Contact element for constructing a bus system
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- PHOENIX CONTACT GMBH & CO KG
- Filing Date
- 2024-08-02
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-08
Smart Images
Figure EP2024071959_06032025_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] Contact element for setting up a bus system
[0002] The proposed solution concerns a contact element for establishing an electrical connection with identically designed contact elements, a set for establishing such electrical connections and a bus system.
[0003] Electrical power distribution for buildings, infrastructure facilities, and the like requires ever-increasing cabling. Modern buildings, in particular, are placing ever-increasing demands on power distribution. As the degree of interconnectedness of power distribution systems increases, so do the requirements regarding manageability, flexibility, and the economically viable integration of components.
[0004] Bus systems are known in practice that allow for power distribution while maintaining a high degree of interconnectivity. Such bus systems, for example, have bus lines with a specific number of contacts for energy transport, to which individual components can be connected. Different applications typically have different requirements regarding possible restrictions regarding placement or routing, the ability to connect additional power sources, and the number of components to be connected.
[0005] The task is to enable an improved bus system.
[0006] This object is achieved by an article having the features of claim 1.
[0007] Accordingly, a contact element is provided for establishing an electrical connection with other, identically designed contact elements. The contact element comprises a female (first) contact section and a matching male (second) contact section. The female and male contact sections are arranged on different sides of the contact element.Such a contact element, with a female contact section arranged on one side of the contact element and a matching male contact section arranged on the other side of the contact element, allows any number of proposed identical contact elements to be engaged with one another and, in particular, arranged in series. To establish an electrical connection, a male contact section of one contact element engages with a female contact section of another contact element. This allows for a modular bus line with variable lengths to be provided depending on the requirements of the specific application.
[0008] Because the contact element integrates both a female contact section for receiving another contact section and a male contact section for insertion into another contact section, very few components are required to construct a bus line.
[0009] Furthermore, the contact element comprises a third contact section for electrical connection to another component. This allows the connection of an additional, particularly external, power source and thus offers the possibility of flexibly connecting or disconnecting additional power sources from the bus line, depending on the given requirements.
[0010] In the present case, the female and male contact sections are designed such that they can be brought into engagement with one another, i.e. can be brought into engagement with the other contact section of a contact element of the same construction. The female contact section is designed to receive a male contact section. For example, the female contact section has a receptacle or opening for this purpose. The male contact section can be designed, for example, in the form of a material protrusion. For example, the male contact section is designed as a pin. In the connected state, there is in particular a force fit between a female and a male contact section. The male contact section and the female contact section can be electrically connected to one another, for example by plugging in, and are designed in particular as a plug-in connection.
[0011] The female contact section, the male contact section, and the third contact section are firmly and electrically connected to one another via a common base body. The base body comprises an electrically conductive material, in particular a metal. This makes it possible to provide an integrally formed contact element that can be constructed variably, is simple and, in particular, can be produced in large quantities, and can be brought into electrically conductive engagement with itself. This enables a particularly simple and cost-effective construction or conversion of a modular bus system. For example, the female contact section and the male contact section are arranged on opposite sides of the contact element. In this way, the contact element can be arranged with other identical contact elements in a row, for example along a longitudinal extent of the contact element.This allows for a particularly space-saving, linear bus cable design. Furthermore, it makes it possible to replace the previously known fixed, non-variable bus cables in bus systems with modular bus cables and, depending on requirements, to flexibly vary the length of the bus cables without having to restructure the entire bus system.
[0012] The third contact section can be arranged on a further side of the contact element (different from the sides on which the male contact section and the female contact section are arranged). For example, the further side lies between the two opposite sides. This makes the third contact section particularly easy to access, allowing an additional component to be connected or disconnected to or from the bus line in a particularly simple manner.
[0013] The contact element can be elongated along a longitudinal extension. The female contact section and the male contact section can be aligned along the longitudinal extension of the contact element. This allows the construction of a linear and stable bus line.
[0014] In one example, the female contact section and the male contact section point in opposite directions. The third contact section can be aligned perpendicularly to this. This allows for a particularly compact and stable construction of a bus system, since, on the one hand, a bus line can be constructed along a (sequencing) direction, e.g., the longitudinal extension of the contact element, by arranging the contact element in series with other identical contact elements, and, on the other hand, additional components can be connected or disconnected perpendicularly to this direction.
