Low-voltage protective switching device

Abstract

The low-voltage protective switching device (1) according to the invention, which is in the form of, in particular, a coupling relay, has an insulating material housing (2) which can be fastened to a mounting rail or top-hat rail of an electrical installation distribution board and has, for its part, a front side (3), a fastening side (4) opposite the front side (3), and first and second narrow and broad sides (5-1, 5-2, 6-1, 6-2) connecting the front side (3) and the fastening side (4). Furthermore, the low-voltage protective switching device (1) has an exchangeable relay module (20) which can be inserted from the outside in a first direction (R1) into a receiving shaft (7), open towards the front side (3), of the insulating material housing (2). In order to release the relay module (20) from the receiving shaft (7), the low-voltage protective switching device (1) has an ejection device (10) which is actuable without tools and which is formed in one piece and has, for its part, a manually actuable actuating element (11) which is arranged in the region of the front side (3) and is formed at a distal first end, and an actuator (12), which is formed at a distal second end, in order to push the relay module (20) counter to the first direction (R1) and out of the receiving shaft (7). On account of the one-piece design of the ejection device (10), it is much easier to mount it in the insulating material housing. Since the ejection device (10) is actuable manually, i.e. without tools, handling is much easier.

Description

[0001] 202505092

[0002] 1

[0003] Description

[0004] Low-voltage protective switchgear

[0005] The invention relates to a low-voltage protective switching device, in particular a coupling relay, with an insulating housing comprising a front side, a mounting side opposite the front side, and first and second narrow and wide sides connecting the front side and the mounting side, which can be mounted on a mounting rail or DIN rail of an electrical installation distribution board and has a receiving slot open to the front side, into which a replaceable relay module can be inserted from the outside in a first direction (R1), wherein the low-voltage protective switching device has an ejection device for releasing the relay module from the insulating housing, according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0006] A coupling relay is a low-voltage protective switching device equipped with at least one electromechanical elementary relay according to IEC 61810 or a solid-state relay according to IEC 62314. Unlike a simple relay, a coupling relay is not a component that cannot be used on its own, but rather a complete low-voltage protective switching device used particularly in industrial and infrastructure applications. Its function is essentially that of a relay used for galvanic isolation of control and main or auxiliary circuits, as well as for coupling signals, i.e., connecting circuits with different currents and voltages.

[0007] The primary function of a coupling relay is the controlled opening or closing of an electrical circuit. The switching function is usually performed by an integrated elementary relay. This operates on the principle of an electromagnet, ensuring galvanic isolation between the load circuit and the control circuit. If a solid-state relay is used, the switching function—depending on the load being switched—is implemented using transistors, thyristors, triacs, or MOSFETs. Optocouplers are used for signal transmission to provide galvanic isolation between the control and load circuits.

[0008] A generic low-voltage protective switching device is known, for example, from German patent DE 102017 122446 B3. This patent discloses an electrical device with a housing comprising a receiving slot for the detachable insertion of a relay module, and with a manually operated ejector lever mounted in the housing for removing the relay module from the receiving slot.

[0009] 2

[0010] In contrast, the invention is based on the objective of providing a low-voltage protective switching device with an ejection device which is easy to use while functioning reliably and having a compact design.

[0011] The low-voltage protective switching device according to the invention, which is designed in particular as a coupling relay, has an insulating housing which can be mounted on a mounting rail or DIN rail of an electrical distribution board and which in turn has a front side, a mounting side opposite the front side, and first and second narrow and wide sides connecting the front side and the mounting side. Furthermore, the low-voltage protective switching device has a replaceable relay module which can be inserted into a receiving slot of the insulating housing, open towards the front, in a first direction from the outside.To release the relay module from the receiving slot, the low-voltage protective switching device has a tool-free ejection device, which is formed in one piece and in turn has a manually actuating element arranged in the area of ​​the front, formed at a distal first end, and an actuator formed at a distal second end, in order to push the relay module out of the receiving slot in the opposite direction.

