Mounting device

Abstract

A mounting device (1) for mounting connectors (2) on a mounting rail (3) or on a support plate is illustrated and described, having a base plate (4), having two supporting elements (5, 6), which are arranged on one side (in the region of the corners) of the base plate (4) and project away from the base plate (4), and having a frame-like connector holder (7), wherein the connector holder (7) is fastened pivotably to the two supporting elements (5, 6). The mounting device (1) is of simple design and yet easy to equip in that a lock is formed between at least one supporting element (5, 6) and the connector holder (7), such that the connector holder (7) is lockable in a first position, in which the connector holder (7) is arranged parallel to the base plate (4).

Description

[0001] Mounting device

[0002] The invention relates to a mounting device for mounting connectors on a support rail or a carrier plate, with a base plate, with at least one support element which is arranged on one side of the base plate and protrudes from the base plate, and with a connector receptacle, wherein the connector receptacle is pivotally fastened to the at least one support element.

[0003] Such a mounting device is known from DE 197 16917 C1. The mounting device has a rectangular base plate which is designed to be snapped onto a support rail, wherein in the snapped-on state the base plate or the mounting device is arranged with its longitudinal extension perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the support rail. A total of four support elements protrude perpendicularly from the base plate, with two support elements being arranged opposite one another on either side of the support rail. In the known mounting device, a rectangular, frame-shaped connector receptacle is pivotally attached to two support elements, for which purpose a hinge pin is formed on each of the free ends of the two support elements facing away from the base plate and, correspondingly, a half-shell-shaped hinge receptacle is formed on one end face of the connector receptacle.

[0004] To secure the connector receptacle in the closed position, in which the connector receptacle is arranged parallel to the base plate, a locking mechanism is provided between the two other support elements, to which the connector receptacle is non-pivotally mounted, and the second end face of the connector receptacle. For this purpose, a hinge pin is arranged at the free ends of each of the two other support elements facing away from the base plate, and a pivotable locking element is arranged on the second end face of the connector receptacle. This locking element has two claws that engage around the hinge pins when closed.

[0005] Because the connector receptacle is positioned at a distance from the base plate due to its arrangement on the support elements, there is space available for cables connected to the connector or cables to be connected. Furthermore, the pivoting positioning of the connector receptacle on two support elements also allows access to the underside of a connector, which faces the base plate when closed, when the connector receptacle is pivoted to its second position, which is rotated by almost 90°.

[0006] A similar mounting device is also disclosed in DE 297 13 237 U1. This mounting device also has a rectangular base plate with four supports or support elements projecting vertically from it, each of which is arranged in the area of ​​a corner of the base plate. To attach a connector to the support elements, two approximately U-shaped holders are fastened, in particular screwed, to the two opposite end faces of the connector. Two bolts are arranged laterally on one of the two holders; these bolts can be received in corresponding receptacles at the free ends of two support elements, allowing the connector to be pivotably attached to the mounting device.The other holder features a pair of lateral teeth, which, together with openings at the free ends of the other two support elements, allow the connector to be locked in the closed position, in which the connector is arranged parallel to the base plate. To release the lock, the teeth must be deflected by pressing a button against the force of a spring, so that the teeth no longer engage with the openings in the support elements. The connector can then be pivoted upwards by approximately 90° or completely released from the mounting device by sliding the bolts out of their receptacles.

[0007] Even though the known mounting devices have proven themselves in practice, fitting a connector is sometimes difficult, at least in confined spaces. Furthermore, the pivoting mounting and locking on the support elements require a corresponding design of the ends of the individual support elements and the two end faces of the connector receptacle, or rather, the holders to be attached to the end faces of the connector.

[0008] The present invention is therefore based on the object of providing a mounting device for mounting connectors on a mounting rail or a carrier plate, which is as simple as possible and can be easily assembled.

