Busbar assembly for overvoltage protection devices

Abstract

Proposed and described is a busbar assembly (1) for overvoltage protection devices (2) which have a housing (5, 6) having at least one overvoltage component (7) arranged therein and which have at least two conductor connection clamps (8), wherein the busbar assembly (1) is used for electrically connecting the terminals of the at least one overvoltage component (7) to the conductor connection clamps (8). The busbar assembly (1) according to the invention can be particularly easily adapted to different connection schemes of different overvoltage protection devices (2) in that: the busbar assembly (1) has a base portion (9), a plurality of terminal portions (10) and a plurality of connecting portions (11), wherein each of the individual terminal portions (10) is connected via a connecting portion (11) to the base portion (9); half of the terminal portions (10) are arranged adjacent to one another in a row on each side of the base portion (9), such that two rows of terminal portions (10) are arranged on opposite sides of the base portion (9); and the individual terminal portions (10) can be separated from the base portion (9) by virtue of the respectively associated connecting portion (11) being severed.

Description

[0001] Busbar arrangement for surge protection devices

[0002] The invention relates to a busbar arrangement for surge protection devices, which comprise a housing with at least one surge component arranged therein and at least two conductor connection terminals. The busbar arrangement serves to electrically connect the terminals of the at least one surge component to the conductor connection terminals. Furthermore, the invention also relates to a method for producing such a busbar arrangement.

[0003] Surge protection devices are used extensively in various designs to protect electrical circuits, systems, machines, and equipment. Depending on the application and protection level, the surge protection devices feature different surge-limiting components and different designs. Spark gaps, gas-filled surge arresters, and varistors, as well as combinations of these components, are particularly used as surge-limiting components.

[0004] Surge protective devices often contain multiple surge components, which are interconnected differently depending on their intended use and installation location. This is especially true for surge protective devices used in three-phase systems. Multi-pole surge protective devices require different connection schemes depending on the type of network in which the surge protective devices are to be used.

[0005] In a TN-C system, for example, a so-called 3+0 circuit is always used, in which a protective path, i.e. a surge protection component, is provided between each of the three outer conductors (LI, L2, L3) and the protective conductor PE or the PEN conductor. In a TN-S system, both a 4+0 circuit and a 3+1 circuit can be used. In a 4+0 circuit, a protective path is provided between the four active conductors (outer conductor and neutral conductor N) and the protective conductor PE, whereas a 3+1 circuit has a protective path between each outer conductor and the neutral conductor and a protective path between the neutral conductor and the protective conductor. Therefore, depending on the location for which the individual surge protective devices are intended, different busbar arrangements must be implemented or kept in stock.

[0006] DE 100 58 977 B4 discloses a multi-pole, surge-current-resistant surge arrester with internally hard-wired, encapsulated spark gaps arranged in parallel within a housing. The spark gaps have opposing, protruding contact surfaces connected to external terminals and internal contact rails. The internal wiring level change required in the illustrated 3+1 circuit is achieved using a pluggable, Z-shaped wiring level changeover bridge. The wiring level changeover bridge is said to have the advantage of being easily inserted into the housing and making positive contact with the contact surfaces of two spark gaps.

[0007] DE 10 2009 047 478 A1 discloses a lead frame for connecting components in a vehicle. The lead frame has an overmolding and a number of individual conductor tracks. An opening is provided in the overmolded lead frame through which two conductor tracks are severed. A crossing element can be inserted into this opening, which reconnects the severed conductor tracks by crossing them at least once. By punching out the opening and inserting the crossing element, different conductor tracks can be connected to one another.

[0008] The present invention is based on the object of providing a busbar arrangement for surge protection devices as described above, which is as simple in design as possible and can be manufactured cost-effectively. The busbar arrangement should be particularly easy to adapt to different connection schemes of different surge protection devices.

[0009] This object is achieved in the busbar arrangement described at the outset with the features of patent claim 1. The busbar arrangement according to the invention has a base section, a plurality of terminal sections, and a plurality of connecting sections, wherein the individual terminal sections are each connected to the base section via a connecting section. Half of the terminal sections are arranged next to one another in a row on one side of the base section, so that two rows of terminal sections are arranged on the two opposite sides of the base section. The connecting sections are designed such that the individual terminal sections can each be separated from the base section by severing the respectively associated connecting section.

