Support Rail Busbar Layout for Accessible Lighting Connections
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing elongated mounting rails for electrical or electronic lighting components face challenges in providing flexible and accessible options for electrical tapping, particularly for power supply and data transfer, due to obstruction by luminaire components and limited accessibility to busbars.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates an elongated support rail with a busbar that has exposed connection sections accessible via a parallel or tangential connection opening, allowing for independent electrical connections and data transfer, and includes a conductor carrier for secure and efficient conductor management, enabling flexible and space-saving installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If lighting components are mounted within the longitudinal opening to conceal the opening, then the aesthetic appearance is improved, but access to the busbar for electrical connections becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The support profile is segmented into multiple functional zones: a first longitudinal opening for mounting lighting components, and a second longitudinal opening for accessing busbar connection sections. This segmentation allows independent access to electrical connections without requiring disassembly of lighting components, resolving the contradiction between aesthetic concealment and operational accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
Connection sections of the busbar are extended through the support profile wall to create an intermediary access path. This allows electrical connections to be made from the exterior side without penetrating through the interior space where lighting components are mounted, enabling simultaneous aesthetic concealment and easy electrical access.
2Device complexity
If a single busbar is used for electrical connections, then the device complexity is reduced, but flexible access for power supply and data transfer is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The single busbar is segmented into multiple connection sections with different functional assignments (power supply, data transfer, control signals). Each connection section is accessible through separate longitudinal openings, allowing independent access to different electrical functions without requiring multiple separate busbars, thus maintaining simplicity while enabling flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The busbar is designed as a multi-functional component where a single structure serves multiple purposes: power distribution, data transfer, and control signaling. Different sections of the same busbar can be accessed independently for different functions, eliminating the need for separate dedicated busbars for each function.
3Ease of operation
If connection sections are exposed towards the interior space, then accessibility for electrical connections is improved, but the mounting space for lighting components is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Connection sections are positioned in multiple spatial dimensions: some are exposed towards the interior space through the first longitudinal opening, while others are extended through the support profile wall for exterior access via the second longitudinal opening. This multi-dimensional arrangement maximizes accessibility to connection sections without compromising the interior mounting space for lighting components.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to an elongated support rail (100) comprising an elongated support profile (110) which at least partially delimits an interior space (I), and at least one elongated busbar (1) which extends longitudinally within the interior space (I) along an elongated support profile wall (111, 112, 116) of the support profile (110) in such a way as to divide the interior space (I) into a receiving space (A) directed away from the support profile wall (111, 112, 116) for the electrical connection of electrical or electronic lighting components, and a connection space (S) directed towards the support profile wall (111, 112, 116). The busbar (1) has electrical conductors (14, 24) extending longitudinally along the busbar (1) which have connection sections (16) exposed at least partially towards the connection space (S).The support profile (110) further comprises a connection opening (117) for inserting an electrical connector (200) from outside the support rail (100) into the connection compartment (S) in an insertion direction (E) substantially parallel to the support profile wall (111, 112, 116) for electrical contact with the busbar (1) via the connection sections (16). The invention further relates to a support rail system for connecting electrical or electronic lighting components, comprising at least two elongated support rails, wherein at least one of the elongated support rails is an elongated support rail (100) according to the present invention.