[0015] The female contact section can be elastically deformable. In particular, the female contact section is preloaded against the male contact section when connected. This enables a force-locking connection between the male and female contact sections. This allows for a particularly reliable electrical connection between the female and male contact sections. For example, the contact sections can be designed as spring sections with spring arms.
[0016] For example, the female contact section is designed as a clamping contact, in particular as a tulip contact. This allows for a particularly reliable force connection and thus a particularly reliable electrical contact between a male contact section of one contact element and a female contact section of another contact element.
[0017] The third contact section can be female or male. This allows for particularly easy connection of another component, such as an additional power source, to the contact element, for example, by simply inserting a plug contact into the female contact section or by simply plugging a socket contact onto the male contact section.
[0018] Furthermore, it can be provided that the female contact section and / or the third contact section has a spring element. The spring element is made of spring steel, for example. This allows for a particularly strong preload of the female contact section of the contact element against a male contact section of another contact element, thus ensuring particularly reliable electrical contact through frictional connection. Furthermore, this allows for greater freedom in the material selection of the remaining contact element.
[0019] By way of example, at least part of the female contact section, at least part of the male contact section, and at least part of the third contact section are integrally connected to one another. For example, the contact element is formed in one piece, with only the female contact section and / or the third contact section, which is female in this case, comprising separately formed oversprings in addition to the integral part. This allows for particularly simple production of the proposed contact elements with a particularly high degree of structural uniformity.
[0020] For example, the contact element is designed as a bent sheet metal part. This is particularly easy to manufacture, namely by punching and bending.
[0021] Furthermore, the contact element can have a plurality of retaining elements for fastening the contact element to a housing. The retaining elements can be arranged between the female contact section and the male contact section. Alternatively or additionally, the third contact section can be arranged between the retaining elements. This allows for a particularly compact design of the contact element and a particularly reliable fastening to a housing, for example, a bus system or a module for a bus system.
[0022] According to one aspect, a set is specified which comprises a plurality of contact elements, each for establishing an electrical connection. The contact elements each comprise a female contact section and a matching male contact section, wherein the contact sections are each arranged on different sides of the contact element and wherein the female contact section and the male contact section are each firmly and electrically conductively connected to one another via a common base body. To establish an electrical connection, the female contact section of one contact element can be brought into electrically conductive engagement with the male contact section of another contact element along a row direction. With regard to the advantages, reference is made to the above information on the contact element.
[0023] Preferably, the contact elements are structurally identical to one another. This allows for particularly simple manufacturing of the individual contact elements and, at the same time, for particularly simple and reliable arrangement of the contact elements. Furthermore, this allows for a particularly simple and flexible conversion or modification of the arrangement of the contact elements, for example, by removing or adding a contact element, in a bus system.
[0024] It can be provided that one or more of the plurality of contact elements have a third contact section for establishing an electrical connection with another component.
[0025] The set may contain one or more contact elements according to any embodiment described herein.
[0026] According to one aspect, a bus system is provided which is produced by a set described above and / or comprises at least two contact elements according to any embodiment described herein, wherein the contact elements are electrically connected to one another along a row direction. Regarding the advantages, reference is made to the above information on the contact element. The concept underlying the invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the figures. They show:
[0027] Fig. 1 A shows a contact element in a perspective view;
[0028] Fig. 1 B shows the contact element according to Fig. 1 A in a front view;
[0029] Fig. 1 C shows the contact element according to Fig. 1A in a further perspective view;
[0030] Fig. 2 shows a component for connection to a contact element in a perspective view;
[0031] Fig. 3A the contact element according to Fig. 1 A with oversprings in a perspective front view;
[0032] Fig. 3B the contact element according to Fig. 3A in a perspective rear view;
[0033] Fig. 4 shows a section of a bus system with a series of contact elements according to Fig. 3A and partially connected additional components according to Fig. 2;
[0034] Fig. 5 shows a section of the bus system according to Fig. 4 in a detailed view; and
[0035] Fig. 6 a set for producing a bus system according to Fig. 4.
[0036] Figs. 1A to 1C show a contact element 1 in various views. The contact element 1 comprises an electrically conductive material. In the present case, the contact element 1 is made of an electrically conductive material. The electrically conductive material can be a metal or a metal alloy. In the example shown, the contact element 1 is formed in one piece. Furthermore, the contact element 1 is rigid.
