Modular multi-pole rail-mounted device

Abstract

The modular multi-pole rail-mounted device (1) according to the invention has a first device module (10) for connection to a first phase conductor, a second device module (20) for connection to a second phase conductor, and an insulating-material housing (2) formed from a first housing module (11) and a second housing module (12) through connection by means of a first connecting means (9), wherein the first housing module (11) is assigned to the first device module (10) and the second housing module (21) is assigned to the second device module (20). Furthermore, the multi-pole rail-mounted device (1) has a first printed circuit board (12) which is accommodated and held in the first housing module (11) and a second printed circuit board (22) which is accommodated and held in the second housing module (21). The first printed circuit board (12) and the second printed circuit board (22) are in this case electrically conductively connected by way of a mechanical plug connection (50) which has at least one contact element (51) and at least one contact receptacle (52) associated therewith, wherein the first printed circuit board (12) in the first housing module (11) is mounted in a floating manner in a first direction (x) and in a second direction (y) oriented orthogonally to the first direction (x). The fact that the first printed circuit board is mounted in a floating manner means that mechanical overdetermination of the joining partners, that is to say the plug connection (50) and the associated printed circuit boards (10, 20), is effectively prevented.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a modular, multi-pole DIN rail mounting device comprising a first device module for connection to a first phase conductor, a second device module for connection to a second phase conductor, and an insulating housing formed from a first housing module and a second housing module, wherein the first housing module is associated with the first device module and the second housing module with the second device module. Such modular, multi-pole DIN rail mounting devices are known from CN 110 571 105 A, CN 109 616 384 A, CN 106 783 419 A and CN 113 972 104.

[0002] Electromechanical protective devices – such as circuit breakers, miniature circuit breakers, residual current devices, and arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs) – are used to monitor and protect electrical circuits and are primarily employed as switching and safety elements in electrical power supply and distribution networks. To monitor and protect the electrical circuit, the protective device is electrically connected to a conductor of the circuit being monitored via two or more terminals, in order to interrupt the electrical current in the monitored conductor when necessary. For this purpose, the protective device has at least one switching contact that can be opened when a predefined condition occurs – for example, when a short circuit or fault current is detected – in order to disconnect the monitored circuit from the electrical network.Such protective switching devices are also known as DIN rail mounting devices in the field of low-voltage technology.

[0003] Circuit breakers are specifically designed for high currents. A miniature circuit breaker (MCB), also known as a miniature circuit breaker, is an overcurrent protection device used in electrical installations, particularly in low-voltage networks. Circuit breakers and miniature circuit breakers guarantee safe disconnection in the event of a short circuit and protect consumers and equipment from overload, such as damage to electrical wiring caused by excessive heat due to high current. They are designed to automatically disconnect a monitored circuit in the event of a short circuit or overload, thus isolating it from the rest of the electrical network.Circuit breakers and miniature circuit breakers are therefore used in particular as switching and safety elements for monitoring and protecting an electrical circuit in electrical power supply networks. Miniature circuit breakers are known in principle from the publications DE 10 2015 217 704 A1, EP 2 980 822 A1, DE 10 2015 213 375 A1, DE 10 2013 211 539 A1 or also EP 2 685 482 B1.

[0004] To interrupt a single phase conductor, a single-pole circuit breaker is typically used, which usually has a width of one module (approximately 18 mm). For three-phase connections, three-pole circuit breakers are used (as an alternative to three single-pole devices), which accordingly have a width of three modules (approximately 54 mm). Each of the three phase conductors is assigned a pole, i.e., a switching point. If, in addition to the three phase conductors, the neutral conductor also needs to be interrupted, four-pole devices are used, which have four switching points: three for the three phase conductors and one for the common neutral conductor.

[0005] A residual current device (RCD) is a protective device that ensures protection against dangerous residual currents in an electrical installation. Such a residual current – ​​also known as a differential current – ​​occurs when a live part of a conductor makes electrical contact with earth. This happens, for example, when a person touches a live part of an electrical installation: in this case, the current flows as a residual current through the person's body to earth. To protect against such body currents, the residual current device must quickly and reliably disconnect the electrical installation from the power supply on all poles when such a residual current occurs.In common usage, the terms FI-Schutzschalter (abbreviated FI-Schalter), Differenzstromschutzschalter (abbreviated DI-Schalter) or RCD (for "Residual Current Protective Device") are used interchangeably instead of the term "Errorstromschutzschalter".