[0012] The mounting side allows the low-voltage protective switchgear to be attached to a DIN rail or mounting rail in an electrical distribution board. The mounting side is designed for easy snap-in attachment to a DIN rail or mounting rail. The ejection mechanism converts a force manually applied to the actuating element into a force exerted by the actuator on the relay module inserted in the receiving slot. This force pushes the relay module out of the receiving slot in the opposite direction, allowing it to be manually removed, for example, to be replaced with another relay module. The one-piece design of the ejection mechanism significantly simplifies its installation in the insulating housing.Since both the receiving slot and the actuating element are located on the front side, the relay module can be easily replaced without the use of a suitable tool.

[0013] In an advantageous further development of the low-voltage protective switchgear, the insulating housing has a space for receiving the ejection device, which is adapted to the contour of the ejection device such that actuation of the actuating element leads to a movement of the ejection device, which presses the actuator against the relay module. 202505092

[0014] 3

[0015] The contour of the installation space, although adapted to the contour of the ejection device, does not correspond exactly to the contour of the ejection device, but rather has additional allowances at predefined points to allow the movement of the ejection device. This movement can be a pivoting motion, in which a rotational movement about a specific pivot point is superimposed with a sliding movement. In this case, the contour of the installation space provides the necessary support for the ejection device at predefined sections during this (pivoting) movement. In this way, it is possible, without the use of additional components, to redirect the force manually applied to the actuating element via the base body of the ejection device so that, via the actuator formed at the second end, a force acting in the opposite direction is exerted on the relay module, thus pushing the relay module out of the receiving shaft in the opposite direction.

[0016] In a further advantageous embodiment of the low-voltage protective switchgear, the insulating housing has a housing base and a housing cover, wherein the housing base comprises the first broad side and the housing cover the second broad side, wherein the installation space for receiving the ejection device is formed in the housing base.

[0017] This offers the advantage that the one-piece ejection device can be easily inserted into the installation space formed in the housing base. The assembly effort is thus significantly simplified compared to multi-part ejection devices.

[0018] In a further advantageous development of the low-voltage protective switchgear, the ejection device is designed without joints.

[0019] The term "jointless" means that the one-piece ejection device has no mechanical joints, hinges, film hinges, or the like that connect different sections of the one-piece ejection device to direct the force applied via the actuating element to the actuator. By eliminating any type of joint, the ejection device can be designed as a rigid, horizontally flat, but otherwise robustly dimensioned component that transmits the mechanical force manually applied to the actuating element into a force exerted by the actuator on the inserted relay module. In this context, the term "rigid" means that the ejection device is designed as a single piece and without joints to avoid any mechanical weakening caused by a joint.

[0020] 4

[0021] However, it is not "absolutely rigid" because the ejection device inevitably has a certain degree of inherent elasticity due to its material properties.

[0022] In a further advantageous embodiment of the low-voltage protective switching device, the ejection device has a locking finger molded onto the distal first end, which, when the relay module is inserted, engages behind it in a form-fitting manner to prevent the relay module from being released in the opposite direction.

[0023] The locking finger effectively prevents the relay module from being unintentionally dislodged from its mounting slot – for example, due to vibrations. This significantly improves the reliability of the low-voltage protective switchgear, especially during operation.

[0024] In a further advantageous embodiment of the low-voltage protective switchgear, the insulating housing has a width of half a module.

[0025] Due to the simple design of the ejection device according to the invention, which allows for a flat construction, the insulating housing can also be designed compactly. This offers the advantage that even in confined spaces, such as those commonly found in electrical distribution boards, a larger number of low-voltage protective switching devices can be mounted side by side on a single mounting rail or DIN rail.

[0026] In a further advantageous development of the low-voltage protective switching device, the relay module is designed as an electromechanical or electronic relay module.

[0027] The mounting slot of the low-voltage protective switchgear is designed so that both electromechanical elementary relays and electronic semiconductor relays can be inserted as relay modules, thereby significantly improving flexibility and variability in the creation of variants.

[0028] In a further advantageous development of the low-voltage protective switchgear, different variants of the low-voltage protective switchgear can be generated by inserting different relay modules into the mounting slot.

[0029] Due to its modular design, different relay modules can be inserted into the mounting slot, so that different versions of the low-voltage protective switchgear 202505092 exist solely based on the relay module used – with otherwise identical components.

