Contact protection for a busbar system, comprising a sensor arrangement and corresponding measuring arrangement

Abstract

The invention relates to a contact protection (1) for a busbar system, comprising a contact protection housing (2) made of electrically insulating material, wherein the contact protection housing (2) has multiple receptacles (3) for busbars (4) and a cover (5) covering the receptacles (3) for the mounting of connection adapters (20), wherein the cover (5) has at least one row of through-openings (6) per receptacle, which open into the respective receptacle (3), characterized in that at least one sensor arrangement (30) for determining a physical measurement variable with respect to at least one of the busbars (4) is arranged in the contact protection housing (2). The invention also relates to a corresponding measuring arrangement.

Description

[0001] Touch protection for a busbar system, with a sensor arrangement and a corresponding measuring arrangement

[0002] The invention relates to a touch guard for a busbar system, comprising a touch guard housing made of electrically insulating material. The touch guard housing has several receptacles for busbars and a cover over the receptacles for mounting connection adapters. The cover has at least one row of through-holes for each receptacle, opening into the respective receptacle. A multi-pole connection adapter, for example, can pass through the cover via these through-holes with its retaining and / or contact feet and engage behind the busbars held in the receptacles. Such a touch guard is known from DE102016107565A1. Similar touch guards are also described in US2021 / 0399509A1, US2022 / 0320835A1, and EP3766146B1.

[0003] Such arrangements are used in switchgear and control system construction. For electrical switchgear and control systems, monitoring the power consumption of the electrical switchgear is desirable, especially in light of increasing efforts to save energy. A connection adapter for field-based current measurement is described in WO2017148826A1.

[0004] EP3772796B1 describes a busbar holder for fixing busbars in a low-voltage distribution board. It describes a current measuring device that detects the magnetic field generated by the busbars. The current measuring device is designed as a current transformer with a magnetic core and a transformer coil wound around it, the ends of which are electrically connected to the measuring device. The busbar holder is a two-part design: a base for mounting the busbar holder system in the control cabinet, with a receptacle for the busbar, and a cover that can be attached to the base. The magnetic core is also a two-part design, comprising a lower and an upper part that are connected to each other when mounted.The lower part is wound with the converter coil and is received and held in the base part of the busbar holder, while the upper part is received and held in the cover part of the busbar holder.

[0005] EP3187886B1 relates to a connection adapter for a busbar system with several parallel busbars for supplying power to consumer units or loads via a switching device. The disclosed measuring module can perform field measurements to determine the current. In one embodiment, the currents of the current phases are measured using Rogowski coils contained in the measuring module, or using shunts, or using Hall sensors, or using current transformers.

[0006] JP06256838B2 describes a control cabinet with a busbar system included in the control cabinet, which provides shielding on the busbars to improve field-based current measurement.

[0007] WO2021013318A1 describes a measuring adapter for contact current measurement.

[0008] EP2982994B1 describes a sensor and a method for current measurement in busbars, in which the correction of the influence of the interference of the magnetic fields of several energized busbars is provided.

[0009] The arrangements known from the prior art have the disadvantage that they are complex in design, particularly due to the fact that effective shielding of the knife adapters is required for a precise field-based determination of at least one physical measurement quantity with respect to the busbar system.

[0010] It is therefore the object of the invention to further develop a contact protection device of the type described above in such a way that it is prepared for the precise field-based determination of at least one physical measurement quantity.

[0011] This problem is solved by a contact protection device with the features of claim 1. A corresponding measuring arrangement is further proposed. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the respective dependent claims.

[0012] Accordingly, a touch protection device for a busbar system is designed to include at least one sensor arrangement for determining a physical measurand with respect to at least one of the busbars. Unlike a prior art measuring adapter, which has a sensor for field-based determination of a physical measurand, the arrangement of the sensor arrangement within the touch protection housing ensures a defined relative position between the sensor arrangement and the housing's mountings or the busbars it contains. This increases measurement precision, for example, by taking into account expected measurement errors due to interference fields, such as offsets during signal processing.

[0013] The sensor arrangement can include at least one sensor, preferably a magnetic field sensor. The sensor can be a TMR sensor, a GMR sensor, an AMR sensor, or a Hall sensor. The sensor technology used is generally unlimited. Sensors for field-based measurement are preferred, as this enables contactless measurement, particularly contactless measurement with respect to the mountings or the busbars mounted therein. The described touch protection is especially suitable for contactless, field-based current measurement of at least one busbar of a busbar system mounted in one of the mountings.

[0014] The sensor assembly can be permanently installed in the touch-proof housing. Alternatively, the sensor assembly can be detachably mounted in the touch-proof housing. The touch-proof housing can have a lower part in which the receptacles are arranged, open to a top surface of the lower part so that the busbars can be inserted into the lower part through the top surface. The cover can be attached to the lower part, for example by snapping or screwing it on, with the cover closing the receptacles so that the busbars are held in the receptacles. Preferably, the sensor assembly has a defined mounting position with respect to one of the receptacles or the busbar it holds.Preferably, the sensor arrangement is located on the rear side of one of the receptacles, facing away from the cover of the touch-protection housing. Particularly preferably, a detection area of ​​the sensor arrangement, or of at least one sensor of the sensor arrangement, faces the receptacle or a busbar held in the receptacle. The sensor arrangement can comprise several identical or different sensors, for example, magnetic field sensors, which can be arranged on a printed circuit board. The multiple sensors can be arranged in a common plane. The multiple sensors can form a sensor array of sensors regularly spaced apart in one, two, or three spatial dimensions. The sensor arrangement can have at least one assigned sensor, preferably at least one magnetic field sensor, for several of the receptacles, preferably for all of them.Each mounting point can accommodate multiple sensors, for example, a sensor array consisting of sensors arranged in a common plane and spaced regularly apart from one another. The sensor arrangement, for example, a circuit board supporting the at least one sensor or the at least one sensor array, can be adjustable relative to the touch-protection housing, in particular at least one of the mounting points, especially in a plane parallel to a plane defined by the mounting points or a mounting plane of the cover, and in particular, it can be slidably adjusted. This allows for adjustment of the position of the sensor arrangement relative to the at least one mounting point or a busbar mounted therein. The adjustability, in particular the slidability, can also serve to adjust the sensor arrangement relative to different mounting points of the multiple mounting points.to position the integrated busbars, for example, if the sensor arrangement has only one sensor, such as a magnetic field sensor, or only one sensor array, which is configured for measurement with respect to exactly one of the busbars. The adjustability, in particular the sliding capability of the sensor arrangement, can also serve to insert the sensor arrangement into at least one sensor receptacle of the touch protection housing.