[0006] Arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs) are used to detect arc faults, such as those that can occur at a fault in an electrical conductor – for example, a loose cable clamp or due to a cable break. If the arc fault occurs in series with an electrical load, the normal operating current is usually not exceeded, as it is limited by the load. For this reason, the arc fault is not detected by a conventional overcurrent protection device, such as a fuse or circuit breaker. To determine whether an arc fault is present, the AFCI measures both the voltage and current waveforms over time and analyzes and evaluates them for the characteristic patterns of an arc fault.In (English-language) technical literature, such protective devices for detecting arc faults are referred to as "Arc Fault Detection Devices" (abbreviated: AFDD). In North America, the term "Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter" (abbreviated: AFCI) is common.

[0007] In addition, there are device designs that combine the functionality of a residual current circuit breaker (RCCB) with that of a miniature circuit breaker (MCB): such combined protective devices are known in German as FI / LS or in English as RCBO (Residual Current Operated Circuit Breaker with Overcurrent Protection). These combined devices have the advantage over separate RCCBs and MCBs that each circuit has its own RCCB: Normally, a single RCCB is used for several circuits. If a fault current occurs, all protected circuits are subsequently disconnected. By using RCBOs, only the affected circuit is disconnected.

[0008] There is a growing trend towards integrating more and more functionalities into devices, dhCombined protective switching devices are being developed that cover the functionality of several individual devices: in addition to the RCBOs (residual current circuit breakers with overload protection) already described above, which combine the functionality of a conventional residual current device (RCD) with that of a miniature circuit breaker (MCB), other designs exist in which, for example, the functionality of an arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) is integrated into existing devices such as MCBs, RCDs, or RCBOs / FILS. This upgrade of electromechanical protective switching devices with additional digital functions requires optimal space utilization, often resulting in poor mounting of the electronic components. Individual circuit boards and electronic components are often distributed across widely spaced installation areas and must be electrically interconnected.

[0009] To limit or reduce the resulting large number of DIN rail-mounted devices for various applications—and thus the manufacturing costs of each individual device—an attempt is made to construct the devices modularly, based on a building block principle: In a modular design, systems are assembled from components along defined interfaces. The protective switching devices to be formed from the building block are divided into various assemblies or components, referred to as modules, and the interfaces between the individual modules are precisely defined. With suitable form and function, different protective switching devices can then be created from the various modules, with the selected modules interacting with each other via the predefined interfaces.

[0010] The object of the present invention is to provide a modularly designed, multi-pole DIN rail mounting device which is characterized by a simplified modular design while also being easy to mount.

[0011] This problem is solved according to the invention by the modularly formed, multi-pole DIN rail mounting device according to claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0012] The modular, multi-pole DIN rail mounting device according to the invention comprises a first device module for connection to a first phase conductor, a second device module for connection to a second phase conductor, and an insulating housing formed from a first housing module and a second housing module by connecting them using a first connecting means, wherein the first housing module is associated with the first device module and the second housing module with the second device module. Furthermore, the multi-pole DIN rail mounting device comprises a first printed circuit board, which is received and held in the first housing module, and a second printed circuit board, which is received and held in the second housing module.The first circuit board and the second circuit board are electrically connected by a mechanical plug connection, which has at least one contact element and at least one associated contact receptacle, wherein the first circuit board is floatingly mounted in the first housing module in a first direction (x) and in a second direction (y) oriented orthogonally to the first direction (x).

[0013] Both the first and second housing modules, and thus the insulating housing, as well as the first and second device modules, and thus the modularly formed, multi-pole DIN rail device, have a front panel, a mounting side opposite the front panel, and first and second narrow and wide sides connecting the front panel and the mounting side. The term "housing module" refers to a modular part of the insulating housing. Once the respective device module is equipped with the required components, the correspondingly equipped housing module is called a "device module," with each device module being assigned to one pole. Several device modules then form the modular, multi-pole DIN rail device.