[0010] According to the invention, a busbar assembly is provided that fundamentally enables the different connection schemes required for different surge protection devices. Thus, a busbar assembly can be manufactured and kept in stock as a "basic assembly," which can be customized for a specific connection scheme by simply separating individual connection sections. The completed busbar assembly can then be inserted and installed into the housing of a corresponding surge protection device. The separation of individual connection sections, or the associated severing of the associated connecting sections, can be carried out easily, particularly by means of punching.

[0011] It was stated at the beginning that the busbar arrangement is intended for surge protection devices with at least one surge component arranged in the housing. Although the busbar arrangement can in principle also be used with a surge protection device with only one surge component, the busbar arrangement is preferably used for surge protection devices that have multiple surge components and are used in a multi-phase system, in particular a three-phase system.In such a use of the busbar arrangement, it preferably has eight connection sections and eight connecting sections, wherein on both sides of the centrally arranged base section four connection sections and correspondingly also four connecting sections are arranged next to one another, so that two rows with four connection sections each are arranged opposite one another on the two opposite sides of the base section.

[0012] If such a busbar arrangement is to be used with a surge protection device with a 3+1 circuit, one connecting section is severed on one side of the base section, while three connecting sections are severed on the other side of the base section. However, if the busbar arrangement is to be mounted on a surge protection device with a 4+0 circuit, all four connecting sections are severed on one side of the base section, while all four connecting sections on the other side of the base section remain connected to the base section via their respective connecting sections.

[0013] According to a preferred embodiment of the busbar arrangement according to the invention, the individual connection sections each have a busbar section that forms part of a conductor connection terminal of the surge protection device. The conductor connection terminal can be designed, for example, as a screw connection or a spring-loaded terminal, so that a conductor to be connected to the conductor connection terminal is clamped against the busbar section formed on the corresponding connection section by means of a screw or a clamping spring.

[0014] According to a further advantageous embodiment, individual connection sections of the busbar arrangement each have at least two opposing contact arms, which together form a plug contact for connecting an overvoltage component. This makes connecting the individual overvoltage components to the individual connection sections particularly simple, since the preferably pin- or blade-shaped connections of the overvoltage components only need to be inserted into the corresponding plug contacts on the connection sections.

[0015] The plug contacts can each be designed as a type of contact tulip, with the individual contact arms having a curved shape. More than two contact arms can also be formed, which together form a plug contact or a contact tulip. Likewise, the individual contact arms of a plug contact can be slotted, forming individual contact fingers that together form a plug contact.

[0016] The plug contacts can be manufactured in different ways. For example, according to one embodiment, at least one contact arm can be designed as a tongue punched out of the busbar arrangement, particularly in the connection area, and bent. Alternatively, however, the plug contacts can also be designed as separate parts that are attached to the busbar arrangement. Attachment to the busbar arrangement can be achieved, in particular, by welding or soldering. This embodiment has the advantage that a different material can be used for the plug contacts than for the rest of the busbar arrangement.

[0017] According to a further embodiment, the plug contacts can have an additional over-spring, which is designed such that it at least partially surrounds at least two contact arms from the outside. By arranging an over-spring on the plug contact, the contact forces of the plug contact can be increased. This can also be achieved, in particular, by making the over-springs of a different material than the plug contacts or the rest of the busbar arrangement.

[0018] According to an alternative embodiment, individual connection sections can each have at least one opening that forms a contact receptacle for a connection of an overvoltage component. The connection of the overvoltage component is then preferably designed to be resilient, ensuring good electrical contact between the connection and the busbar arrangement when the connection is inserted into the opening.

[0019] The individual connection sections preferably each have both a busbar section, which forms part of a conductor connection terminal, and a plug contact or an opening as a contact receptacle for a connection of a surge protection component. This allows for a particularly short connection between the respective connection of a surge protection component and the associated conductor connection terminal or the conductor connected to it.