[0015] The at least one sensor arrangement can include at least one magnetic field sensor for field-based current measurement, preferably a TMR sensor, an AMR sensor, a GMR sensor, or a Hall sensor. Alternatively or additionally, the sensor arrangement can include at least one temperature sensor, for example, an infrared sensor or a resistance temperature detector (RTD). The sensor arrangement can include further sensors for detecting relevant operating parameters of an electrical switchgear, for example, an air quality sensor or a humidity sensor. The sensor arrangement can be configured to detect the concentration of a flammable gas, in particular a flammable refrigerant, for example, propane, in the ambient air of the contact protection, which can be, for example, the air inside a switchgear enclosure.The sensor arrangement can be configured to generate an error signal when a detected maximum deviation or a maximum value of a measured measurement is exceeded. The error signal can be provided via a data interface of the sensor arrangement, for example, to a controller of an electrical switchgear assembly, of which the touch protection is a component. Alternatively, the error signal can be derived from the sensor signal, for example, by a connection adapter, in particular a measuring adapter, which is mounted on the touch protection housing and is connected to the sensor arrangement for transmitting the sensor signal and, if necessary, for supplying power to the sensor arrangement.

[0016] The at least one sensor arrangement can have at least one interface for power supply and / or signal transmission. The interface can have at least one plug contact. The plug contact can be a socket or a plug of a connector. The plug contact can have at least one contact pin. The contact pin can be arranged on a printed circuit board on which at least one sensor of the sensor arrangement, preferably a sensor array, is arranged. The sensor arrangement can be configured to assume an active state when it is supplied with power via the at least one interface for power supply, and otherwise to assume a passive state, in particular a deactivated state. The sensor arrangement can, in particular, not have its own power source.The sensor assembly can include an integrated circuit for evaluating at least one sensor signal from at least one sensor of the sensor assembly. Alternatively, the sensor assembly can lack such an integrated circuit and be configured to transmit sensor signals unprocessed via a data interface, for example, to a connection adapter mounted on the touch-protection housing and connected to the sensor assembly for signal transmission.

[0017] A measuring adapter can be connected via the at least one interface for power supply and / or signal transmission. This adapter is configured to supply the sensor assembly with electrical power. The measuring adapter can also be configured to receive at least one sensor signal or a measured value derived therefrom, such as an electric current, via the interface. Furthermore, the measuring adapter can be configured to process the sensor signal, in particular to evaluate it, and / or to store a derived measured value in a digital memory and / or to display it on an optical output, such as a display. Specifically, if the measuring adapter is configured to receive an unprocessed or evaluated sensor signal from the sensor assembly via the interface, it can be configured to process or evaluate the sensor signal.In one embodiment, the measuring adapter can have an integrated circuit. The measuring adapter can be a connection adapter.

[0018] A connection adapter for mounting on a protective cover can have at least one optical display, preferably a screen, on which a measured value derived from a sensor signal of at least one sensor, for example, a magnetic field sensor, such as an electric current, is displayed. The connection adapter can be configured as a measuring adapter. Unlike a connection adapter, a measuring adapter does not need to be configured to fix and electrically contact an electrotechnical component, for example, a component of switchgear construction, on the busbar system. A connection adapter can be configured to fix and electrically contact an electrotechnical component, for example, a component of switchgear construction, on the busbar system. The connection adapter can have the function of a measuring adapter and be configured to supply the sensor arrangement with electrical power.The connection adapter can be configured to receive at least one sensor signal or a measured value derived therefrom via a wired or wireless interface, for example a plug contact, formed between the connection adapter and the sensor arrangement.

[0019] The sensor assembly can be located completely or at least partially inside the touch-protection housing. The plug contact can be accessible via at least one of the openings in the touch-protection housing. Preferably, the plug contact is accessible exclusively via at least one of the openings in the touch-protection housing. In one embodiment, a connection adapter, for example a measuring adapter, mounted on the touch-protection housing, particularly on its cover, can be configured to make contact with the plug contact via the at least one opening. For this purpose, the connection adapter can have one part of a plug and socket, and the sensor assembly can have the other part. For example, the sensor assembly can have at least one contact pin, preferably several contact pins of a multi-pin connector.The complementary connector parts of the sensor assembly and connection adapter can be engaged during the mounting of the connection adapter to the touch protection housing. This can occur during a snap-in movement of the connection adapter onto the touch protection housing, eliminating the need for an additional step to establish the contact. Alternatively, the connection adapter-side part of the connector can be adjustable, for example, between a retracted and an extended position. In the retracted position, the connection adapter-side part is partially or completely outside the touch protection housing, possibly the cover, and at least one of the openings. In the extended position, the connection adapter-side part protrudes through at least one of the openings into the touch protection housing and contacts the sensor assembly.

