Data cable bridge

Abstract

The invention relates to a data cable bridge (10) having two connecting elements (12, 14), which are connected to an electrical line section (16) of a predetermined length, wherein a number of conductors in the line section (16), predetermined by the type of connection of the connecting elements (12, 14), establishes a corresponding number of electrical connections between the connecting elements (12, 14), wherein both connecting elements are attached to the line section (16) in such a way that, together with the line section (16), they lie in a notional common plane, wherein the two connecting elements (12, 14) can each be connected to a respective counterpart with a linear movement as required, wherein the linear movement takes place in the common plane. In addition, the line section (16) is designed to be stable such that the connecting elements (12, 14) are held at a certain distance from one another and in a predefined connection direction with respect to one another. The line section (16) has a notional center line in the form of a circular arc segment over its entire longitudinal extension. In addition, the center line in the form of a circular arc segment is located in the common plane.

Description

[0001] LANIOLGmbH

[0002] Altrip

[0003] Mp.-No. 25 / 021 WO 11 February 2026

[0004] Data cable bridge

[0005] Description

[0006] The invention relates to a data cable bridge with two connecting elements which are connected to an electrical conductor of a predetermined length, wherein a corresponding number of electrical connections between the connecting elements are established by a number of conductors in the conductor as determined by a connection type of the connecting elements, wherein both connecting elements are attached to the conductor such that they are located together with the conductor in an imaginary common plane, wherein the two connecting elements can each be connected to a counterpart as required by a linear movement, wherein the linear movement takes place in the common plane.

[0007] It is common knowledge that electrical devices intended to exchange data or information—such as field devices or load break switches—are connected using a data cable. Such a data cable typically has a pre-terminated connector at each end. These connectors are generally standardized and tailored to the specific type of data exchange. Examples include USB and Ethernet connectors. Data cables are relatively flexible and available in various lengths, making it easy to connect two devices regardless of their relative positions.

[0008] However, there are also arrangements of two or more electrical devices side by side – often of identical device types – where the devices are positioned at a predetermined distance from each other. This is the case, for example, when the devices are mounted directly next to each other, for instance, without any significant clearance – housing to housing – in a rack. This is the case in switchgear construction with DIN rail devices, for example, according to DIN 43880, or when load break switches and their measuring electronics are arranged in series in the vicinity of cable distribution cabinets, transformer substations, and other electrical installations and switchgear assemblies according to IEC 61439. In this case, the distance is also specified in Mp.-No. 25 / 021 WO 2, February 11, 2026.

[0009] The connection sockets on the devices into which the data cable plugs are to be inserted are known and, in the case of identical device types, always the same. For such an application, data cables with two plugs are used, with the length of the cable segment being significantly greater than the planned distance between the connection sockets of the devices. This greater length serves as tolerance compensation to offset any larger gap between the connection sockets resulting from assembly play, and also facilitates installation. Furthermore, the cable segment is attached on the side opposite the mating end of the plug, so that the data cable connects the plugs in an approximately U-shaped configuration.

[0010] Patent document US 2017 / 0149363 Al describes a hybrid cable connection with multiple conductors designed for both power and data transmission. The cable, connected by two plugs, is bent into a U-shape. The cable length is chosen to be so short that, after being plugged into sockets, it has a semi-circular shape. This semi-circular shape is also considered a U-shape, since only the legs of the "U" are not particularly long.

[0011] A disadvantage of this state of the art is that, due to gravity, the cable sections sag in their intended mounting position, often obscuring other sockets or indicator elements located below them on the device. Consequently, connecting cables or plugs to these other sockets or viewing these indicator elements becomes difficult.

[0012] Based on this state of the art, the object of the invention is to provide a data cable bridge that has tolerance compensation, is particularly easy and space-saving to mount, and avoids the disadvantage described above.

[0013] The problem is solved by a data cable bridge of the type mentioned above. This is characterized in that the cable section is designed to be so stable that the connecting elements are held at a specific distance from each other and in a predetermined connection direction relative to each other; that the connecting elements are corner connecting elements, with the cable section attached to each of the corner connecting elements on opposite sides; that the cable section has an imaginary arc-shaped centerline along its entire longitudinal extent, and that the arc-shaped centerline lies in the common plane; and that the maximum imaginary distance between the centerline of an imaginary straight cable section and the centerline of the arc-shaped cable section is at least 0.5 mm and at most 5 mm. Mp.-No. 25 / 021 WO 3 11.February 2026.