[0030] 5

[0031] can be formed. In this way, the variety of variants can be significantly increased – while simultaneously reducing the number of components required to form the variants.

[0032] Further features and combinations of features of the invention will become apparent from the figures and their descriptions, as well as from the claims. In particular, further embodiments of the invention need not necessarily include all features of any one of the claims. Further embodiments of the invention may have features or combinations of features that are not mentioned in the claims.

[0033] The figures show schematically:

[0034] FIG 1 shows a coupling relay known from the prior art in plan and elevation view;

[0035] FIG 2 shows a perspective exploded view of the low-voltage protective switchgear according to the invention;

[0036] Figure 3 shows a detailed view of the ejection device in perspective;

[0037] Figure 4 shows the housing base with the ejection device inserted;

[0038] Figure 5 shows a detailed view of the ejection device with the relay module plugged in.

[0039] In the various figures of the drawing, identical or functionally equivalent elements are marked with the same reference symbol. This description applies to all figures in the drawing in which the corresponding part is also recognizable.

[0040] Figure 1 schematically depicts a low-voltage protective switching device 1, specifically a coupling relay for mounting in a low-voltage electrical distribution board, as known from the prior art. The coupling relay 1 has an insulating housing 2, which can be mounted on a DIN rail or mounting rail of the electrical distribution board. The insulating housing 2 has a front side 3, a mounting side 4 opposite the front side 3, and first and second narrow sides 5-1, 5-2 and wide sides 6-1, 6-2 connecting the front side 3 and the mounting side 4. The coupling relay 1 can be snapped onto a DIN rail or mounting rail via the mounting side 4.

[0041] 6

[0042] On the front side 3, the insulating housing 2 has a receiving slot for a pluggable relay module 20 (see Figure 2). The relay module is inserted into the receiving slot 7 from the outside in a first direction R1. The coupling relay 1 also has an actuating element 11 for releasing the relay module 20 from the receiving slot 7. For this purpose, the actuating element 11 is moved in a second direction R2, which is oriented essentially orthogonally to the first direction R1. This opens an opening in the insulating housing 2 into which a screwdriver or similar elongated tool can be inserted. By pressing this tool, a multi-part ejection mechanism is actuated, which pushes the relay module 20 at least partially out of the receiving slot 7.

[0043] Figure 2 shows a schematic exploded view of the low-voltage protective switching device 1 according to the invention. The insulating housing 2 consists of a base 2-1 and a cover 2-2, which can be mounted to the base 2-1 to form the insulating housing 2. The connection between the base 2-1 and the cover 2-2 can be made, for example, by means of rivets, screws, or snap-fit ​​connections. This is not essential to the invention.

[0044] Between the base 2-1 and the cover 2-2, several terminal blocks 9 are arranged on each of the narrow sides 5-1 and 5-2. A printed circuit board 30 is also mounted and held in the insulating housing 2 between the base 2-1 and the cover 2-2. The electronics required for the operation of the low-voltage protective switchgear 1, such as a microprocessor, memory modules, a communication module, etc., are arranged on the printed circuit board 30. During assembly, the terminal blocks 9 and the printed circuit board 30 are inserted into recesses provided for this purpose in the base 2-1 and then secured within the insulating housing 2 by connecting the base 2-1 to the cover 2-2. The terminal blocks 9 can be screw terminals, as shown in Figure 2. However, push-in terminals can also be used.This is not essential to the invention and at most has an effect on the design of the receptacles formed in the base of the housing 2-1.

[0045] In the area of ​​the front side 3, the insulating housing 2 has a receiving slot 7 for receiving a relay module 20. The relay module 20 has several contact pins 21 on its underside facing the low-voltage protective switching device 1 or the coupling relay 1. Corresponding contact receptacles 31, in terms of their size and position, are arranged and attached to the circuit board 30. After the circuit board 30 is inserted into the base 2-1 of the housing, these receptacles are located below the receiving slot 7.

[0046] 7

[0047] When the relay module 20 is inserted into the receiving slot 7 along the first direction R1, the contact pins 21 are inserted into the contact receptacles 31, thereby electrically connecting the relay module 20 to the electronics arranged on the circuit board 30.