[0020] The sensor assembly can be permanently installed in the touch protection housing or be movable relative to the touch protection housing. The sensor assembly can comprise one or more sensor strips, each with at least one sensor, preferably a sensor array. The multiple sensor strips can be spaced apart in the touch protection housing along the longitudinal direction of the mountings or the busbars mounted therein. The multiple sensor strips can be arranged at regular intervals, i.e., maintaining a constant grid dimension along the longitudinal direction. The sensor strips can be permanently or detachably connected to the touch protection housing.

[0021] The touch protection housing can have at least one sensor receptacle for receiving the sensor assembly or the at least one sensor strip. If multiple sensor receptacles are provided, they can be arranged at regular intervals, i.e., maintaining a constant grid dimension along the longitudinal direction of the receptacles or the busbars they accommodate. At least one of the sensor receptacles can hold a sensor assembly or one of the sensor components. The sensor assembly or sensor strip can be removed from the sensor receptacle and reinserted into the same or a different sensor receptacle. The sensor receptacle can be open to the outside of the touch protection housing. The sensor assembly or sensor strip can be inserted into the sensor receptacle through an opening in the sensor receptacle, for example, by sliding it in and / or snapping it into place.The sensor mount may include fastening means for mounting the sensor assembly or sensor strip.

[0022] The touch protection device can have fewer sensor arrangements, in particular fewer sensor strips, than sensor receptacles. It can be provided that the sensor arrangement or sensor strip can be inserted into any of the sensor receptacles, for example, by being slid in or snapped into place. Preferably, the sensor receptacles are identical, at least with regard to means for holding the sensor arrangement or sensor strip in the sensor receptacle.

[0023] Preferably, the sensor strip has at least one sensor or sensor array for at least several of the receptacles or busbars, preferably for all receptacles or busbars, at a distance that may correspond to the distance between them. The spaced sensors or sensor arrays are preferably arranged in the same plane. The spaced sensors or sensor arrays can be arranged on a common circuit board of the sensor assembly or the sensor strip.

[0024] The sensor arrangement, for example a sensor strip of the sensor arrangement, can have several magnetic field sensors arranged in a plane parallel to the plane spanned by the fixtures or the busbars inserted therein. The sensor arrangement or the at least one sensor strip can be displaceable perpendicular to a longitudinal direction, i.e., perpendicular to the extension direction, of the fixtures or the busbars inserted therein and / or in the longitudinal direction of the fixtures or the busbars inserted therein.

[0025] Preferably, the busbar points along its longitudinal direction or

[0026] The direction of extension has a constant cross-section. Therefore, the longitudinal direction or direction of extension extends perpendicular to the constant cross-section.

[0027] Preferably, the busbar is designed as a flat rail with a rectangular cross-section. However, other cross-sections are also conceivable, including asymmetrical cross-sections. The busbar can have perforations consisting of longitudinally equidistant openings.

[0028] The sensor assembly can be inserted into a sensor receptacle open to the outside of the touch-protection housing. The sensor assembly can be or comprise a sensor strip inserted into the sensor receptacle open to the outside of the touch-protection housing and extending parallel to a plane defined by the receptacles or by busbars inserted therein. The touch-protection housing can have several sensor receptacles open to the outside, preferably arranged at regular intervals along the longitudinal direction of the receptacles or the busbars inserted therein.

[0029] The sensor arrangement, preferably a sensor strip, can be inserted into the open sensor receptacle via a linear guide, the linear guide extending parallel to the plane spanned by the receptacles or the busbars inserted therein and perpendicular to one direction of extension of the receptacles or the busbars inserted therein. A different orientation is also conceivable, particularly if the sensor strip only partially projects into the touch-protection housing.

[0030] The sensor arrangement can have one sensor array with at least one magnetic field sensor per recording, wherein the sensor arrays preferably have a distance from each other that corresponds to a distance between the recordings or the busbar recorded in the recordings.

[0031] The sensor array can be positioned on the front of the busbars facing the cover and / or on the back of the busbars facing away from the cover. If the busbar is designed as a flat rail with two sides that are longer in cross-section and two sides that are shorter, the sensor array can be positioned upstream of one of the longer sides. Accordingly, the front of the flat rail can be one of the longer sides facing the cover. The opposite longer side is then the back of the flat rail facing away from the cover.

[0032] A number of sensor arrangements can be regularly spaced apart along the longitudinal direction of the mountings and / or the busbar mounted therein. If each of the multiple sensor arrangements has at least one magnetic field sensor for field-based current determination, a current draw from an electrical load mounted between the sensor arrangements on the touch guard can be inferred from a differential measurement of adjacent sensor arrangements.

[0033] A measuring arrangement can include at least one touch guard of the type described above and a connection adapter for mounting on the cover of the touch guard. The connection adapter can be configured to acquire and output a sensor signal detected by the sensor arrangement or a physical measurement derived therefrom. The output can be provided as a data interface of the connection adapter. It can be wireless or wired. The output can be displayed via an optical indicator, in particular a display, of the connection adapter. The output can include digital storage.

[0034] The connection adapter may have a plug that allows it to pass through at least one of the openings, at least when the connection adapter is mounted on the cover. The connection adapter may connect to a plug contact of an interface for power supply and / or signal transmission of the sensor assembly. The connection adapter may include an integrated circuit for evaluating a sensor signal received via the interface.