[0014] A key feature of the invention is the stable design of the cable section. This means that the data cable bridge can be held at any point without any connecting element pivoting more than 10° from its position under its own weight, compared to when no weight is acting on the data cable bridge. This is the case, for example, when the data cable bridge is placed on a flat surface such as a tabletop. This significantly simplifies the installation of the data cable bridge. The connecting elements can be positioned near their mounting location almost simultaneously. This allows for particularly easy and quick connection to, for example, sockets on devices. Furthermore, the previously common practice of bending the cable section during installation is no longer necessary.

[0015] This stability can be achieved in various ways. Firstly, by selecting a suitable plastic for the cable sheath that encloses the conductors of the data cable bridge. Secondly, stiffening measures can be implemented on the cable sheath, such as grooves or ridges. Furthermore, the individual conductors within the cable section can be designed to be particularly robust. A combination of such measures is also within the scope of the invention. Another way to create stability is by selecting a suitable material for the cable sheath, particularly a plastic. This avoids the previously problematic sagging of the flexible cable between two connecting elements, ensuring that sockets or display elements located directly below the cable section, in a geodetic direction, remain easily accessible.The stability is chosen such that the maximum deflection of the cable section due to its own weight after installation in a geodetic direction is ideally less than 1 mm, but at most 5 mm.

[0016] Another fundamental concept concerns tolerance compensation, which is advantageous for the safe and rapid assembly of a data cable bridge according to the invention for connecting two adjacent devices. The intended connection direction of the connecting elements of the data cable bridge according to the invention is typically horizontal when viewed geodetically. In contrast to the prior art, the connecting elements are corner connecting elements, and the cable segment is attached to one side surface of each connecting element, namely to the opposing side surfaces of the connecting elements. Accordingly, the length of the cable segment can be selected to be comparatively shorter than previously. To achieve tolerance compensation for the distance between the two connecting elements, the invention proposes that at least one imaginary center line of the cable segment be designed to be approximately arc-segment-shaped.The arc-shaped section of the conductor is designed such that the maximum imaginary distance between the center line of an imaginary straight conductor section and the center line of the arc-shaped conductor section is at least 0.5 mm and at most Mp.-No. 25 / 021 WO 4 11 February 2026.

[0017] 5 mm. That is relatively flat, for example, it usually only corresponds to about 5 mm.

[0018] The diameter of the conductor section is 0.5 to 2 times that of the conductor section, thus avoiding the previously known semi-ring or U-shape of the conductor section. The device according to the invention is correspondingly space-saving when viewed in the insertion direction. This also ensures that, if necessary, the arc-section-shaped conductor section can be stretched until it, or rather its centerline, is practically straight, so that this stretching represents a tolerance compensation distance. For this purpose, the conductor section sheath is stable, yet stretchable or flexible enough to easily compensate for the tolerance. Depending on the choice of a circular angle corresponding to the arc section, the tolerance distance can be predetermined. A typical circular angle according to the invention lies between 15° and 120°.

[0019] The data cable bridge according to the invention can be designed such that the conductor section is either round or flat. In particular, a flat conductor section is advantageous for the overall stability of the conductor section due to its comparatively high area moment of inertia.

[0020] Furthermore, the data cable bridge is designed with conductors in various configurations: stranded wires, wires, traces on a flexible circuit board, optical fibers, power supply phase conductors, or a combination of these. Using wires increases the overall stability of the cable section compared to stranded wires. The use of flexible circuit boards with conductors in traces is particularly advantageous. By orienting the flexible circuit board appropriately within the cable section, its stability is further enhanced. Optical fibers, such as fiber optic cables, are preferred when a particularly high data transmission rate is required.Furthermore, according to the invention, it is provided that, in particular parallel to the data conductors, one or more phase conductors, so-called "black wires" for the power supply of e.g. devices, are also arranged as conductors in the data cable bridge.

[0021] Another embodiment of the data cable bridge provides for standardized plugs or sockets as connecting elements. For example, data cable bridges are designed for standardized connection types such as RJ12, RJ45, Ethernet, LAN, or USB connectors, and a multitude of other connecting elements, which can be designed as plugs or sockets, are known to those skilled in the art. Likewise, the connection technology for such plugs or sockets is known to those skilled in the art, for example, as a snap-fit ​​connection, a plug connection, a positive-locking connection, or a friction-locking connection.

[0022] According to the invention, the length of the conductor section is between 4 cm and 60 cm. However, the length is determined by the planned distance between the sockets of Mp.-No. 25 / 021 WO 5 11 February 2026

[0023] The data cable bridge is designed to connect two adjacent devices. If the distance between the sockets of the devices – for example, the center of socket 1 to the center of socket 2 – is known, the data cable bridge can be adjusted to this distance. In the chosen example, the distance from the center of connecting element 1 to the center of connecting element 2 of the data cable bridge corresponds to the socket spacing, allowing the data cable bridge to be manufactured accordingly.