[0020] In principle, the individual connection sections of a busbar arrangement can be designed differently. For example, individual plug contacts can be attached to the busbar arrangement as separate parts, while other plug contacts are formed by contact arms that are part of the busbar arrangement, in particular by a tongue punched out of the busbar arrangement and bent over. Additionally or alternatively, individual connection sections can also have an opening, each of which forms a contact receptacle for connecting a surge protection component. In addition, the busbar sections of the individual connection sections can also be designed differently, so that, for example, some busbar sections are optimized for a screw connection and others for a spring-cage connection.

[0021] It has been explained above that the individual connection sections are each connected to the base section via a connecting section. According to a preferred embodiment of the busbar arrangement according to the invention, the individual connection sections each have two connecting webs arranged parallel to one another. This not only reduces the cross-section of the connecting sections, so that they can be severed more easily, but also ensures a secure and stable connection of a connection section to the base section via the two connecting webs. It is particularly advantageous if the first contact arm of the individual connection sections is formed by an inner contact tongue that is punched out and bent between the connecting webs.The material of the flat metal strip from which the busbar arrangement is made, which is punched out to create the two connecting webs, is thus used directly to form the first contact arm, so that the material of the metal strip is used optimally and very little waste is generated.

[0022] According to a further embodiment, the busbar arrangement can be constructed or designed mirror-symmetrically to the longitudinal axis of the base section. This further simplifies the manufacture of the busbar arrangement, since no attention needs to be paid to the orientation of the busbar arrangement during completion of the busbar arrangement. It is therefore irrelevant whether an individual connection section is separated by cutting through the respective associated connecting section from the first side or from the second side of the base section, as long as the desired connection pattern can be implemented with the finished busbar arrangement.

[0023] The invention further relates to a method for producing a busbar arrangement for a surge protection device, wherein the busbar arrangement is produced from a flat metal strip. In the method according to the invention, the flat contour of the busbar arrangement is punched out in a first step, wherein the busbar arrangement has a base section, a plurality of terminal sections, and a plurality of connecting sections. The individual terminal sections are each connected to the base section via a connecting section, wherein half of the terminal sections are arranged next to one another in a row on one of the two sides of the base section, so that a total of two rows of terminal sections are arranged on the two opposite sides of the base section.

[0024] To ensure that the punched-out busbar assembly enables the desired connection pattern of a surge protection device, the connecting section of at least one connection section is severed in a further step, so that the connection section is no longer connected to the base section. The cutting of the connecting section is preferably carried out in the same way as the production of the busbar assembly by punching. The finished busbar assembly can therefore also be referred to as a lead frame.

[0025] The metal strip used as the starting material for the busbar assembly to be manufactured can generally be significantly longer than the punched-out busbar assembly, allowing multiple busbar assemblies to be punched out from a single metal strip. Furthermore, the use of a relatively long metal strip also offers the possibility of punching out busbar assemblies with a different number of terminal sections and, accordingly, with a different number of connecting sections, depending on the application. In addition to busbar assemblies with a total of eight terminal sections, busbar assemblies with six terminal sections, or with only four or two terminal sections, can also be punched out.A busbar arrangement with only two connection sections can then be used with a surge protective device that is used in a 1-phase system and has only one surge component.

[0026] As already described above in connection with the busbar arrangement according to the invention, the individual connection sections preferably each have a busbar section and a plug contact formed from two opposing contact arms. To produce the first contact arms, an inner contact tongue can be punched out of the metal strip in the region of the individual connection sections and bent over, so that the main extension of the inner contact tongue is arranged approximately perpendicular to the connection section or the base section. By punching out and bending the inner contact tongue, two connecting webs arranged parallel to one another are simultaneously formed from a flat connection section, via which connecting webs the connection section is connected to the base section.

[0027] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, the second contact arms of the individual plug contacts or the individual connection sections are each bent away from the associated connection section or the two connecting webs in such a way that the main extension of the second contact arms runs approximately parallel to the main extension of the first contact arms. The individual busbar sections of the connection sections then run approximately perpendicular to the main extension of the respectively associated second contact arm, so that the busbar sections are arranged in a plane parallel to the base section. The busbar sections form the free end of the connection sections.