[0035] Alternatively or additionally, the integrated circuit can be part of the sensor arrangement, whereby an evaluated sensor signal, for example a measured value for a physical quantity, such as an electric current, can be transmitted to the connection adapter via the interface.

[0036] The connection adapter can have digital storage. This digital storage can be a memory card, which is removable and inserted into a memory card slot. The connection adapter can have a data interface, such as a USB-C port or an Ethernet connection. The digital storage can be read via the data interface. Alternatively, the connection adapter can be controlled via the data interface, for example, to trigger a measurement process performed by the sensor array. Firmware can also be transferred to the connection adapter via the data interface.

[0037] The connection adapter can be configured to supply the sensor assembly with electrical power, the sensor assembly preferably having an integrated circuit for processing sensor signals. The sensor assembly can have at least one contact pin that is contacted by a complementary socket of the connection adapter. Preferably, the sensor assembly has a plurality of contact pins and the connection adapter has a plurality of complementary sockets. For example, the sensor assembly and the connection adapter are detachably connected via a multipin connector. The sensor assembly can be arranged on the rear side of the busbars, opposite the cover, when the busbars are inserted into the mountings. The connection adapter can have at least one further sensor assembly, which is arranged opposite the sensor assembly on the front side of the busbars, facing the cover.The sensor array and the further sensor array can be arranged on opposite longitudinal sides of a busbar, for example, on opposite sides of a flat rail, in particular on the two longer of the four sides of a flat rail with a rectangular cross-section. The opposite arrangement of the sensor arrays enables differential signal measurement, for example, differential current measurement.

[0038] The cover of the touch-protection housing can include an additional sensor arrangement. This additional sensor arrangement can be located on the inside of the cover facing the mounting points. The additional sensor arrangement can be detachably or permanently attached to the inside of the cover. The additional sensor arrangement can be adjustable relative to the cover, preferably displaceable in a plane parallel to a plane defined by the mounting points or the busbars mounted therein. The additional sensor arrangement can have a plug connector for power supply and / or signal transmission. The additional sensor arrangement can be connected via this plug connector to a connection adapter, for example, a measuring adapter, for signal transmission and / or power supply.

[0039] The connection adapter can extend through at least one of the openings in the cover, along with at least one additional sensor of the further sensor arrangement, preferably at least one magnetic field sensor, at least when the connection adapter is mounted on the cover. For this purpose, the at least one additional sensor can extend from a mounting side of the connection adapter that faces the cover when the connection adapter is mounted on the cover. In the mounting position, the connection adapter can rest directly on the cover with its mounting side or be positioned with a gap between the mounting side and the cover. When the connection adapter is mounted on the cover, it preferably engages behind busbars received in the receptacles with hook-shaped retaining feet. The retaining feet can be designed in the manner known from DE102016107565A1. The connection adapter can be single-pole or multi-pole.It can have magnetic shielding between at least two adjacent retaining and / or contact feet. The magnetic shielding can be arranged between adjacent receptacles of the touch-protection housing. For example, the magnetic shielding can be arranged between those adjacent receptacles with which the adjacent retaining and / or contact feet engage when the connection adapter is mounted on the cover. In this case, the connection adapter can, for example, engage behind a busbar held in the two adjacent receptacles with its retaining and / or contact feet. The magnetic shielding can be arranged partially, but not completely, within a housing of the connection adapter from which the retaining and / or contact feet protrude. The magnetic shielding can be arranged partially or completely outside the housing of the connection adapter.The magnetic shield can be located on the underside of the connector adapter housing, from which the retaining and / or contact pins protrude. The magnetic shield can protrude from and / or extend beyond the underside. The magnetic shield can extend, at least partially, parallel to the retaining and / or contact pins.

[0040] The magnetic shield can extend through at least one of the openings. The opening through which the magnetic shield extends can be the same opening through which one of the mounting and / or contact feet extends when the connection adapter is mounted on the cover. Alternatively, the magnetic shield and the mounting and / or contact feet can extend through different openings in the cover. The magnetic shield can be an integral part of the mounting and / or contact feet, i.e., permanently or detachably connected to them. The magnetic shield can also be designed as a separate component independent of the mounting and / or contact feet, for example, positioned in front of or alongside them.Particularly preferably, the magnetic shielding is arranged outside the housing of the connector adapter, on a side along which the retaining and / or contact feet extend. The magnetic shielding can extend in the same direction as the retaining and / or contact feet, in particular parallel to them.

[0041] The magnetic shield can be made of or consist of a ferromagnetic material. The magnetic shield can be in the form of plates or strips. The magnetic shield can be at least partially integrated into the housing of the connector adapter. The magnetic shield can be at least partially located outside the housing of the connector adapter. The magnetic shield can be at least partially located within a housing of the connector adapter that allows the connector adapter to be mounted on the cover.

[0042] The connection adapter can have at least one magnetic field sensor, preferably a further sensor arrangement, which particularly preferably has several magnetic field sensors. At least two magnetic field sensors, for example, a first magnetic field sensor of the sensor arrangement and a second magnetic field sensor of the further sensor arrangement, can be arranged opposite each other with respect to at least one of the busbar receptacles. This allows the at least two magnetic field sensors to be arranged on opposite sides of a busbar inserted into the receptacle, either directly adjacent to the busbar or at a distance. This arrangement is advantageous for differential measurement, in particular for a precise field-based determination of the electric current. The magnetic field sensor can, for example, be a TMR sensor, an AMR sensor, a GMR sensor, or a Hall sensor.