[0024] A particularly advantageous embodiment of the data cable bridge is characterized in that the maximum imaginary distance between the centerline of an imaginary straight conductor segment and the circular arc-shaped centerline of the conductor segment is at least 0.5 mm and at most 5 mm. Advantageously, the maximum length of the tolerance compensation can be determined by the curvature of the conductor segment. For example, if the curvature of the conductor segment is chosen such that the maximum distance is 5 mm, the distance for tolerance compensation is greater than if the maximum distance is chosen to be 2 mm.

[0025] In another variant of the data cable bridge, the connection directions of both connecting elements are parallel and perpendicular to an imaginary line of distance between the two connecting elements. The data cable bridge according to the invention is then configured as shown below in Figure 1 of the exemplary embodiment. This means that the connecting elements are arranged parallel to each other and also have the same connection direction. This is a configuration for a very common application of the data cable bridge according to the invention.

[0026] An advantageous embodiment of the data cable bridge provides that a cable sheath encloses the conductors and is manufactured in one piece together with the housings of the connecting elements using an injection molding process. This embodiment increases the overall stability of the cable section and the data cable bridge. This is because the cable section does not need to be attached to the housings of the connecting elements using a separate connection mechanism; instead, the housings are an integral part of the cable sheath.

[0027] The mechanical stability of the data cable bridge can be further increased by molding a stabilizing element into the cable sheath or by using a two-component material for the sheath. Suitable stabilizing elements include, for example, plastic rods arranged lengthwise and / or parallel to the cable section, or plastic pieces.

[0028] Another advantageous embodiment of the data cable bridge is characterized by the fact that the two connecting elements have different designs. For example, in the case of data transmission, there are several standards for MP No. 25 / 021 WO 6 11 February 2026.

[0029] Connection elements of a connection type. The example given here is the transfer of data from one device to another using a USB cable as the connection type, where the USB cable has a USB connector on one end and a Lightning connector on the other, and the USB cable as a connector provides the required number of electrical conductors for both connector types.

[0030] Furthermore, in the data cable bridge according to the invention, it is advantageous if a connecting element has at least one pulling aid element. The data cable bridge has an advantageously flat design, so that the part of the cable data cable bridge that projects beyond its counterparts when inserted into them essentially corresponds only to the dimensions of the cable segment. With such a flat design, a pulling aid element is particularly advantageous as a point of engagement for pulling the connecting element out of its counterpart. In addition, the pulling aid element can be designed as mechanical protection for the locking element, so that it fulfills an additional technical function.

[0031] Another embodiment of the data cable bridge provides that at least one LED is arranged on at least one of the connecting elements (12, 14), serving as a status indicator for at least one conductor, and that the at least one LED can be powered via a signal voltage from the conductor or via PoE. A simple status indicator, for example, is if the LED is connected to the conductors in such a way that the LED illuminates when a voltage is applied to a conductor connected to the LED. The LED, or electronics connected to the LED and configured for its operation, can also be powered via Power over Ethernet (PoE).

[0032] Further advantageous design options can be found in the additional dependent claims.

[0033] The invention, further embodiments and further advantages will be described in more detail with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings.

[0034] They show

[0035] Fig. 1 shows an exemplary data cable bridge in a three-dimensional view,

[0036] Fig. 2 shows the data cable bridge in a top view.

[0037] Fig. 3 shows the data cable bridge in top view, partially as a longitudinal section view.

[0038] Fig. 4 shows the data cable bridge in a side view with a cross-section as well as

[0039] Fig. 5 shows an arrangement of several devices with data cable bridges. Mp.-No. 25 / 021 WO 7 11 February 2026

[0040] Fig. 1 shows an exemplary data cable bridge 10 in a three-dimensional view, in which a first connecting element 12 is connected to a second connecting element 14 by a conductor 16. In this example, the connecting elements 12 and 14 are designed as RJ45 plugs, each with a locking element 18. When connected to a corresponding RJ45 socket, this locking element secures the mechanical and thus also the electrical connection between the conductors of the plug and the socket. The connecting elements 12 and 14 are designed as corner connectors. In corner connectors, the conductor 16 is attached to one side of each corner connector, specifically to those opposite sides of the corner connectors.

[0041] This means that the conductor piece 16 is connected to the connecting elements 12, 14 perpendicular to a plugging direction of a linear movement of the connecting elements 12, 14 when plugging into their counterparts, and is not connected as usual to an end face of a plug located opposite to the plugging side, namely parallel to the plugging direction.