[0009] This object is achieved in the mounting device described above with the features of patent claim 1. According to the invention, the connector receptacle is not only pivotally mounted on the at least one support element, but can also be locked to the support element in its first position. The pivoting mechanism and the locking mechanism are thus arranged on one side of the mounting device. For this purpose, a locking mechanism is formed between the at least one support element and the connector receptacle in addition to the pivoting mechanism, so that the connector receptacle can be locked in a first position in which the connector receptacle is arranged parallel to the base plate.

[0010] Because the connector receptacle is supported and locked on only one side, there is more space during assembly for the cables that are connected to the connector or that still need to be connected. In addition, the manufacture of the mounting device is simplified if only one or two support elements protrude from the base plate instead of the four support elements provided in the prior art. A sufficiently high level of robustness of the mounting device can be achieved by appropriate dimensioning of the connector receptacle and the at least one support element and / or by an appropriate choice of material. Preferably, at least the at least one support element and the connector receptacle are made of metal, in particular aluminum or zinc, with the individual parts of the mounting device preferably being manufactured using a die-casting process.

[0011] According to an advantageous embodiment of the mounting device according to the invention, the pivotable fastening of the connector receptacle to the at least one support element is achieved in that an axis is formed on a first end face of the connector receptacle, which is assigned to the at least one support element, and a receptacle is formed on the free end of the support element facing away from the base plate. The receptacle has a recess into which at least a section of the axis formed on the connector receptacle engages. The axis formed on the first end face of the connector receptacle can be formed either in one part or in multiple parts. The axis can be formed, for example, by a rod-shaped section or by two pins that are spaced apart from one another.The axis formed on the first end face of the connector receptacle also forms the pivot axis around which the connector receptacle is pivoted when pivoting from the first position to a second position.

[0012] As previously explained, the mounting device has at least one support element on which the plug connector receptacle is not only pivotally mounted but can also be locked in its first position. The mounting device can in particular have one or two support elements that are preferably connected integrally to the base plate. If the mounting device has two support elements, then according to an advantageous embodiment, the receptacle is designed at the free ends of the support elements such that the receptacle connects the free ends of the two support elements to one another, in particular is designed integrally with the two support elements. If the mounting device has more than two support elements, then the more than two support elements can also be connected to one another via the receptacle. This further increases the stability of the support elements and thus the stability and robustness of the mounting device as a whole.

[0013] To facilitate assembly of the mounting device, the recess provided in the receptacle is preferably designed such that the spindle of the connector receptacle can be easily inserted or plugged into the recess during assembly of the mounting device. To prevent the spindle from accidentally coming out of the recess, a retaining element is arranged on the receptacle, which holds the spindle of the connector receptacle in the recess. The retaining element can be designed particularly simply as a flat sheet metal element that is simply attached to the receptacle, for example, by screwing it in place, after the spindle has been inserted into the recess.

[0014] It is stated at the outset that in the mounting device according to the invention, the connector receptacle is not only pivotally mounted on the at least one support element, but can also be locked in its first position on the at least one support element. The locking of the connector receptacle in its first position can be achieved by various measures. It is advantageous if no separate component is required for locking, so that there is no risk of the locking component being lost. According to a preferred embodiment of the mounting device, the locking is designed as a snap-in lock which has at least one snap-in element and at least one corresponding counter-snap-in element and can also be easily released again. The snap-in element is then formed on the connector receptacle and the counter-snap-in element on the at least one support element or on the receptacle.

[0015] According to a preferred embodiment, the at least one locking element is formed by a locking lug arranged on the axis of the connector receptacle, and the counter-locking element is formed by a locking shoulder formed on the holding element. If, during assembly of the mounting device, the holding element is fastened to the receptacle after the axis has been arranged in the recess, this not only holds the axis in the recess but also simultaneously locks the connector receptacle in its first position. In order for the connector receptacle to be pivoted from its first position into a second position, the locking lock must first be released so that the locking lug is no longer engaged with the locking shoulder. For this purpose, the holding element is preferably arranged on the receptacle in such a way that the holding element can be deflected from its basic position, in which the locking connection is effective.Intentional deflection of the retaining element then results in the locking mechanism between the locking lug and the locking shoulder being unlocked, so that the connector receptacle can be pivoted from its first position to its second position.