[0043] The at least two opposing magnetic field sensors can be arranged on opposite longitudinal sides of a busbar held in the receptacle. The busbar is preferably a flat busbar with a rectangular cross-section. The at least two opposing magnetic field sensors can be arranged on the two wider of the four longitudinal sides of the flat busbar. A touch guard with busbars of rectangular cross-section is described in DE102016107565A1. Preferably, at least two magnetic field sensors are arranged on each of the at least two opposite longitudinal sides. At least one of the magnetic field sensors can be integrated into a retaining and / or contact base of the connection adapter. The retaining base can be configured to engage behind one of the receptacles or a busbar held therein.At least one of the magnetic field sensors, preferably a magnetic field sensor integrated into a holding base of a connection adapter, can be arranged on a longitudinal side of a busbar facing away from the cover.

[0044] The magnetic shielding and the at least one magnetic field sensor, preferably the at least two opposing magnetic field sensors, can be arranged in the same plane, which preferably extends perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the recordings.

[0045] The at least one magnetic field sensor of the connection adapter can be arranged on the at least one holding and / or contact foot, in particular on a hook-shaped end section of the at least one holding and / or contact foot. In this case, the sensor of the connection adapter is arranged on the same side with respect to the mountings or busbars as the sensor assembly.

[0046] The connection adapter can have at least one plug-in section that extends through at least one of the through-holes. The at least one magnetic field sensor of the connection adapter can be arranged on the at least one plug-in section. The plug-in section can extend from a mounting side of the connection adapter that faces the cover when the connection adapter is mounted on the touch-protection housing. The at least one magnetic field sensor can be arranged at a free end of the plug-in section. The at least one magnetic field sensor can be arranged at a distance from the free end of the plug-in section. The plug-in section can have at least one first magnetic field sensor at the free end and at least one second magnetic field sensor at a distance from the free end of the plug-in section.All magnetic field sensors of the plug-in section can be arranged in the same plane, preferably in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the receptacles or perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the busbars received in the receptacles.

[0047] The at least one connector section can be a printed circuit board (PCB). The at least one magnetic field sensor can be arranged on the PCB. Preferably, at least one integrated circuit for evaluating a measurement signal from the at least one magnetic field sensor or the magnetic field sensor arrangement is arranged on the PCB. The PCB can extend from a mounting side of the connector adapter that faces the cover when the connector adapter is mounted on the touch-protection housing. The at least one magnetic field sensor can be arranged at a free end of the PCB. The at least one magnetic field sensor can be arranged at a distance from the free end of the PCB.The circuit board can have at least one magnetic field sensor at its free end and at least one second magnetic field sensor at a distance from the free end of the circuit board. All magnetic field sensors of the circuit board can be arranged in the same plane, preferably in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the mountings or the busbars mounted in the mountings.

[0048] The at least one magnetic field sensor can be arranged at a free end of the plug-in section or at a distance from the free end of the circuit board. Preferably, the at least one magnetic field sensor can be located at the free end of the plug-in section, and a further magnetic field sensor of the sensor arrangement can be arranged at a distance from the free end on the circuit board. The circuit board can extend in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the mountings. If the circuit board is arranged outside a housing of the connection adapter, in particular if it protrudes from the housing, the circuit board can be exposed.

[0049] The circuit board can be aligned with at least one of the retaining and / or contact feet, preferably with all of them. Preferably, all of the retaining and / or contact feet of the connector adapter are arranged in the same plane.

[0050] Particularly preferably, the magnetic shielding is arranged in the same plane. The connection adapter can, for example, be a three-pole or a four-pole connection adapter and accordingly have three or four retaining and / or contact feet. These can be arranged in the same plane. In one embodiment, the retaining and / or contact feet are spaced apart in parallel planes, as described in DE102016107565A1.

[0051] The connection adapter can have a wired or wireless data interface for transmitting a sensor signal from the at least one sensor arrangement or a measured value derived therefrom, preferably an electric current. The wireless interface can be a WLAN or an NFC interface. The connection adapter can be connected to a mobile network via the wireless interface. The interface can be unidirectional, preferably for reading at least one measurement signal from the at least one sensor arrangement or at least one measured value derived therefrom. The interface can be bidirectional, preferably for reading at least one measurement signal from the at least one sensor arrangement or a measured value derived therefrom and / or for transmitting a software update, for example, firmware, to the measurement adapter. Further details are explained with reference to the figures below.The embodiments shown in the figures have features that, individually or in any combination, can be suitable for realizing embodiments of the invention. In particular, the different embodiments shown in the figures can also be implemented in a single embodiment. The figures show:

[0052] Fig. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a contact protection module according to the prior art in a partially exploded view in perspective;

[0053] Fig. 2 shows a schematic cross-section of an embodiment of a contact protection device;

[0054] Fig. 3 schematically shows a section of an embodiment of a connection adapter;

[0055] Fig. 4 Schematic representation of a cross-section of a preferred embodiment of a touch guard with attached connection adapter;

[0056] Figures 5a and 5b show a schematic top view and a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a sensor strip; and

[0057] Figs. 6a and 6b Schematic representation of cross-sections of two embodiments of a touch guard with insertion of the sensor arrangement from above and from below.

[0058] The touch guard 1 shown in Figure 1, according to the prior art, has a modular design and essentially consists of two central modules 16, which are connected to each other via a snap-fit ​​connection 14 and terminated at opposite longitudinal ends by an end module 15. The end modules 15 and the two central modules 16 together form the touch guard housing 2 of the touch guard 1, which, in a manner known from the prior art, can be made, for example, of an electrically non-conductive plastic material. Three busbars 4 are safely mounted in the housing 2 and are accessible from the front of the housing 2 for electrical devices and adapters only via through-holes 6 designed as contact openings. Corresponding device adapters and contact terminals are described, for example, in EP 3258558 B1. Alternatively, the housing 2 can be of a single, non-modular design.The cover 5 can be removable from the base 19 or permanently connected to it. The busbars 4 are received in receptacles 3 of the base 19. The cover 5 closes the receptacles 3 on the front of the touch guard 1, through which adapters and / or electrical components can be connected to the busbars 4. The base 19 forms a tray 9 which contains the receptacles 3. The tray 9 is completely closed by the cover 5.