[0042] Fig. 2 shows the data cable bridge 10 in a top view, which corresponds to a top view in a planned installation situation. The two connecting elements 12, 14 have the same insertion direction, which is symbolized in the figure by arrows 20. Therefore, if plug connections are to be made with a counterpart to each of the connecting elements 12, 14, the entire data cable bridge 10 is moved in the direction of the arrows until they snap into their counterparts and are thus connected to them. One can also say that the two arrows 20 each represent an imaginary straight line, with the lines being parallel to each other and thus lying in a plane – which in the example shown corresponds to the image plane – where the plane is defined by the lines. One or both of the connecting elements 12, 14 can also have a different insertion direction, but only in a direction whose imaginary line also lies in the plane.In other words, the insertion directions in the view shown can also be rotated by a certain angle in the image plane. However, the configuration shown in the figure is particularly preferred.

[0043] The conductor section 16 has a circular arc segment-shaped center line along its longitudinal extent. In this view, an upper end 22 and a lower end 24 of the conductor section 16 are also designed as circular arc segments, but the radius of the upper end 22 is larger than the radius of the lower end 24. Therefore, in the area of ​​a connection point 26 between the conductor section 16 and the connecting elements 12, 14, the conductor section 16 is thicker than in the area of ​​a conductor section center point 28, by a distance corresponding to half the length of the conductor section 16. This design of the conductor section 16 ensures a particularly stable connection between the connecting elements 12, 14 and the conductor section 16 and ensures that the conductor section 16 has a curvature in the form of an annular arc or circular arc segment. 25 / 021 WO 8 11 February 2026

[0044] exhibits a curve whose apex lies in the direction of the plug-in sides 30 of the connecting elements 12, 14. Furthermore, the imaginary arc-shaped center line of the cable segment 16 also lies in the plane defined by the straight lines, i.e., again the image plane. In the normal installation situation for such a data cable bridge 10 between two devices, the aforementioned apex of the curvature would preferably point towards the devices. However, the curvature can also point away from the devices.

[0045] Fig. 3 again shows the data cable bridge 10 in a top view as in Fig. 2, but partially as a longitudinal section, namely in the left part of the figure with the second connecting element 14. In the sectioned part of the view, electrical conductors are visible, which in the selected example are designed as conductor tracks on a flexible circuit board 32. The flexible circuit board is shown in a side view in this figure, so that the individual electrical conductors are not separately visible. A particularly advantageous feature of the flexible circuit board shown is that it is designed in the area of ​​the connecting elements 12, 14 in such a way that an electrical connection to the connecting elements 12, 14 is particularly easy. Furthermore, the flexible circuit board 32 is arranged exactly in the middle of the conductor section 16 in this view and is accordingly also designed in a circular arc shape in this area.Due to the central arrangement, it can be said that in the area of ​​the conductor piece 16 the flexible circuit board 32 corresponds to the position of the center line in the conductor piece.

[0046] Fig. 4 shows a side view of the data cable bridge 10 with respect to the first connecting element 12 and a cross-section through the conductor 16 in a section plane B-B, as shown in Fig. 2. The width of the flexible circuit board 32 is also shown, making it easy to imagine that conductive traces are, for example, applied, printed, or etched onto its upper and / or lower surfaces. The cross-section through the conductor 16 also clearly shows that the thickness of the conductor sheath 34 is comparatively large compared to the thickness of the flexible circuit board 32. Thus, it is also within the scope of the invention that stabilizing elements are incorporated into the conductor sheath 34 to increase the stability of the conductor 16. However, a fabric can also serve as a stabilizing element, forming a composite material together with a plastic component of the conductor sheath 34.

[0047] Furthermore, a first 35a and a second pulling aid element 35b are arranged on the first connecting element 12, with such pulling aid elements also arranged on the second connecting element 14, although this is not visible in this figure. The pulling aid elements 35a, 35b are integrally formed on a body of the connecting element 14 approximately in extension of the longitudinal extent of the conductor section 16 and are designed as a nose or plate shape so that, for example, a fitter has a comfortable gripping area for the fingers of their hand or a tool when pulling the connecting element 12 out of a corresponding counterpart. It is particularly advantageous if – as shown in the figure – the second pulling aid element 35b is designed such that Mp.-No. 25 / 021 WO 9 11 February 2026

[0048] It simultaneously serves as mechanical protection for the locking element 18 against breakage or unintentional actuation. In the example shown, the pulling aid elements 35a, 35b are designed as pulling aid projections. However, this is not intended to be the only possible configuration. A number of configurations are conceivable that can ensure the function of protecting the locking element 18.