[0037] The contact element 1 comprises a base body 12 and several, in this case (exactly) three, contact sections 10A-10C. In the example shown, the base body 12 is plate-shaped. The base body 12 is flat. The base body 12 is made of an electrically conductive material, in this case the same material as the contact sections 10A-10C. The contact sections 10A-10C are formed on the base body 12 and, in particular, are integrally connected thereto (electrically conductively).
[0038] The contact element 1 comprises a female (first) contact section 10A, a male (second) contact section 10B and a third, in this case female, contact section 10C. The contact sections 10A-10C are arranged on different sides 11A, 11B, 11C of the contact element 1, in particular of the base body 12.
[0039] The male contact section 10B is arranged on one side 11B. In this case, the contact section 10B is designed in the form of a plate-shaped pin, specifically a flat plug. However, other shapes, such as cylindrical pins, are also conceivable. In this case, the male contact section 10B is designed in two layers.
[0040] The contact element 1 has a (first) female contact section 10A on a further side 11A. The female contact section 11A is designed to receive a male contact section 11B of a (further, identically designed) contact element 1.
[0041] As can be seen in particular in Fig. 1B, the female contact section 10A has a receptacle 100. The receptacle 100 is formed in this case by two legs 103, 104. The legs 103, 104 are each fork-shaped in this case (see, for example, Fig. 1A). The legs 103, 104 initially approach each other in the direction of an opening 101 of the receptacle 100 relative to the longitudinal extent L of the contact element 1 and then move away again in the direction of their open ends to form insertion bevels. The legs 103, 104 form a constriction 102 at the smallest distance from one another relative to the longitudinal extent L of the contact element 1. The constriction 102 is designed to hold the male contact section 10B in a force-fitting manner. In the present case, the contact section 10A is designed as a tulip contact.
[0042] The contact element 1 is elongated along a longitudinal extension L. The female contact section 10A and the male contact section 10B are arranged on opposite, in particular opposite, sides 11A, 11B and aligned along the longitudinal extension L of the contact element 1. In the present case, the female contact section 10A and the male contact section 10B point in opposite directions along the longitudinal extension L. In this way, a series of, in particular, identical contact elements 1 in a (common) series direction A is possible (see Fig. 4).
[0043] The contact element 1 further comprises the aforementioned additional (third) contact section 10C, which is female in this case. Alternatively, the third contact section 10C can also be male, for example, like the male contact section 10B. The third contact section 10C serves to connect an additional component 2.
[0044] Such a component 2 is shown in Fig. 2. An electrical device or, for example, a power source, but also another contact element 1, can be connected via component 2. In the present case, component 2 is designed as a male contact section and, in particular, is plate-shaped, specifically in the form of a flat plug. This can, for example, be electrically connected to an (external) power source, such as a battery.
[0045] As can be seen particularly in Fig. 1C, the third contact section 10C is constructed similarly to the first contact section 10A. Therefore, the above explanations for the first contact section 10A also apply to the third contact section 10C. However, one difference in this case is that the width of the constriction 102' (between the opposite, converging legs 103', 104') of the third contact section 10C is smaller than the width of the constriction 102 of the first contact section 10A. The contact sections 10A, 10C and in particular the constrictions 102, 102' are each designed to fit the respective male contact sections 10B, 10C, which can be engaged with the contact sections 10A, 10C. In this case, the male contact section 10B has a greater thickness than component 2.Accordingly, the width of the constriction 102 of the first contact section 10A is larger than the width of the constriction 102' of the third contact section 10C. This precise fit enables particularly efficient and reliable electrical contact. However, the first contact section 10A and the third contact section 10C can also be constructed identically.
[0046] The third contact section 10C is arranged on a further side 11C of the contact element 1. The further side 11C is located between the sides 11A, 11B of the female contact section 10A and the male contact section 11B. In this way, the third contact section 10C is arranged between the first contact section 10A and the second contact section 10B. This allows an additional component 2 to be connected and disconnected to and from the contact element 1 in a particularly accessible manner. In particular, the contact section 10C extends in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal extent L of the contact element 1. As a result, the third contact section 10C is particularly easily accessible for a further component 2. In the present case, the contact section 10C is female, which enables a simple insertion or insertion of a further component 2, such as a plug.