[0016] The pivotable mounting of the connector receptacle on the two support elements or on the receptacle arranged on the support elements is preferably designed such that the connector receptacle can be pivoted from its first position by approximately 180° into a second position. The connector receptacle is also stably mounted in the second position, for which purpose the connector receptacle rests with the edge of its first end face on a support section formed on the receptacle. For this purpose, a groove is preferably formed in the receptacle for receiving the edge of the first end face of the connector receptacle.

[0017] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the mounting device according to the invention, at least one circumferential rib is formed on the axis of the connector receptacle, and at least one corresponding groove is formed in the receptacle. When the connector receptacle pivots from its first position to its second position or from its second position to its first position, the rib is guided in the groove, so that the pivoting movement of the connector receptacle is a guided movement. The rib extends at least 180° around the axis, so that the rib is guided in the groove throughout the entire pivoting movement.

[0018] To simplify the assembly of the connectors in the connector receptacle, recesses or undercuts can be provided in the frame-shaped connector receptacle, particularly on the inside of the two end faces, which interact with corresponding locking elements formed on the connector. This makes it particularly easy to fasten the connector in the connector receptacle. For easy handling and operation, a recess is also formed on the underside of at least one end face of the connector receptacle facing the base plate in the first position of the connector receptacle. A PE connection screw of a connector mounted in the connector receptacle is accessible through the recess, so that the PE connection of a connector is still accessible even when the connector is already arranged in the connector receptacle of the mounting device.

[0019] Further advantageous embodiments of the mounting device according to the invention are described in the subclaims. In detail, there are numerous possibilities for designing and developing the mounting device according to the invention. Reference is made to the subordinate claims as well as to the following description of a preferred embodiment in conjunction with the drawing. The drawing shows:

[0020] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a mounting device, in the first position,

[0021] Fig. 2 the mounting device according to Fig. 1, in the second position,

[0022] Fig. 3 the assembly device in an exploded view,

[0023] Fig. 4 is an enlarged detailed view of the mounting device according to Fig. 1,

[0024] Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailed view of the mounting device according to Fig. 5, partially sectioned,

[0025] Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail view of the mounting device in the second position, Fig. 7 the mounting device with inserted connector, in the first position, and

[0026] Fig. 8 the mounting device with inserted connector, in the second position.

[0027] The figures show a preferred embodiment of a mounting device 1 according to the invention for mounting connectors 2. With the aid of the mounting device 1, a connector 2 can be fastened, for example, to a support rail 3 shown in Figures 7 and 8 or to a carrier plate. The mounting device 1 has a base plate 4 and two support elements 5, 6, which protrude vertically from the base plate 4 and are arranged in the region of two corners on one side of the base plate 4. The two support elements 5, 6 are preferably screwed to the base plate 4, but can in principle also be formed integrally with the base plate 4. Furthermore, only one support element can be provided, which then preferably has a greater width than the two support elements 5, 6 shown. It is also possible to provide more than two support elements, all arranged on one side of the base plate.

[0028] In addition, the mounting device 1 has a frame-shaped connector receptacle 7, which is pivotally attached to the two support elements 5, 6, so that the connector receptacle 7 can be moved from a first position according to Fig.

[0029] I can be pivoted by 180° into a second position according to Fig. 2. To realize the pivotable fastening, an axis 10 is formed on the first end face 8 of the connector receptacle 7, which is assigned to the two support elements 5, 6. The axis 10 engages in the assembled state of the mounting device 1 in a recess 12, which is in a receptacle

[0030] II, which is arranged at the free ends of the two support elements 5, 6 facing away from the base plate 4. The receptacle 11 is integrally connected to the two support elements 5, 6, thereby increasing the stability of the two support elements 5, 6 and thus of the mounting device 1 as a whole.

[0031] In the illustrated embodiment, the axle 10 is formed by a rod-shaped component that protrudes beyond the recess 12 in the receptacle 11 on both sides. In the assembled state, only the central section of the axle 10 is located in the approximately U-shaped recess 12 of the receptacle 11. To prevent the axle 10 from accidentally exiting the recess 12, a retaining element 13 is provided, which is designed as a flat sheet metal element. The retaining element 13 is screwed to the end face of the receptacle 11 when the axle 10 is received in the recess 12 and the connector receptacle 7 is in its first position.