[0014] Both the first and second device modules are designed as single-pole circuit breakers and each has its own housing module, uniquely assigned to the respective device module. Within this housing module, a short-circuit trip device for interrupting the electric current flowing through the respective phase conductor (i.e., the first or second) in the event of an electrical short circuit, and an overload trip device for interrupting the electric current flowing through the respective phase conductor (i.e., the first or second) in the event of an electrical overload, are arranged, i.e., housed and held. The first device module is combined with the second device module, i.e.,By connecting the first housing module to the second housing module to form the insulating housing using the first connecting element, for example rivets or screws, a two-pole circuit breaker is formed, to which a first phase conductor (at the first device module) and a second phase conductor (at the second device module) can be connected.

[0015] Each of the two housing modules, i.e., the first and the second, contains a printed circuit board (PCB) that is electrically connected to each other via a mechanical connector. For this purpose, at least one contact receptacle is attached to one PCB, and at least one contact element is attached to the other. The contact element can consist of one or more contact pins, which are inserted into socket-like openings in the contact receptacle when the two housing modules are connected. If both PCBs are securely mounted within their respective housing modules, the use of a rigid mechanical connector leads to over-constraint of the mounting and thus to mechanical stress on the PCBs.Furthermore, unfavorable tolerance chains can also lead to assembly problems - especially in automated manufacturing.

[0016] To prevent such mechanical over-constraint of the joining partners—i.e., the contact elements and the contact receptacle, and thus of the first and second printed circuit boards—during the creation of the mechanical connector (i.e., when inserting the contact pins into the contact receptacle), the first printed circuit board is mounted in the first housing module with some play in both directions. The second printed circuit board is mounted in the second housing module 12 with no play in both directions. This arrangement compensates for manufacturing tolerances and effectively prevents mechanical over-constraint of the two printed circuit boards, which could lead to bending and shear forces on the components of the mechanical connector and the printed circuit boards themselves, and thus to damage.

[0017] In an advantageous further development of the modularly formed, multi-pole DIN rail device, the contact point of the plug connection is located on the first circuit board, and the contact element of the plug connection is located on the second circuit board.

[0018] Due to the arrangement of the contacts on the first circuit board, the contacts are also floating in both directions within the first housing module. Accordingly, the contact element, which can comprise multiple contact pins, is mounted without play in the second housing module along with the second circuit board. This significantly simplifies the production of the mechanical connector when joining the first and second housing modules to form the insulating housing, and thus the first and second device modules to create the modular, multi-pole DIN rail-mounted device.

[0019] In a further advantageous development of the modularly formed, multi-pole DIN rail device, the connector has a centering aid which aligns the first circuit board relative to the first housing module.

[0020] Using the centering aid significantly simplifies the insertion of at least one contact element into the contact receptacle. The centering aid is advantageously arranged around the contact receptacle to effectively prevent incorrect insertion of the contact elements next to the receptacle.

[0021] In a further advantageous embodiment of the modular, multi-pole DIN rail-mounted device, the centering aid is mechanically connected to the first housing module via at least one spring element. This ensures the floating support of the first circuit board, thus compensating for manufacturing tolerances and facilitating the insertion of the at least one contact element into the contact receptacle.

[0022] In a further advantageous development of the modularly formed, multi-pole DIN rail-mounted device, the centering aid has lead-in chamfers.

[0023] This further simplifies the insertion of at least one contact element into the contact receptacle. Incorrect insertion and the resulting potential damage, such as bending or breaking of the contact element, are effectively prevented.

[0024] In a further advantageous embodiment of the modular, multi-pole DIN rail-mounted device, the first housing module has a fixing element which fixes the first circuit board in the third direction by attaching the first connecting means acting in a third direction orthogonal to the first and second directions.

[0025] When joining the first and second device modules along the third direction, the mechanical connector, which electrically connects the first and second circuit boards, is formed first. The floating mounting of the first circuit board is crucial here to prevent mechanical stresses resulting from over-constraints on the mounting of the two circuit boards. At the end of the joining process along the third direction, i.e., towards the end of the path, after at least one contact element has been inserted into its corresponding contact receptacle, the first circuit board is pressed against an inner contour of the first housing module by the fixing element in the third direction, thus securing it positively in the third direction. Depending on the pressure applied, a frictional fixation of the now largely stress-free first circuit board in the first or second direction can also be achieved.In this way, the first circuit board is securely received and held in the first housing module.

[0026] In a further advantageous development of the modularly formed, multi-pole DIN rail device, the first housing module has a wall opening for receiving the contact arranged on the first circuit board.