[0047] The contact element 1 further comprises a plurality of retaining elements 13, in this case exactly four. The retaining elements 13 serve in particular to hold the contact elements 1, for example, on a housing of a bus system or a module for a bus system. For example, the retaining elements 13 can be mounted or fastened to a housing, in particular clamped or clipped in. In this case, the retaining elements 13 expediently each have a retaining section 130. The retaining elements 13 can be clamped or hooked into a holder such as a housing via the retaining sections 130.
[0048] In the example shown, the holding elements 13 are arranged on the base body 12, specifically on two (further) sides 11D and 11E of the base body 12. The holding elements 13 are arranged between the female (first) contact section 10A and the male (second) contact section 10B. The third contact section 10C is arranged between the holding elements 13. The holding elements 13 extend perpendicular to the longitudinal extent L of the contact element 1. In the present case, the holding elements 13 extend perpendicular to the first contact section 10A and to the second contact section 10B. Furthermore, the holding elements 13 extend perpendicular to the third contact section 10C.
[0049] The contact element 1 can, as shown in Figs. 3A and 3B, have oversprings 105, 105'. The oversprings 105, 105' are attached to the female (first) contact section 10A and to the third (female) contact section 10C. The oversprings 105, 105' are each slipped over the legs 103, 103', 104, 104' of the contact sections 10A, 10C. In this case, the oversprings 105, 105' comprise a different material than the rest of the contact element 1. For example, the oversprings 105, 105' are made of spring steel. The oversprings 105, 105' serve to reinforce the preload of the (respective) female contact section 10A, 10C and the legs 103, 103', 104, 104' against a male contact section 10B, 2. Advantageously, the elastic modulus of the material of the oversprings 105, 105' is greater than the elastic modulus of the remaining contact element 1.This enables a particularly strong preload of the (respective) female contact section 10A, 10C of the contact element 1 against a male contact section 10B, 2 of another contact element 1 or a component 2 and thus a particularly reliable electrical contact by force connection.
[0050] The oversprings 105, 105' each have legs 107, 108, 107', 108' and, in the example shown, are also tulip-shaped. The oversprings 105, 105' are designed differently in this case. Thus, the legs 107, 108 of the overspring 105 of the first contact section 10A are connected to each other on two sides transverse to the longitudinal extension of the legs 107, 108, whereas the legs 107', 108' of the overspring 105' are connected to each other on only one side transverse to the longitudinal extension of the legs 107', 108'.
[0051] In the example shown, the contact element 1 is formed in one piece, except for the over-springs 105, 105'. At least a part of the female contact section 10A, in this case the entire contact section 10A, at least a part of the male contact section 11B, in this case the entire contact section 10B, and at least a part of the third contact section 11C, in this case the entire contact section 10C, are connected to one another in one piece, namely via the base body 12. In the example shown, the part other than the over-springs 105, 105' is formed as a bent sheet metal part. This allows for particularly simple and economical production of the contact element 1. For example, a shape can be punched out of a piece of flat material, which is then bent in a bending process to form the one-piece body of the contact element 1.
[0052] Fig. 4 shows a bus system B with several contact elements 1, which are electrically conductively connected to one another in a series direction A. The series direction A is at least substantially parallel to the longitudinal extent L of the contact elements 1. This allows a simple and compact construction of a bus line and thus of a bus system. At the left-hand end of the bus system B in Fig. 4, in this case at the male contact section 10B of the left-hand contact element 1 in Fig. 4, an end contact 3 is also arranged, in this case via a female contact section. As further shown in Fig. 4, some of the third contact sections 10C are in electrically conductive engagement with further components 2, while some of the third contact sections 10C remain free. Fig.5 shows a contact element 1 which is in engagement with two further contact elements 1, wherein the male contact sections 10B of the contact elements 1 are each in engagement with the female contact sections 10A of (further) contact elements 1.
[0053] The male contact section 10B of the (further) contact element 1 is held and contacted, in particular by the legs 103, 104 of the female contact section 10A of the contact element 1. In this assembled state, the width of the constriction 102 is increased compared to the unassembled state. In this assembled state, the female contact section 10A and, in this case, the legs 103, 104, is / are preloaded against the male contact section 10B. In this way, the male contact section 10B is held in a force-fitting manner in the receptacle 100 of the female contact section 10A.