[0048] For the purposes of the invention, it is irrelevant whether the relay module 20 is an electromechanical relay or a semiconductor relay. What is essential, however, is that all usable relay modules have the same connection geometry, i.e., that the contact pins 21 are positioned in the same place so that each contact pin 21 can be inserted into a contact opening 31 uniquely assigned to it.

[0049] Furthermore, the low-voltage protective switch 1 has a tool-free, i.e., manually operated, ejection device 10 for releasing a relay module 20 inserted into the receiving slot 7. According to the invention, the ejection device 10 is formed in one piece and is inserted into a compartment 8 formed for this purpose in the base 2-1 of the housing during the assembly of the low-voltage protective switch 1. After the housing cover 2-1 has been fitted, the ejection device 10 is secured against falling out. The following figures describe this ejection device 10 in more detail with regard to its design and function.

[0050] Figure 3 shows a schematic perspective view of the ejection device 10. The ejection device 10 is a single piece and has no joint or hinge, including a film hinge. It has a J-shaped base body 14, at the distal first end of which a manually actuated actuator 11 is integrally formed. When mounted, this actuator is located in the area of ​​the front face 3 of the low-voltage protective switchgear 1. Furthermore, a locking finger 13 is integrally formed on the base body 14 in the area of ​​the first distal end. This locking finger serves to secure a relay module 20 inserted into the receiving slot 7 and to effectively prevent unintentional removal from the receiving slot 7 in the opposite direction R1 – for example, due to vibrations (see also Figure 5).

[0051] At a distal second end of the ejection device 10, an actuator 12 is integrally formed with the base body 14. In the assembled state, the actuator 12 limits the insertion depth of the relay module 20 when inserted into the receiving slot 7. Furthermore, the actuator 12 can be mechanically coupled to the underside of the relay module 20 by actuating the actuating element 11 to transmit a pressure force, such that a force exerted on the actuating element 11 is transmitted via the base body into a force acting by the actuator 12 on the relay module 20 inserted in the receiving slot 7, in order to actuate the relay module 20.

[0052] 8

[0053] The module is pushed out of the receiving shaft 7 in the opposite direction so that it can be removed manually. This is achieved, among other things, by moving the ejection device 10 around a pivot point 15, which the ejection device 10 forms with the installation space 8. The pivot point 15 is designed as a recess on an inner section of the J-shaped base body 14.

[0054] Figure 4 schematically shows the housing base 2-1 with the ejection device 10 inserted in a side view. This illustration clearly shows that the installation space 8 is adapted, at least in sections, to the contour of the ejection device 10, but still allows for movement of the ejection device 10. In particular, there is significant clearance to the right of the actuating element 11 to allow the upper section of the base body 14, with the actuating element 11 molded onto it, to move in the second direction R2 when the actuating element 11 is actuated, i.e., when the actuating element 11 moves in the direction of the second direction R2. This is necessary to effectively prevent the positive locking mechanism of the relay module 20 (see Figure 5), which is inserted into the receiving slot 7 and is achieved by means of the locking finger 13, from coming loose in the opposite direction R1.This also involves accepting an elastic deformation of the base body 14.

[0055] This displacement movement of the actuating element 11 is superimposed with a movement of the lower section of the base body 14 about a bearing point 15, which the base body 14 forms with the housing base 2-1 on the contour of the installation space 8. For this purpose, a recess is formed on an inner side of the J-shaped base body 14 (see Figure 3), into which a semicircular section of the contour of the installation space 8 engages. In this way, a movement of the actuating element 11 in the direction of the second direction R2 results in a clockwise rotation of the ejection device 10 into the bearing point 15.During this rotational movement, the J-shaped base body 14 is supported by its outer contour opposite the bearing point 15 on the contour of the installation space 8 in the insulating housing 2, resulting in a movement of the actuator 12 formed at the second distal end of the base body 14 in the opposite direction to the first direction R1, whereby the force acting on the relay module 20 is sufficiently large to push it out of the receiving shaft 8 so that it can be removed manually.