[0027] The wall of the housing module reliably protects the components and parts of the first device module from external environmental influences and from the adjacent second device module. The opening in the wall serves solely to create the mechanical connection between the first circuit board in the first housing module and the second circuit board in the second housing module.

[0028] In a further advantageous embodiment, the modularly formed, multi-pole DIN rail-mounted device has a third device module for connection to a third phase conductor, wherein the third device module has a third housing module which is arranged between the first housing module and the second housing module.

[0029] The third device module, located between the first and second device modules, is also designed as a single-pole circuit breaker and has its own clearly assigned housing module. This housing module contains a short-circuit release device and an overload release device for interrupting the electrical current flowing through the third phase conductor in the event of an electrical short circuit or overload. The third housing module can be connected using the first set of fasteners, such as rivets or screws, creating a three-pole insulated housing for a modular, three-pole DIN rail-mounted device.To form a four-pole RCBO (residual current circuit breaker with overload protection), an additional RCD module, equipped with the components of a residual current device, can be attached to the outer broad side of the second device module, so that 3 phase conductors and a neutral conductor can be connected to the four-pole protective device and monitored for short circuits, electrical overload and earth fault currents.

[0030] In a further advantageous embodiment of the modular, multi-pole DIN rail-mounted device, the third device module has a third circuit board arranged in the third housing module, which is floatingly mounted in the first and second directions and has a further contact receptacle whose position in the first and second directions correlates with the position of the contact receptacle arranged on the first circuit board, so that the at least one contact element arranged on the second circuit board can be passed through the further contact receptacle in order to be electrically connected to the contact receptacle arranged on the first circuit board.

[0031] This effectively prevents over-support of the third circuit board. By passing at least one contact element through the further contact point, electrical contacting of the third circuit board is also possible, for example, to supply it with the necessary electrical energy.

[0032] In a further advantageous embodiment of the modular, multi-pole DIN rail device, each housing module has a width of one module. This ensures that the width dimension of the modular, multi-pole DIN rail device corresponds to the standard grid dimension for the width of such DIN rail devices.

[0033] The following section describes various embodiments of the modular, multi-pole DIN rail-mounted device with reference to the accompanying figures. The figures show: Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a multi-pole DIN rail mounting device according to the invention, formed from several device modules, in a perspective view; Figure 2 is a schematic representation of the opened first device module in a perspective view; Figure 3 is a schematic representation of the pre-assembled first and second device modules in a perspective view; Figure 4 is a schematic representation of a further assembly step of the pre-assembled first and second device modules in a perspective view; Figure 5 is a schematic representation of a further embodiment of the multi-pole DIN rail mounting device formed from several housing modules.

[0034] In the various figures of the drawing, identical parts are always marked with the same reference symbol. This description applies to all figures in the drawing in which the corresponding part is also recognizable.

[0035] In Figure 1The basic structure of a modular, multi-pole DIN rail mounting device 1 according to the invention is shown schematically. The multi-pole DIN rail mounting device 1 has a front side 3, a mounting side 4 opposite it, and narrow sides 5 and wide sides 6 connecting the front side and the mounting side 3, 4. It is designed as a four-pole RCBO (residual current circuit breaker with overload protection), which, however, is only intended here as an example of a possible device configuration: two- and three-pole (modular) DIN rail mounting devices, regardless of their functional scope, can also be the subject of the invention.

[0036] The in Figure 1The illustrated modular installation device 1 is formed from a first device module 10 for connecting a first phase conductor, a second device module 20 for connecting a second phase conductor, a third device module 30 for connecting a third phase conductor and a fourth device module 40 for connecting a neutral conductor, which are arranged side by side.

[0037] Each of the device modules 10, 20, 30, 40 has its own housing module: the first device module 10 is assigned a first housing module 11, the second device module 20 a second housing module 21, the third device module 30 a third housing module 31 and the fourth device module 40 a fourth housing module 41, wherein all device modules 10, 20, 30, 40 as well as all housing modules 11, 21, 31, 41 also have a front side 3, a mounting side 4 opposite this, and narrow sides 5 and wide sides 6 connecting the front and the mounting side 3, 4. Furthermore, all housing modules 11, 21, 31, 41 - and thus all device modules 10, 20, 30, 40 - have a width B of only one division unit (TU), corresponding to approximately 18 mm or 0.75 inch.The four housing modules 11, 21, 31, 41, which are arranged side by side broadside and are held together by means of first connecting means, which are shown here by way of example as rivets 9, form an insulating housing 2 of the modularly formed, four-pole DIN rail device 1.