[0028] Overall, the busbar assembly according to the invention can be manufactured very easily and thus cost-effectively using the method according to the invention, since the busbar assembly can be produced from a flat metal strip by punching and bending. The busbar assembly is designed in such a way that relatively little waste is generated during its production, thus ensuring optimal use of the material of the metal strip from which the busbar assembly is punched.

[0029] In detail, there are several possibilities for designing and developing the busbar arrangement according to the invention. Reference is made to the individual patent claims as well as to the following description of preferred embodiments in conjunction with the drawings. The drawings show:

[0030] Fig. 1 is a simplified representation of a surge protection device, consisting of several plug parts and a device base,

[0031] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a busbar arrangement,

[0032] Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the busbar arrangement according to Fig. 2, assembled for use in a multi-pole surge protection device with a 3+1 circuit, Fig. 4 is an exploded view of the lower part of a two-part surge protection device,

[0033] Fig. 5 individual process steps for producing the busbar arrangement according to Fig. 2,

[0034] Fig. 6 three alternative designs of the busbar arrangement, and

[0035] Fig. 7 different variants of prefabricated busbar arrangements.

[0036] Fig. 1 shows a simplified representation of a surge protection device 2. The surge protection device 2 is preferably designed in several parts, namely, it has four plug parts 3 and a device base 4, as shown in Fig. 1. The plug parts 3 can each be easily plugged onto the U-shaped device base 4 and, for example, to replace a defective plug part 3, can also be easily removed from the device base 4 again without having to disconnect the cables connected to the device base 4. The plug parts 3 each have a plug housing 5, and the device base 4 has a base housing 6, which lock together when the plug parts 3 are plugged onto the device base 4. In the preferred multi-part design of the surge protection device 2, the housing is therefore also designed in several parts, namely, it consists of the individual plug housings 5 ​​and the base housing 6.

[0037] Four plug parts 3 can be plugged onto the device base 4 shown in Fig. 1, each of which has an overvoltage component 7 indicated by dashed lines, so that the surge protection device 2 has a total of four overvoltage components 7, which can be varistors or spark gaps, for example. In contrast to the exemplary embodiment shown in Fig. 1, a device base 4 of the surge protection device 2 can also be designed to accommodate more or fewer than four plug parts 3. Likewise, the individual plug parts 3 can also have more than just one overvoltage component. For example, two plug parts could be plugged onto the device base 4 shown in Fig. 1, each of which has two overvoltage components and is twice the width of the four plug parts 3 shown in Fig. 1. Fig.2 shows a perspective view of a preferred exemplary embodiment of a busbar arrangement 1 according to the invention. The busbar arrangement 1 has an elongated base section 9, a plurality of connection sections 10, and a plurality of connecting sections 11, wherein the individual connection sections 10 are each connected to the base section 9 via a connecting section 11. In the exemplary embodiment shown, a total of eight connection sections 10 and correspondingly eight connecting sections 11 are provided, wherein half of the connection sections 10, i.e. four connection sections 10 in each case, are arranged next to one another in a row on one side of the base section 9. The busbar arrangement 1 thus has two rows of four connection sections 10 each on the two opposite sides of the base section 9.In this case, two connection sections 10 and thus also two connecting sections 11 are located opposite each other on the opposite sides of the base section 9, so that the busbar arrangement 1 is designed symmetrically overall. However, this does not preclude the opposing connection sections 10 from being designed slightly differently, as can also be seen in Figs. 2 and 3.

[0038] The individual connection sections 10 of the busbar arrangement 1 each have a busbar section 12 at their free end, which forms part of a conductor connection terminal 8 of the surge protection device 2. Furthermore, in the embodiment shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the individual connection sections 10 each have two opposing contact arms 13, 14, which together form a plug contact 15 for a pin- or blade-shaped connection of a surge component 7.