[0056] Figure 5 schematically shows a detailed view of the ejection device 10 inserted into the housing base 2-1 with the relay module 20 plugged in. It clearly shows how the locking finger 13 positively locks the relay module 20 against movement in the opposite direction R1. Furthermore, this illustration clearly shows that the installation space 8202505092

[0057] 9

[0058] in the area of ​​the upper section of the base body 14 is designed in such a way that it allows sufficient clearance for movement of the actuating element 11 in the first direction R1 in order to release the positive locking of the relay module 20 acting via the locking finger 13 by a movement in the first direction R1.

[0059] The major advantage of the low-voltage protective switchgear 1 according to the invention lies in the fact that the ejection device 10 is designed as a single piece without hinges and is dimensioned so slimly in the normal direction of the broad side that it fits into a narrow insulating housing, while at the same time being dimensioned sufficiently robustly in the normal direction of the narrow sides that the force manually applied to the actuating element 11 can be transmitted to the actuator 12 without tools and without damage. Assembly is significantly simplified because the single-piece ejection device 10 is inserted as an insert into the installation space provided for this purpose in the base 2-1 of the housing.

[0060] 10 Reference numeral list

[0061] 1 Low-voltage protective switching device / coupling relay 2 Insulating housing

[0062] 2-1 Case base

[0063] 2-2 Housing cover

[0064] 3 Front

[0065] 4 Mounting side

[0066] 5-1 first narrow side

[0067] 5-2 second narrow side

[0068] 6-1 first broadside

[0069] 6-2 second broadside

[0070] 7 intake shaft

[0071] 8 Construction space

[0072] 9 Terminal block

[0073] 10 Ejection device

[0074] 11 Actuating element

[0075] 12 Actuator

[0076] 13 safety fingers

[0077] 14 basic shapes

[0078] 15 storage location

[0079] 20 relay modules

[0080] 21 Contact pin

[0081] 30 circuit boards

[0082] 31 Contacting

[0083] R1 first direction

[0084] R2 second direction

Claims

2025 05092 11 Patent claims 1. Low-voltage protective switching device (1), in particular coupling relay, with an insulating housing (2) which can be attached to a mounting rail or DIN rail of an electrical installation distribution board, comprising a front side (3), a mounting side (4) opposite the front side (3) and first and second narrow (5-1 , 5-2) and wide sides (6- 1 , 6-2) connecting the front side (3) and the mounting side (4), a replaceable relay module (20) which can be inserted into a receiving slot (7) of the insulating housing (2) open to the front (3) in a first direction (R1) from the outside, a tool-free ejection device (10) for releasing the relay module (20) from the insulating housing (2) characterized by this , that the ejection device (10) is formed in one piece and a manually operable actuating element (11) arranged in the area of ​​the front side (3) and formed at a distal first end of the ejection device, as well as an actuator (12) formed at a distal second end of the ejection device to push the relay module (20) in the opposite direction (R1), i.e. out of the receiving chute, when the actuating element (20) is actuated.

2. Low-voltage protective switching device (1) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the insulating housing (2) has a space (8) for receiving the ejection device (10), which is adapted to the contour of the ejection device (10) in such a way that actuation of the actuating element (11) leads to a movement of the ejection device (10) by which the actuator (12) is pressed against the relay module (20).

3. Low-voltage protective switching device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the insulating housing (2) has a housing base (2-1) and a housing cover (2-2), wherein the housing base (2-1) comprises the first broad side (6-1) and the housing cover (2-2) comprises the second broad side (6-2), and wherein the installation space (8) for receiving the ejection device (10) is formed in the housing base (2-1). 2025 05092 12 4. Low-voltage protective switching device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ejection device (10) is designed without joints.

5. Low-voltage protective switching device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ejection device (10) has a locking finger (13) molded onto the distal first end, which, when the relay module (20) is inserted, engages behind it in a form-fitting manner to prevent the relay module (20) from being released in the opposite direction (R1).

6. Low-voltage protective switching device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the insulating housing (2) has a width of half a module.

7. Low-voltage protective switching device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the relay module (20) is designed as an electromechanical or electronic relay module.

8. Low-voltage protective switching device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that different variants of the low-voltage protective switching device (1) can be generated by inserting different relay modules (20) into the receiving slot (7).

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