[0038] In principle, narrow-design enclosures, i.e., those with a width of only one module, consist of two half-shells which are joined together towards the end of the assembly process using suitable fasteners, such as rivets, screws, or snap-fit ​​connections, creating a continuous joint line. Each half-shell includes one of the broad sides 6 as well as parts (entirely or completely) of the front, mounting, and narrow sides 3, 4, 5. The Figure 1The illustrated housing modules 11, 21, 31, and 41 are designed in a narrow construction, which are first fitted with components during assembly before the individual housing modules 11, 12, 13, and 14 are joined together to form the structurally stable insulating housing 2 of the modularly formed, multi-pole DIN rail device 1.

[0039] In the area of ​​each of the narrow sides 5, each of the device modules 10, 20, 30, 40 has a screw terminal 7 for contacting mains-side or load-side connection conductors – phase conductor or neutral conductor (not shown) – which are received and held in the housing module 11, 21, 31, 41 assigned to the respective device module 10, 20, 30, 40. For manual operation, each of the device modules 10, 20, 30, 40 has an actuating element arranged in the area of ​​the front side 3, the individual actuating elements being connected for common operation by means of a handle element 8 that connects the individual actuating elements.

[0040] Since that in Figure 1Since the modular DIN rail device 1 shown is a four-pole RCBO (residual current circuit breaker with overload protection), the first three device modules 10, 20, and 30 are designed as MCB modules, i.e., as miniature circuit breakers (MCBs) and are accordingly equipped with the components typical of a miniature circuit breaker – e.g., switching mechanism, overload and short-circuit release device, arc extinguishing chamber, connection terminals, etc. – and are intended for contacting the respective assigned phase conductor (not shown) of a three-phase power distribution system. The fourth device module 40, on the other hand, is a residual current device (RCD) module (in Figure 1 (shown on the right) is designed, i.e. it is equipped with the components typical for a residual current circuit breaker and is intended for contacting the neutral conductor (not shown).

[0041] Figure 2Figure 1 schematically shows a perspective view of the interior of the first device module 10 (MCB module), which is designed as a circuit breaker. The first housing module 11 comprises a first housing half-shell 11-1 and a second housing half-shell 11-2, which are joined together by a circumferential seam. On the front side 3, the first device module 10 has an actuating element 14 for manually actuating a switching contact (not shown) located in the first housing half-shell 11-1.

[0042] While the first housing half-shell 11-1 houses the assemblies and components typical of a miniature circuit breaker, the second housing half-shell 11-2 – separated from the first housing half-shell 11-1 by a partition – contains a first printed circuit board 12 within the first housing module 11. The first printed circuit board 12 is floating, i.e., indeterminately or laterally displaceable, in a first direction x and in a second direction y orthogonally oriented to it, so that its mounting exhibits a certain amount of play in the first and second directions x, y. In a third direction z, orthogonally oriented to the first and second directions x, y, the first printed circuit board 12 is only fixed by the second device module 20 adjoining it in this direction z (see Figure 3) is fixed by means of a fixing element (not shown) arranged on the second housing module 21. For example, a housing contour formed on the second housing module 21 can serve as the fixing element, pressing the first circuit board in the third direction z against a bearing contour formed on the first housing module 11 after the two housing modules 11 and 21 have been assembled.

[0043] Below the actuating element 14, i.e., in the direction of the mounting side 4, a contact receptacle 52 is arranged on the first circuit board 12. The contact receptacle 52 is part of a mechanical connector 50 and is formed by a block with several socket-like openings into which contact pins 51 (see Figure 4 ) are pluggable in order to connect them electrically to the first circuit board 12.

[0044] Figure 3Figure 1 schematically shows a perspective view of the pre-assembled first and second device modules 10 and 20. To allow a view into the housing interior, part of the front narrow side 5 has been omitted. The second housing module 21 is also constructed in a shell design, consisting of a first housing half-shell 21-1 and a second housing half-shell 21-2. The second device module 20 has an actuating element 24 on its front side 3 for manual operation.