[0032] As can be seen particularly from the enlarged view according to Figures 4 and 5, two locking lugs 14 are formed on the axis 10, which, together with two locking shoulders 15 formed on the holding element 13, form a locking latch. In the first position of the connector receptacle 7, the locking lugs 14 lie on the locking shoulders 15, so that the connector receptacle 7 cannot be pivoted into the second position, but is locked in its first position. The two locking lugs 14 are each located on one side of the recess 12 formed in the receptacle 11, thereby ensuring secure locking of the connector receptacle 7 in the first position. In principle, however, it may be sufficient if only one locking lug 14 is formed on the axis 10 and, correspondingly, only one locking shoulder 15 is formed on the holding element 13.

[0033] To release the snap-in lock, the holding element 13 can be deflected by hand or by means of a tool, for example the tip of a screwdriver 17, for which purpose the tip of the screwdriver 17 can be inserted into an opening 16 formed between the holding element 13 and the facing end face of the receptacle 11. If the holding element 13 is deflected so that the locking lugs 14 no longer engage with the locking shoulders 15, the connector receptacle 7 can be pivoted slightly clockwise, causing the locking lugs 14 to slide along the holding element 13. If the screwdriver 17 is then pulled out of the opening 16, the connector receptacle 7 can be pivoted 180° into its second position.

[0034] To ensure that the connector receptacle 7 is securely guided when pivoting from the first position to the second position or from the second position to the first position, two circumferential ribs 18 are arranged on the axis 10 of the connector receptacle 7, adjacent to the locking lugs 14. Correspondingly, two grooves 19 are formed in the receptacle 11, into which the ribs 18 engage. The ribs 18 preferably extend by more than 180° around the axis 10, so that the ribs 18 are guided in the grooves 19 during the entire pivoting movement of the connector receptacle 7. To enable stable mounting of the connector receptacle 7 even in its second position, the receptacle 11 has a support section 21, on which the connector receptacle 7 is supported in the second position with the edge 22 of the first end face 8 (see Fig. 6).To accommodate the edge 20 of the connector receptacle 7, a groove 22 is formed in the support section 21, as can be seen from the exploded view according to Fig. 3. The support section 21 securely holds the connector receptacle 7 in its second position, wherein lateral tilting or pivoting of the connector receptacle 7 is prevented by the edge 20 of the end face 8 coming to rest in the groove 22 in the support section 21.

[0035] Figures 7 and 8 show the mounting device 1 according to the invention snapped onto a mounting rail 3 and with a connector 2 inserted into the connector receptacle 7. In the illustration according to Figure 7, the connector receptacle 7 is in its first position, whereas in Figure 8 the connector receptacle 7 has been pivoted by 180° into its second position. In the second position, individual electrical conductors can be connected to the connector 2 particularly easily, since the conductor insertion openings 23 arranged for this purpose in the connector 2 are then accessible from above, i.e. from the side facing away from the mounting rail 3, the mounting side. Due to the robust design of the mounting device 1, the connector receptacle 7 in its second position can absorb the high assembly forces that occur when connecting the conductors.This means that plug connectors with push-in connections can be used to connect rigid conductors or conductors with crimp contacts can be snapped into appropriately designed conductor entry openings.

[0036] In order to further simplify the electrical connection of a connector 2 inserted into the connector receptacle 7, a recess 24 is formed on the underside of each of the two end faces 8, 9 facing the base plate 4 in the first position of the connector receptacle 7, through which recess a PE connection screw of a connector 2 is accessible. If the connector receptacle 7 is in its second position pivoted by 180° as shown in Figure 8, a PE connection screw can be actuated through the recess 24 and thus a PE line can be connected to the connector 2, even if the connector 2 is already arranged in the connector receptacle 7. From the individual figures and the above description, it can be seen that the mounting device 1 according to the invention is simply designed and yet easy to assemble.Because the connector receptacle can be pivoted by more than 90°, namely in particular by 180°, individual conductors can be connected very easily and conveniently to a connector 2 already inserted into the connector receptacle 7. The mounting device 1 is preferably made of metal, in particular aluminum, and is die-cast, so that the mounting device 1 is very robust even with relatively compact dimensions. The snap-in lock formed on the mounting device 1, with which the connector receptacle 7 can be locked in its first position, can also be released very easily by hand or with a screwdriver 17 to enable the connector receptacle 7 to be pivoted by 180° if necessary.