[0054] Also shown is a component 2 in contacting arrangement with a third contact section 10C. The plate-shaped component 2 is held and contacted between the legs 103', 104' (clamping). This allows for additional power supply or even branching of the bus system B, depending on requirements, via the third contact section 10C.
[0055] Fig. 6 shows a set S comprising a plurality of contact elements 1. These contact elements 1 are identical in construction and, in the example shown, are heterogeneous, as described above, with a male contact section 10A and a female contact section 10B. However, it is also conceivable for the set S to also comprise homogeneous contact elements, wherein the opposing contact sections are, for example, both female or both male for arranging them in series. To construct a bus system, heterogeneous and / or homogeneous contact elements can then be arranged in series, wherein a male contact section is engaged with a female contact section.
[0056] List of reference symbols
[0057] 1 contact element
[0058] 100 recordings
[0059] 101 Opening
[0060] 102, 102' bottleneck
[0061] 103, 103', 104, 104' thighs
[0062] 105, 105' overspring
[0063] 107, 107', 108, 108' Legs 10A, 10B, 10C Contact section
[0064] 11 A, 11 B, 11 C Page
[0065] 12 basic bodies
[0066] 13 Holding element
[0067] 130 stopping section
[0068] 2 components
[0069] 3 End contact
[0070] A Arranging direction
[0071] B bus system
[0072] L Longitudinal extension
[0073] S Set
Claims
Patent claims 1. Contact element (1) for establishing an electrical connection with identically constructed contact elements (1), comprising a female contact section (10A), a male contact section (10B) designed to match thereto, and a third contact section (10C) for electrical connection to a further component (2), wherein at least the female contact section (10A) and the male contact section (10B) are arranged on different sides (11A, 11B) of the contact element (1), wherein the female contact section (10A), the male contact section (10B), and the third contact section (10C) are firmly and electrically conductively connected to one another via a common base body (12).
2. Contact element (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the female contact section (10A) and the male contact section (10B) are arranged on opposite sides (11A, 11B) of the contact element (1).
3. Contact element (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the third contact section (10C) is arranged on a further side (11C) of the contact element (1).
4. Contact element (1) according to claim 3 as far as dependent on claim 2, characterized in that the further side (11C) lies between the two opposite sides (11A, 11B).
5. Contact element (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact element (1) is elongated along a longitudinal extent (L) and the female contact section (11 A) and the male contact section (11 B) are aligned along the longitudinal extent (L) of the contact element (1).
6. Contact element (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the female contact section (11A) and the male contact section (11B) point in opposite directions and the third contact section (10C) is oriented perpendicular thereto.
7. Contact element (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the female contact section (10A) is elastically deformable.
8. Contact element (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the female contact section (10A) is designed as a clamping contact, in particular as a tulip contact.
9. Contact element (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the third contact section (10C) is female or male.
10. Contact element (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the female contact section (11 A) has an over-spring (105). 1 1. Contact element (1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least a part of the female contact section (11 A), at least a part of the male contact section (11 B) and at least a part of the third contact section (11 C) are integrally connected to one another.
12. Contact element (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact element (1) is designed as a bent sheet metal part.
13. Contact element (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a plurality of holding elements (13) for fastening the contact element (1) to a housing, wherein the holding elements (13) are arranged between the female contact section (10A) and the male contact section (10B) and / or wherein the third contact section (10C) is arranged between the holding elements (13).
14. Set (S) comprising a plurality of contact elements (1) for establishing an electrical connection, wherein the contact elements (1) each comprise a female contact section (10A) and a male contact section (10B) designed to match thereto, wherein the contact sections (10A, 10B) are each arranged on different sides (11A, 11B) of the contact element (1), wherein the female contact section (10A) and the male contact section (10B) are firmly and electrically conductively connected to one another via a common base body (12), and wherein, to establish an electrical connection, the female The contact section (10A) of each contact element (1) can be brought into electrically conductive engagement with the male contact section (10B) of another contact element (1) along a row direction (A).
15. Set (S) according to claim 14, characterized in that the contact elements (1) are structurally identical to one another.
16. Set (S) according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that one or more of the contact elements (1) is / are designed according to one of claims 1 to 13.
17. Bus system (B) comprising the set (S) according to one of claims 14 to 16 and / or at least two contact elements (1) according to one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the contact elements (1) are electrically conductively connected to one another along a row direction (A).