[0059] The end modules 15 have an end cap 17 and a central module extension 18. All connections 14 are designed as identical snap-fit ​​connections, allowing for any combination, particularly between the central modules 16 and the central module extensions 18. For example, to adapt the touch guard 1 shown to a given horizontal mounting plate width, the central module extensions 18 can be removed and the end caps 17 snapped directly onto the central modules 16. It is also possible to connect one or more additional central modules 16 between the two central modules 16 shown.

[0060] Figure 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of a touch protection arrangement 1 according to the invention for a busbar system, comprising a touch protection housing 2 made of electrically insulating material. The touch protection housing 2 has three receptacles 3, each for a busbar 4, and a cover 5 covering the receptacles 3 for mounting connection adapters. The cover 5 has at least one series of through-holes 6 for each receptacle, which open into the respective receptacle 3. The arrangement includes at least one multi-pole connection adapter 20, which is configured to extend through at least one of the through-holes 6 with retaining and / or contact feet 21. The multi-pole connection adapter 20 has a magnetic shield 7 at least between two adjacent retaining and / or contact feet 21.

[0061] The touch protection housing 2 can, for example, be designed as described in DE102016107565A1. The busbars 4 are arranged parallel to each other in a common plane. When the busbars 4 are energized with an electric current, a magnetic field is generated around the busbars 4, the field strength of which depends on the electric current through the busbar 4. Due to the proximity of the busbars 4 to each other, the magnetic fields influence each other. For the most accurate field-based current measurement possible, it is advantageous to provide measures that reduce the mutual influence of the magnetic fields and preferably eliminate it to a large extent. The arrangement shown in Figure 2 with a connection adapter 20, which has a shield 7, is suitable for this purpose.In the illustrated embodiment, the shielding 7 is designed such that, when the connection adapter 20 is mounted on the touch-protection housing 2, the shielding 7 is arranged between two adjacent receptacles 3 for the busbars 4. For this purpose, the multi-pole connection adapter 20 is provided with the magnetic shielding 7 between adjacent retaining and / or contact feet 21, with which it projects through the openings 6 in the cover 5. The shielding can be formed integrally with the retaining and / or contact feet 21 or separately from them. The magnetic shielding 7 can project through the same opening 6 in the cover 5 through which one of the retaining and / or contact feet 21 also projects. Alternatively, the magnetic shielding 7 can project through its own / separate opening 6 in the cover 5.Preferably, the magnetic shield 7 extends into the lower part 19 of the touch protection housing 2, in which the receptacles 3 for the busbars 4 are arranged, particularly preferably to a bottom tray of the lower part 19. The shield 7 has an opening 8 on its side parallel to the cover 5 of the touch protection housing 2 for each of the plug sections 24, through which the respective plug section 24 can pass through the shield 7.

[0062] A circuit board 11 is housed in a housing 22 of the connection adapter 20. This circuit board has a plug-in section 24 for each of the three phases L1, L2, and L3. The plug-in sections 24 protrude from the housing 22 on the side facing the touch-protection housing 2. Each plug-in section has several magnetic field sensors 10. At least one magnetic field sensor 10 of the plug-in sections 24 is arranged at a free end of the plug-in section 24. Two further magnetic field sensors 10 are arranged above the free end, thus closer to the housing 22. The circuit board 11 also has at least one integrated circuit 13, in this case one integrated circuit 13 per plug-in section 24, for evaluating the sensor signals of the magnetic field sensors 10.The circuit board 11 with the three plug-in sections 24 and the integrated circuits 13 is designed as a single piece, but can also be designed as a multi-piece piece.

[0063] The retaining and / or contact feet 21 have a hook-shaped end section 23 for gripping behind the busbars 4. A further magnetic field sensor 10 is arranged on the end section 23. The magnetic field sensor 10 on the end section 23 and the at least one magnetic field sensor on the plug-in section 24 can be evaluated for differential measurement.

[0064] A display 25 can be provided for outputting measurement signals or for operating the connection adapter 20. A data interface 26 can be a wireless interface or a wired interface, for example, an Ethernet or USB-C interface. A digital memory 27 can be provided in the form of an SD card. A slot 28 can accommodate the SD card. The digital memory 27 can be used to store the signals acquired by the magnetic field sensors 10 and the measured values ​​derived therefrom, in particular electrical currents, over time.

[0065] Figure 3 shows an embodiment in which the magnetic shield 7 has a cover 29 that is adjustable, preferably displaceable, relative to the sensor arrangement consisting of two sensor arrays, each with several, here nine, magnetic field sensors 10. In a first position of the cover 29, a detection area of ​​the magnetic field sensors 10 of one of the arrays is covered, and in a second position of the cover 29, it is uncovered. The cover 29 is designed to protect the magnetic field sensors 10 of one of the arrays from magnetic fields that are above the measuring range of the magnetic field sensors of that array. For example, the connection adapter can have a sensor arrangement with sensor arrays of different sensitivities, in particular magnetic field sensors 10 with different measuring ranges.The sensor arrangement can include magnetic field sensors 10 for detecting high magnetic field strengths and magnetic field sensors for detecting low magnetic field strengths. To protect the magnetic field sensors 10 for detecting low magnetic field strengths from excessively high magnetic fields when high magnetic fields are to be detected with the magnetic field sensors 10 for high magnetic field strengths, the magnetic field sensors 10 for detecting low magnetic field strengths can be covered and thus protected by the cover 29. This allows one and the same connection adapter to be suitable for field-based current determination of both high and low electric currents, and in particular, eliminates the need for different connection adapters.