[0039] The busbar arrangement 1 shown in Fig. 2 represents a type of basic arrangement that can be used for various surge protection devices 2 with different connection diagrams. Depending on the type of circuit or connection diagram to be implemented for a specific surge protection device 2, the busbar arrangement 1 is configured accordingly by separating individual connection sections 10 from the base section 9 by severing the respective associated connecting section 11.

[0040] Fig. 3 shows a busbar arrangement 1 intended for use in a multi-pole surge protective device 2 with a 3+1 circuit. It can be seen that on the left side of the base section 9, a connecting section 11 of a terminal section 10, namely the rear connecting section 11 in Figure 3, has been severed or removed. On the second, right-hand side of the base section 9, however, the connecting sections 11 of three terminal sections 10 have been severed or removed, so that only one terminal section 10, the rear connecting section 10 in Fig. 3, is connected to the base section 9 via the associated connecting section 11.

[0041] The busbar arrangement 1 shown in Fig. 3 thus realizes a 3+1 circuit if the busbar section 12 arranged at the rear on the left side of the base section 9 forms part of a conductor connection terminal 8 for a PE conductor, the busbar section 12 arranged at the rear on the right side of the base section 9 forms part of a conductor connection terminal 8 for a neutral conductor N and the other three busbar sections 12 arranged on the right side of the base section 9 each form part of a conductor connection terminal 8 for an outer conductor LI, L2, L3.

[0042] 2 and 3, the individual connecting sections 11 each consist of two connecting webs 11', 11" arranged parallel to one another. The first contact arm 13 of the individual connecting sections 10 or of the individual plug contacts 15 is in each case formed by an inner contact tongue which is punched out between the two connecting webs 11', 11" of a connecting section 11 and bent approximately 90°. In addition, the second contact arms 14 of the connecting sections 10 or of the individual plug contacts 15 are each bent approximately perpendicularly from the associated connecting section 11, so that the two contact arms 13, 14 lie essentially parallel to one another.From the end of the second contact arm 14 facing away from the connecting section 11, the busbar section 12 is bent such that the busbar section 12 is aligned substantially perpendicular to the second contact arm 14.

[0043] In the illustrated busbar arrangement 1, the individual connecting sections 11 or the individual connecting webs 11', 11" are each arranged in a plane with the base section 9. The contact arms 13, 14 of the individual connection sections 10, in contrast, are arranged approximately perpendicular to the respective connecting section 11 and thus also perpendicular to the base section 9. Since the individual busbar sections 12 are each arranged approximately perpendicular to the contact arms 13, 14 and the busbar sections 12 are bent away from the second contact arm 14, the busbar sections 12 are located in a plane parallel to the plane of the base section 9, wherein the busbar sections 12 are each arranged offset outwards from the base section 9 and form the free ends of the connection sections 10.

[0044] Fig. 4 shows an embodiment of a device base 4 into which the busbar arrangement 1 according to Fig. 3 can be inserted. The device base 4 has a two-part base housing 6, wherein the busbar arrangement 1 is inserted and locked in the lower part 19 of the base housing 6. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, the individual conductor connection terminals 8, which are also inserted into corresponding recesses in the lower part 19 of the base housing 6, are designed as screw connections into which the individual busbar sections 12 of the busbar arrangement 1 protrude. After the busbar arrangement 1 and the individual screw connections have been inserted into the lower part 19 of the base housing 6, the upper part 20 is placed onto the lower part 19 and locked thereto.Openings 21 are formed in the upper part 20, into which the plug contacts 15 of the busbar arrangement 1 protrude from below, so that when the overvoltage components 7 are plugged onto the upper part 20, the connections of the overvoltage components 7 can be plugged through the openings 21 into the plug contacts 15 and the overvoltage components 7 can thereby be connected to the busbar arrangement 1.

[0045] Fig. 5 shows various process steps for producing a busbar arrangement 1 according to Fig. 2 or Fig. 3. The starting point for producing the busbar arrangement 1 is a flat, long metal strip 22, which has a length that is several times the length of the busbar arrangement 1 according to Fig. 2. Fig. 5a shows the flat metal strip 22 in its basic state, with the flat contour of a busbar arrangement 1 already punched out at the left end of the metal strip 22. Here, the individual terminal sections 10 and the individual connecting sections 11 have already been punched out.