[0045] The first housing module 11 and the second housing module 21 are separated by a partition 19 arranged between the two housing modules 11, 21, in order to protect the first circuit board 12, located inside the second housing half-shell 11-2 of the first housing module 11, from the components of the second device module 20, located inside the first housing half-shell 21-1 of the second housing module 21. In the area of ​​the contact receptacle 52, the partition 19 has a wall opening 13 through which the contact receptacle 52, attached to the first circuit board 12, is partially passed to allow the insertion of the contact pins 51 (see Figure 4) - and thus enable contacting of the first circuit board 12 from within the second housing module 21. Since the first circuit board 12 is floatingly mounted in the first housing module 11, i.e., with play in the first and second directions, x, y, the contact receptacle 52 in the wall opening 13 also has a corresponding amount of play to prevent mechanically over-constrained mounting - and thus possible damage to the first circuit board.

[0046] Figure 4 Figure 1 schematically shows a further assembly step of the pre-assembled first and second device modules 10, 20 – again in perspective view. A second circuit board 22 is arranged in the second housing half-shell 21-2 of the second housing module 21, on which a further contact receptacle 52 is attached in the third direction z in order to electrically connect a further, third circuit board to the second circuit board 22.

[0047] In the direction opposite to the third direction z, the second circuit board 22 has several contact elements 51, which are shown in the illustration of the Figure 4 The contact elements 51 are designed as contact pins and are inserted into the socket-shaped openings of the contact receptacle 52 arranged on the first circuit board 12, in order to establish an electrically conductive connection between the first circuit board 12 and the second circuit board 22. The contact elements 51 thus form an electromechanical connector 50 together with the contact receptacle 52.

[0048] If the arrangement is to be supplemented by a third housing module, and if a further, third circuit board is arranged in this third housing module, this third circuit board could be electrically connected to the first and / or the second circuit board 12, 22. This can be achieved by the third circuit board having one or more contact elements 51 which are arranged on the third circuit board in the direction opposite to the third direction z and which are inserted into the socket-like openings of the further contact receptacle 52 when the third device module is mounted on the second device module.Alternatively, longer contact elements 51 arranged on the third circuit board can be passed through the socket-like openings of the further contact receptacle 52 and inserted into the contact receptacle 52 arranged on the first circuit board 12, thereby enabling contact between the third circuit board and both the first circuit board 12 and the second circuit board 22.

[0049] The last printed circuit board (PCB) contacted with the preceding PCBs in this manner should be mounted without play, i.e., precisely, in its assigned housing module 21, 31, 41, since this last PCB determines the mounting of the entire PCB assembly, i.e., all PCBs 12, 22, etc., connected in this way and housed in the different housing modules 11, 21, 31, 41. In the case of a two-pole DIN rail device, this would be the second PCB 22 located in the second housing module 21. This prevents mechanically over-constrained mounting of one or more of the PCBs 12, 22, which could lead to mechanical stress and, consequently, potentially to damage to the individual PCBs or the mechanical connectors 50—and thus possibly to the failure of certain functions of the DIN rail device 1.

[0050] Figure 5shows a schematic representation of a further embodiment of the multi-pole DIN rail-mounted device 1, which is formed from several device modules. Analogous to Figure 2 also shows Figure 5 A perspective view of the interior of the first device module 10 (MCB module), which is designed as a circuit breaker. In contrast to the representation of the Figure 2 indicates the in Figure 5 The illustrated embodiment includes a centering aid 53, which is arranged around the contact receptacle 52 located on the first circuit board 12. The centering aid 53 has a substantially cuboid base body with a through-opening in which the contact receptacle 52 is received without play.

[0051] The centering aid 53 serves to facilitate the insertion of the contact elements 51 into the contact receptacle 52. For this purpose, the centering aid 53 has leading edges 55 which slope down towards the through-openings on the side of the cuboid base body facing the contact elements 51 and thus facilitate the insertion of the contact elements 51 into the socket-like openings of the contact receptacle 52, by allowing them to slide off the leading edges 55 during insertion and engage in their respective socket-like openings.

[0052] The centering aid 53 aligns the first printed circuit board 12 relative to the first housing module 11. For this purpose, the centering aid 53 has two elongated, elastic elements 54 integrally formed with the cuboid base body, which are attached to the first housing module 11 at their distal end. Due to the flexibility of the two elastic elements 54, stresses acting on the first printed circuit board 12 or the mechanical connectors 50 can be compensated – the two elastic elements 54 thus act as flexible spring arms. Furthermore, the use of the centering aid 53 effectively prevents one or more of the contact elements 51 from being inserted incorrectly into a gap formed by the wall opening and the contact receptacle 52.