[0066] Figure 4 shows an embodiment of a touch guard 1 with a touch guard housing 2 on which a connection adapter 20 is mounted on a cover 5 of the touch guard housing 2. The connection adapter 20 engages the touch guard housing 2 with retaining feet 21 via openings 6 in the cover 5. The retaining feet 21 are L-shaped, so that the connection adapter 20 can engage behind one of the three busbars 4 with each of its three retaining feet 21.

[0067] A sensor assembly 30 is fully enclosed in the touch-protection housing 2. Specifically, the sensor assembly 30 is enclosed in a lower part 19 of the touch-protection housing 2, with the sensor assembly 30 facing the rear side of the receptacles 3 or the busbars 4 contained therein, which are opposite the cover 5. The sensor assembly has an interface 31 with a plug connector 32. Power can be supplied to the sensor assembly 30 via the interface 31. Signal transmission can also take place via the interface 31. The connection adapter 20 and the sensor assembly 30 can have complementary connectors for the plug connector 32, for example, according to the socket-plug principle. For example, the sensor assembly 30 can have multiple pins, while the connection adapter 20, with corresponding sockets, extends through the cover 5 into the sensor housing 2 to contact the pins of the sensor assembly 30.It can therefore be provided that the sensor arrangement 30 is supplied with electrical energy exclusively by attaching the connection adapter 20, which can be designed, for example, as a measuring adapter, and that the measurement signals measured by the sensor arrangement 30, for example a magnetic field strength, are determined by the sensors 10 and transmitted to the connection adapter 20 via the interface 31.

[0068] The cover 5 has a further sensor arrangement 34 on its side facing the receptacles 3 or the rails 4, i.e., on its inside. The sensor arrangement 34 has at least one sensor, preferably a magnetic field sensor, for each receptacle 3 or busbar 4. Using the sensor arrangement 30 and the further sensor arrangement 34, sensors, for example magnetic field sensors, can thus be provided on opposite sides of the receptacles 3 or the rails 4 inserted therein, thereby enabling differential measurement, for example magnetic field measurement for field-based determination of an electric current. The further sensor arrangement 34 can be configured on a mounting side of the connection adapter 20 facing the cover 5, for example as described with reference to Figures 2 and 3. However, the further sensor arrangement is not limited to configuration using plug-in sections.Individual magnetic field sensors can also be formed on the mounting side of the connection adapter 20 facing the cover 5, which pass through the openings 6 when the connection adapter 20 is mounted on the cover 5.

[0069] As shown in Figures 5a and 5b, the sensor arrangement 30 can be configured as a sensor strip 35 with a length that is significantly greater than its width and thickness. The sensor strip can, in particular, be configured as an electrical circuit board 11. Sensors 10, especially magnetic field sensors, can be arranged at a distance from each other on the circuit board 11. The distance between the sensors 10 can be perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the receptacles 3 or the busbars 4 accommodated therein, such that when the sensor strip is inserted into the touch-protection housing 2, each sensor 10 is arranged in a preferred position relative to one of the receptacles 3 or the busbars 4 accommodated therein (see Figure 4).It can also be seen that the interface 31 is designed in the form of 3 pins which can engage with corresponding boxes of a power supply and a signal pickup, for example corresponding boxes of a connection adapter (not shown) (compare figure 4).

[0070] The sensor strip shown in Figures 5a and 5b can, for example, be used in a touch guard 1 according to Figures 6a and 6b, in which the touch guard housing 2 has sensor receptacles 33 that are open to an outer side of the touch guard housing 2, in particular to a longitudinal side of the lower part of the touch guard housing 2. The sensor assembly 30 can be inserted into the receptacle 33 through the opening of the sensor receptacles 33 until it assumes the relative position shown in Figure 4 with respect to the receptacles 3 and the busbars 4 held therein, in particular facing the rear sides of the busbars 4. The sensor assembly 30, in particular the sensor strip 35, has a lateral guide 12 by which the sensor strip 35 is guided in the sensor receptacle 33 when inserted into it (compare Figures 5a and 5b). The sensor receptacle 33 has complementary structures for this purpose.The embodiment shown in Figures 5a and 5b, with a sensor arrangement 30 that can be inserted into the touch protection housing 2, is particularly suitable for embodiments in which the touch protection 1, in particular the touch protection housing 2, specifically the lower part 19, has several sensor receptacles 33 spaced apart along the longitudinal direction of the rails 4, so that the sensor arrangement 30 can be inserted, in particular slid, into a provided sensor receptacle 33 at any point along the longitudinal extent of the touch protection 1 in order to perform a measurement at the desired location, for example, a field-based current measurement. For this purpose, the connection adapter 20 shown in Figure 4, for example a measuring adapter, can be used, especially in the embodiment shown in Figure 4 with an additional sensor arrangement 34 for differential field-based current measurement.