[0046] Fig. 5b shows the metal strip 22 after the next processing step(s), in which the first contact arms 13 and the second contact arms 14 are each bent upwards perpendicular to the connecting webs 11', 11". In addition, the busbar sections 12 are also bent from the second contact arms 14, so that the busbar sections 12 extend perpendicular to the contact arms 13, 14. The starting point is the metal strip 21 according to Fig. 5a, in which - in contrast to the illustration according to Fig. 5a - the individual connection sections 10 and the individual connection sections 11 are punched out over the entire length of the metal strip 21.

[0047] Fig. 5c shows a busbar arrangement according to Fig. 2, which has been separated from the metal strip 22 according to Fig. 5b according to the desired length or the desired number of connection sections 10.

[0048] Fig. 6 shows three embodiments of the busbar arrangement 1 shown in Fig. 2, i.e., a busbar arrangement 1 having an elongated base section 9, eight terminal sections 10, and eight connecting sections 11, with four terminal sections 10 arranged in a row next to one another on one side of the base section 9. In all three embodiments, the individual terminal sections 10 each have a busbar section 12, with the busbar sections 12 being arranged in a plane parallel to the plane of the base section 9.

[0049] In the busbar arrangement 1 shown in Fig. 6a, the individual connecting sections 10 each have an opening 17 that forms a contact receptacle for a connection of an overvoltage component. The openings 17 are each arranged near the connecting section 11, so that the openings 17 are located in the plane of the base section 9 or the connecting sections 11.

[0050] Fig. 6b shows an embodiment of the busbar arrangement 1 shown in Fig. 2, in which the individual connection sections 10 each have two opposing contact arms 13, 14, which together form a plug contact 15 for a pin- or blade-shaped connection of an overvoltage component 7. In this embodiment, both contact arms 13, 14 are formed by tongues punched out of the busbar arrangement 1 and bent over. The first contact arm 13 is formed by a tongue that is punched out and bent over between the two connecting webs 11', 11". The second contact arm 14, on the other hand, is formed by a tongue that is punched out and bent over from a section 18 that is aligned essentially perpendicular to the connecting webs 11', 11". In addition, the two contact arms 13, 14 have a curved shape, so that the plug contact 15 has the shape of a contact tulip. Fig. 6c shows a variant of the contact shown in Fig.6b. Here, too, the individual connection sections 10 each have two opposing contact arms 13, 14, which together form a plug contact 15, wherein the two contact arms 13, 14 are also formed by tongues punched out and bent from the busbar arrangement 1. In contrast to the embodiment variant according to Fig. 6b, the plug contacts 15 each have an over-spring 16, which surrounds the two contact arms 13, 14 in their upper region from the outside, whereby the contact force of these tulip-shaped plug contacts 15 is increased compared to a plug contact without an over-spring 16. The over-spring 16 is preferably made of a different material than the contact arms 15, 16 or the rest of the busbar arrangement 1.

[0051] Fig. 7 shows seven different variants of prefabricated busbar assemblies 1 by way of example. Fig. 7a shows a busbar assembly 1 for a 3+1 circuit, and Fig. 7b shows a busbar assembly 1 for a 4+0 circuit. Figures 7c and 7d show a busbar assembly 1 for a 2+1 circuit and a 3+0 circuit, respectively, and Figures 7e and 7f show a busbar assembly 1 for a 1+1 circuit and a 2+0 circuit, respectively. Finally, Fig. 7g shows a busbar assembly 1 for a 1+0 circuit.