[0053] However, the two elastic elements 54 of the centering aid 53 are not strictly necessary according to the invention. It would also be possible to omit the two elastic elements 54. This would result in the first circuit board 12 being mounted somewhat more freely in the first housing module 11, which would reliably prevent over-constraint of the first circuit board 12, particularly in the case of large manufacturing tolerances. Reference symbol list

[0054] 1. DIN rail device 2. Insulating housing 3. Front side 4. Mounting side 5. Narrow side 6. Wide side 7. Screw terminal 8. Handle element 9. Rivet 10. First device module 11. First housing module 11-1. First housing half-shell 11-2. Second housing half-shell 12. First circuit board 13. Wall opening 14. Actuating element 19. Partition 20. Second device module 21. Second housing module 21-1. First housing half-shell 21-2. Second housing half-shell 22. Second circuit board 30th device module 31st housing module 40th device module 41st housing module 50 Plug connection 51 Contact element 52 Contact receptacle 53 Centering aid 54 Elastic element 55 Lead-in chamfers x first direction y second direction y third direction B-width TE division unit

Claims

1. Modular, multi-pole rail-mounted device (1), comprising: - a first device module (10) for connection to a first phase conductor and a second device module (20) for connection to a second phase conductor, - an insulating-material housing (11) formed from a first housing module (2) and a second housing module (21) by connection by means of a first connecting means (9), wherein the first housing module (11) is assigned to the first device module (10) and the second housing module (21) is assigned to the second device module (20), - a first printed circuit board (12), which is received and held in the first housing module (11), and a second printed circuit board (22), which is received and held in the second housing module (21), wherein the first printed circuit board (12) and the second printed circuit board (13) are electrically conductively connected by a mechanical plug-in connection (50), comprising at least one contact element (51) and at least one contact receptacle (52) assigned to the contact element, characterized in that the first printed circuit board (12) is mounted in the first housing module (11) in a floating manner in a first direction (x) and in a second direction (y) oriented orthogonally to the first direction (x).

2. Modular, multi-pole rail-mounted device (1) according to Claim 1, wherein the contact receptacle (52) of the plug-in connection (50) is arranged on the first printed circuit board (12), and the contact element (51) of the plug-in connection (50) is arranged on the second printed circuit board (22).

3. Modular, multi-pole rail-mounted device (1) according to Claim 2, wherein the plug-in connection (50) has a centring aid (53) which aligns the first printed circuit board (12) relative to the first housing module (11).

4. Modular, multi-pole rail-mounted device (1) according to Claim 3, wherein the centring aid (53) is mechanically connected to the first housing module (11) via at least one elastic element (54).

5. Modular, multi-pole rail-mounted device (1) according to either of Claims 3 and 4, wherein the centring aid (53) has run-in bevels (55).

6. Modular, multi-pole rail-mounted device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first housing module (11) has a fixing element which fixes the first printed circuit board (12) in the third direction (z) by attaching the first connecting means (9) acting in a third direction (z) orthogonal to the first (x) and second direction (y).

7. Modular, multi-pole rail-mounted device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first housing module (11) has a wall opening (13) for receiving the contact receptacle (52) arranged on the first printed circuit board (12).

8. Modular, multi-pole rail-mounted device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, comprising: a third device module for connection to a third phase conductor, wherein the third device module has a third housing module which is arranged between the first housing module (11) and the second housing module (21).

9. Modular, multi-pole rail-mounted device (1) according to Claim 8 when dependent on Claim 2, wherein the third device module has a third printed circuit board which is arranged in the third housing module, is mounted in a floating manner in the first direction (x) and the second direction (y) and has a further contact receptacle which, in terms of its position in the first and the second direction (x, y), correlates with the position of the contact receptacle (52) arranged on the first printed circuit board (12), so that the at least one contact element (51) arranged on the second printed circuit board (22) can be guided through the further contact receptacle in order to be electrically conductively connected to the contact receptacle (52) arranged on the first printed circuit board (12).

10. Modular, multi-pole rail-mounted device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each of the housing modules (11, 12) has a width (B) of one subdivision unit (TE).

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