[0071] The features disclosed in the foregoing description and in the figures can be relevant individually or in any combination for the realization of embodiments of the invention, the scope of protection being defined by the claims. List of reference numerals:

[0072] Protection against contact

[0073] Touch-protection housing

[0074] Recordings

[0075] busbar

[0076] cover

[0077] Passage opening

[0078] shielding

[0079] Interruption

[0080] bathtub

[0081] Magnetic field sensor

[0082] circuit board

[0083] guide

[0084] integrated circuit

[0085] Locking connection

[0086] End module

[0087] Central module

[0088] End cap

[0089] Central module extension

[0090] lower part

[0091] Connection adapter

[0092] Holding and / or contact foot

[0093] Housing

[0094] Final section

[0095] Plug section

[0096] optical display

[0097] Data interface digital storage slot

[0098] Cover Sensor arrangement Interface Plug contact Sensor holder Further sensor arrangement Sensor strip

Claims

Claims:

1. Touch protection (1 ) for a busbar system, comprising a touch protection housing (2) made of electrically insulating material, wherein the touch protection housing (2) has several receptacles (3) for busbars (4) and a cover (5) covering the receptacles (3) for mounting connection adapters (20), wherein the cover (5) has at least one series of passage openings (6) for each receptacle which open into the respective receptacle (3), characterized in that at least one sensor arrangement (30) for determining a physical measured quantity with respect to at least one of the busbars (4) is arranged in the touch protection housing (2).

2. Touch protection (1) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor arrangement (30) comprises at least one magnetic field sensor (10) for field-based current measurement, preferably a TMR sensor, AMR sensor, GMR sensor or a Hall sensor.

3. Touch protection (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one sensor arrangement (30) has at least one interface (31) for power supply and / or signal transmission.

4. Touch protection (1) according to claim 3, wherein the interface (31) has at least one plug contact (32).

5. Touch protection (1) according to claim 4, wherein the sensor arrangement (30) is arranged inside the touch protection housing (2), wherein the plug contact (32) is accessible via at least one of the through-openings (6).

6. Touch protection (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor arrangement (30) is fixedly installed in the touch protection housing (2) or is displaceable relative to the touch protection housing (2).

7. Touch protection (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor arrangement (30) comprises several magnetic field sensors (10) arranged in a plane parallel to the plane spanned by the receptacles (3) or the busbars (4) inserted therein.

8. Touch protection (1) according to claim 7, insofar as it relates to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the sensor arrangement (30) is displaceable perpendicular to a direction of extension of the receptacles (3) or the busbars (4) inserted therein and / or in the direction of extension of the receptacles (3) or the busbars (4) inserted therein.

9. Touch protection (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor arrangement (30) is inserted into a sensor receptacle (33) open to the outside of the touch protection housing (2).

10. Touch protection (1) according to claim 9, wherein the sensor arrangement (30) is or comprises a sensor strip (35) which is inserted into the sensor receptacle (33) open to the outside of the touch protection housing (2) and extends parallel to a plane spanned by the receptacles (3) or by busbars (4) inserted therein.

11. Touch protection (1 ) according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the touch protection housing (2) has several sensor receptacles (33) open to the outside, which are preferably arranged at a regular distance from each other along the longitudinal direction of the receptacles (3) or busbars (4) inserted therein.

12. Touch protection (1) according to one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the sensor arrangement (30), preferably a sensor strip (35), is inserted into the open sensor receptacle (33) via a linear guide (36), wherein the linear guide (36) extends parallel to the plane spanned by the receptacles (3) or the busbars (4) inserted therein and perpendicular or parallel to an extension direction of the receptacles (3) or the busbars (4) inserted therein.

13. Touch protection (1) according to one of claims 7 to 11, wherein the sensor arrangement (30) has a sensor array with at least one magnetic field sensor (10) for each receptacle (3), wherein the sensor arrays preferably have a distance from each other corresponding to a distance between the receptacles (3) or the busbar (4) received in the receptacles (3).

14. Touch protection (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor arrangement (30) is arranged on a front side of the busbars (4) facing the cover (5) and / or on a rear side of the busbars (4) facing away from the cover (5) when the busbars (4) are inserted into the receptacles (3).

15. Touch protection (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor arrangement (30) comprises a plurality of sensor arrangements (30) which are arranged at regular intervals from each other in the longitudinal direction of the receptacles (3) and / or the busbar (4) received therein.

16. Measuring arrangement with a touch guard (1) according to one of the preceding claims and a connection adapter (20) for mounting on the cover (5) of the touch guard (1), wherein the connection adapter (20) is configured to detect and output a sensor signal detected by the sensor arrangement (30) or a physical measured quantity derived therefrom.

17. Measuring arrangement according to claim 16, wherein the connection adapter (20) has a plug with which the connection adapter (20) extends through at least one of the passage openings (6) when the connection adapter (20) is mounted on the cover (5), and with which the connection adapter (20) contacts a plug contact (32) of an interface (31) for the power supply and / or signal transmission of the sensor arrangement (30).

18. Measuring arrangement according to claim 16 or 17, wherein the connection adapter (20) is configured to supply the sensor arrangement (30) with electrical energy, wherein the sensor arrangement (30) preferably has an integrated circuit (13) for processing sensor signals from the sensor arrangement (30).

19. Measuring arrangement according to one of claims 16 to 18, wherein the sensor arrangement (30) is arranged on a rear side of the busbars (4) facing away from the cover (5) when the busbars (4) are inserted into the receptacles (3), wherein the connection adapter (20) has at least one further sensor arrangement (34) which is arranged opposite the sensor arrangement (30) on a front side of the busbars (4) facing the cover (5).

20. Measuring arrangement according to claim 19, wherein the connection adapter (20) with at least one further sensor (10) of the further sensor arrangement (34), preferably with at least one magnetic field sensor (10), passes through at least one of the passage openings (6) of the cover (5) when the connection adapter (20) is mounted on the cover (5).

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