[0037] Reference symbol

[0038] Mounting device

[0039] connectors

[0040] Mounting rail

[0041] Base plate, 6 supporting elements

[0042] Connector receptacle first end face second end face 0 Axis 1 Receptacle 2 Recess 3 Holding element 4 Locking lug 5 Locking shoulder 6 Opening 7 Screwdriver 8 Rib 9 Groove 0 Edge 1 Support section 2 Groove 3 Conductor entry openings 4 Recess

Claims

Patent claims:

1. Mounting device (1) for mounting plug connectors (2) on a support rail (3) or a carrier plate, with a base plate (4), with at least one support element (5, 6) which is arranged on one side of the base plate (4) and protrudes from the base plate (4) and with a frame-shaped plug connector receptacle (7), wherein the plug connector receptacle (7) is pivotally fastened to the at least one support element (5, 6), characterized in that a locking mechanism is formed between the at least one support element (5, 6) and the plug connector receptacle (7), so that the plug connector receptacle (7) can be locked in a first position in which the plug connector receptacle (7) is arranged parallel to the base plate (4).

2. Mounting device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that for the pivotable fastening of the plug connector receptacle (7) on a first end face (8) of the plug connector receptacle (7) an axis (10) is formed and on the free ends of the at least one support element (5, 6) facing away from the base plate (4) a receptacle (11) is formed, wherein the receptacle (11) has a recess (12) into which at least a portion of the axis (10) engages.

3. Mounting device (1) according to claim 2, with two support elements (5, 6), characterized in that the receptacle (11) connects the free ends of the two support elements (5, 6) to one another.

4. Mounting device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a holding element (13) is arranged (attached) to the receptacle (11), by means of which the axis (10) of the connector receptacle (7) is held in the recess (12).

5. Mounting device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the locking between at least one support element (5, 6) and the plug connector receptacle (7) is designed as a latching lock which has at least one latching element and at least one corresponding counter-latching element.

6. Mounting device (1) according to claim 4 and 5, characterized in that the locking element is arranged on the axis (10) by a locking lug (14) and the counter-locking element is formed by a locking shoulder (15) formed on the holding element (13).

7. Mounting device (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the holding element (13) is arranged on the receptacle (11) in such a way that the holding element (13) can be deflected from its basic position, so that the locking mechanism between the locking lug (14) and the locking shoulder (15) can be unlocked.

8. Mounting device (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that an opening (16) for inserting a tool, in particular the tip of a screwdriver (17) is formed between the holding element (13) and the facing end face of the receptacle (11).

9. Mounting device (1) according to one of claims 2 to 8, characterized in that at least one circumferential rib (18) is formed on the axis (10) of the connector receptacle (7) and at least one groove (19) corresponding thereto is formed in the receptacle (11).

10. Mounting device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the plug connector receptacle (7) can be pivoted from the first position by approximately 180° into a second position, and in that the plug connector receptacle (7) in the second position rests with the edge (20) of the first end face (8) on a support section (21) of the receptacle (11), wherein a groove (22) for receiving the edge (20) is preferably formed in the support section (21).

11. Mounting device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that on the underside of at least one end face (8, 9) of the connector receptacle (7) facing the base plate (4), a recess (24) is formed through which a PE connection screw of a connector (2) mounted in the connector receptacle (7) is accessible.

12. Mounting device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that at least the at least one support element (5, 6) and the connector receptacle (7) consist of metal, in particular of aluminum, and are preferably manufactured by die casting.

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