[0052] Reference symbol Busbar arrangement Surge protection device Plug part Device base Plug housing Base housing Surge component Conductor connection terminals Base section . Connection sections . Connecting sections ', 11" Connecting bars . Busbar section . 1st contact arm . 2nd contact arm . Plug contact . Overspring . Opening . Section . Lower section . Upper section . Opening . Metal strip

Claims

Patent claims 1. Busbar arrangement (1) for surge protection devices (2), which have a housing (5, 6) with at least one surge component (7) arranged therein and at least two conductor connection terminals (8), wherein the busbar arrangement (1) serves to electrically connect the connections of the at least one surge component (7) to the conductor connection terminals (8), characterized in that the busbar arrangement (1) has a base section (9), a plurality of connection sections (10), and a plurality of connection sections (11), wherein the individual connection sections (10) are each connected to the base section (9) via a connection section (11), that half of the connection sections (10) are arranged next to one another in a row on one side of the base section (9), so that two rows of connection sections (10) are arranged on opposite sides of the base section (9),and that the individual connection sections (10) can be separated from the base section (9) by cutting through the respectively associated connecting section (11).

2. Busbar arrangement (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the individual connection sections (10) each have a busbar section (12) which forms part of a conductor connection terminal.

3. Busbar arrangement (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that individual connection sections (10) each have at least two contact arms (13, 14) which together form a plug contact (15) for connecting an overvoltage component (7).

4. Busbar arrangement (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that at least one contact arm (13) is designed as a tongue punched out of the busbar arrangement (1) and bent.

5. Busbar arrangement (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that plug contacts (15) are attached as separate parts to the busbar arrangement (1), in particular soldered or welded on.

6. Busbar arrangement (1) according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the plug contacts (15) each have an over-spring (16) which at least partially surrounds at least two contact arms (13, 14) from the outside, wherein the plug contacts (15) and the over-springs (16) are preferably made of different materials.

7. Busbar arrangement (1) according to claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the individual connecting sections (11) each have two connecting webs (11', 11") arranged parallel to one another, and in that the first contact arm (13) of the individual connecting sections (10) is each formed by an inner contact tongue which is punched out and bent between the two connecting webs (11', 11").

8. Busbar arrangement (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that individual connection sections (10) each have at least one opening (17) which forms a contact receptacle for a connection of an overvoltage component (7).

9. Busbar arrangement (1) according to claim 2 and 3, characterized in that the individual connecting sections (11) are arranged in a plane with the base section (9), that the main extension of the contact arms (13, 14) of the individual connection sections (10) each runs approximately perpendicular to the respective connecting section (11) and that the individual busbar sections (12) are each arranged approximately perpendicular to the main extension of the contact arms (13, 14).

10. Busbar arrangement (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that the busbar sections (12) of the individual connection sections are each bent away from the associated second contact arm (14) of the plug contact (15).

11. Method for producing a busbar arrangement (1) for a surge protection device (2) from a flat metal strip (22), characterized in that in a first step the flat contour of the busbar arrangement (1) with a base section (9), several connection sections (10) and several connecting sections (11) is punched out, wherein the individual connection sections (10) are each connected to the base section (9) via a connecting section (11) and each Half of the connection sections (10) are arranged next to one another in a row on one side of the base section (9), so that two rows of connection sections (10) are arranged on opposite sides of the base section (9), and that in a further step the connecting section (11) of at least one connection section (10) is severed, so that the busbar arrangement (1) enables a desired connection scheme of the surge protection device (2).

12. Method according to claim 11, characterized in that an inner contact tongue is punched out and bent from the metal strip (22) in the region of the individual connecting sections (11), so that two connecting webs (11', 11") arranged parallel to one another are formed and the inner contact tongue forms a first contact arm (13) of a plug contact (15) for connecting an overvoltage component (7).

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the individual connection sections (10) each have two mutually opposite contact arms (13, 14), characterized in that the main extension of the second contact arms (14) of the individual connection sections (10) each runs approximately perpendicular to the associated connecting section (11) and the individual busbar sections (12) are each bent approximately perpendicular to the main extension of the associated second contact arm (14).

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the individual connection sections (10) each have two mutually opposite contact arms (13, 14), characterized in that the second contact arms (14) of the individual connection sections (10) are each punched out from a section (18) of the individual connection sections (10) and bent in such a way that they each form a plug contact (15) for connecting an overvoltage component (7) together with the first contact arms (13).

15. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that the plug contacts (15) are fastened, in particular soldered or welded, as separate parts to a section of the busbar arrangement (1), wherein the section lies in a plane with the base section (9).

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