[0049] Fig. 5 shows a three-dimensional view of an arrangement of several devices with data cable bridges 10. A first device 36, a second device 38, and a third device 40 are arranged directly next to each other, each device 36, 38, 40 having two RJ45 sockets 42. One of the sockets 42 of the first device 36 is connected to one of the sockets 42 of the second device 38 via a data cable bridge 10. Similarly, the second socket 42 of the second device 38 is connected to one of the sockets 42 of the third device 40 via another data cable bridge 10. This arrangement facilitates a particularly simple serial connection between the devices 36, 38, and 40. It is also clearly visible in this figure that the curvature of the cable segment 16 points towards the front sides 44 of the devices 36, 38, and 40.It is clearly evident that the data cable bridges 10 in the direction of gravity, indicated by a directional arrow 46, do not visibly “sag” and therefore do not obstruct any view of other parts of the front sides 44.

[0050] Reference symbol list

[0051] 10 Data cable bridge

[0052] 12 first connecting element

[0053] 14 second connecting element

[0054] 16 cable section

[0055] 18 locking elements

[0056] 20 arrows

[0057] 22 upper end

[0058] 24 lower end

[0059] 26 liaison point

[0060] 28 Center of cable section

[0061] 30 plug-in pages

[0062] 32 flexible circuit boards

[0063] 34 Cable sheath

[0064] 35a first pulling aid element

[0065] 35b second pulling aid element

[0066] 36 first device

[0067] 38 second device

[0068] 40 third device Mp.-No. 25 / 021 WO 10 11 February 2026

[0069] 42 RJ45 socket 44 Front side 46 Directional arrow

Claims

Mp.-No. 25 / 021 WO 11 11 February 2026 Patent claims 1. Data cable bridge (10) with two connecting elements (12, 14) which are connected to an electrical conductor (16) of a specified length, wherein a corresponding number of electrical connections between the connecting elements (12, 14) are established by a number of conductors in the conductor section (16) specified by a connection type of the connecting elements (12, 14), wherein both connecting elements (12, 14) are attached to the conductor section (16) such that they lie together with the conductor section (16) in an imaginary common plane, wherein the two connecting elements (12, 14) can each be connected to a counterpart as required by a linear movement, wherein the linear movement takes place in the common plane, characterized by the fact that the conductor section (16) is designed to be so stable that the connecting elements (12, 14) are held at a specific distance from each other and in a predetermined connection direction relative to each other, that the connecting elements (12, 14) are corner connecting elements in which the conductor section (16) is attached to each of the side surfaces of the corner connecting elements, namely on those side surfaces of the corner connecting elements that are opposite each other, that the conductor section (16) has an imaginary arc-shaped center line over its entire longitudinal extent, and that the arc-shaped center line lies in the common plane, that an imaginary maximum distance between a center line of an imaginary straight conductor section and a center line of the arc-shaped conductor section (16) is at least 0.5 mm and at most 5 mm.

2. Data cable bridge (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the conductor section (16) is a round or a flat conductor section.

3. Data cable bridge according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the conductors are designed as strands, as wires, as conductor tracks of a flexible circuit board (32), as optical fibers, as phase conductors of a power supply or as a combination of strands, wires, conductor tracks or optical fibers.

4. Data cable bridge (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting elements (12, 14) are standardized plugs or sockets.

5. Data cable bridge (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the length of the cable section (16) is between 4 cm and 60 cm.

6. Data cable bridge (10) according to one of the aforementioned claims, thereby Mp.-No. 25 / 021 WO 12 11 February 2026 characterized in that the connection directions of both connecting elements (12, 14) are parallel to each other and each is perpendicular to an imaginary distance line between the two connecting elements (12, 14).

7. Data cable bridge (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a conductor sheath (34) of the conductor section (16) encloses the conductors and is manufactured in one piece together with the housings of the connecting elements (12, 14) by means of an injection molding process.

8. Data cable bridge (10) according to claim 7, characterized in that a stabilizing element is cast into the cable sheath (34) or the cable sheath (34) is designed as a two-component material.

9. Data cable bridge (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the two connecting elements (12, 14) have different configurations.

10. Data cable bridge (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a connecting element (12, 14) has at least one pulling aid element (35a, 35b).

11. Data cable bridge (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one LED is arranged on at least one of the connecting elements (12, 14) by which a status indication for at least one conductor can be realized, and that the at least one LED can be supplied with voltage via a signal voltage of the conductor or via PoE.

Images