDG) by means of the support element into the web (CTL).

8. Arrangement (ARR) according to one of the preceding claims 6 or 7, wherein the wedge (WDG) can be secured in a position of sufficient contact pressure (PFC) by means of a securing element (SEL) of the arrangement (ARR).

9. Arrangement (ARR) according to the preceding claim 8, wherein the securing element (SEL) is a screw (SCR) by means of which the wedge (WDG) can be moved into a position of higher contact force (PFC) when screwed in.

10. Arrangement (ARR) according to one of the preceding claims 6 to 9, wherein at least one conductor (CDC) and at least one tap (CNT) are provided on one side of the wedge (WDG) on both sides of the wedge (WDG), and on the side of the conductors (CDC) facing away from the wedge (WDG), a pressure element (PRE) firmly connected to the web (CTL) is provided on both sides, so that insertion of the wedge (WDG) causes an increase in the contact pressure (PFC) between the conductors (CDC) and the pressure elements (PREE) and the tap (CNT).

11. Arrangement (ARR) according to one of the preceding claims 6 to 10, wherein the wedge (WDG) is provided as a wedge arrangement (WAR) comprising the wedge (WDG) and a counter-wedge (CWG), such that the wedge (WDG) and the counter-wedge (CWG) each have an inclined surface which faces the other inclined surface, such that a movement of the wedge (WDG) in the direction of the counter-wedge (CWG) causes a widening of the wedge arrangement in a transverse direction to the direction of movement of the wedge (WDG), wherein the wedge arrangement (AWG) is arranged in the arrangement (ARR) such that this widening acts in the direction of an increase in the contact force (PFC).

12. Arrangement (ARR) according to one of the preceding claims 6 to 11, wherein the wedge (WDG) has an inclined surface which is arranged at an angle to a through hole (THH) for the screw (SCR), wherein a wedge surface substantially opposite the inclined surface is supported on the support element on the web (CTL) so that the screw (SCR) experiences a substantially only axial load and the inclined surface interacts with the movable pressure element (PRE) such that a displacement of the wedge (WDG) causes an increase in the contact force (PFC) of the contact surfaces (SRF) in the contact plane (PLN).

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