U.S. patent number 3,704,437 [Application Number 05/104,104] was granted by the patent office on 1972-11-28 for current distributor rail.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Staff & Schwarz G.m.b.H.. Invention is credited to Kurt Hesse.
United States Patent |
3,704,437 |
Hesse |
November 28, 1972 |
CURRENT DISTRIBUTOR RAIL
Abstract
A current distributor rail for supplying current to consuming
devices, comprising a C-section metal base extending over the
entire length of the rail and a plastic covering enclosing the
metal base. A plurality of power conductors embedded in the plastic
covering, with an access opening for each conductor defined by the
covering and extending over the entire length of the rail. A least
one ground conductor in contact with the metal base and accessible
from the interior of the rail through recesses in the plastic
covering, and two locating grooves extending over the entire length
of the rail defined by the plastic covering and accessible from the
interior of the rail. The locating grooves having clamping surfaces
to receive an adaptor.
Inventors: |
Hesse; Kurt (Lemgo-Lippe,
DT) |
Assignee: |
Staff & Schwarz G.m.b.H.
(Lemgo-Lippe, DT)
|
Family
ID: |
3482191 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/104,104 |
Filed: |
January 5, 1971 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Jan 7, 1970 [DT] |
|
|
A 126/70 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
439/117 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R
25/14 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H01R
25/14 (20060101); H01R 25/00 (20060101); H01r
009/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;339/14,20-24
;174/99B,89B |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Novosad; Stephen J.
Assistant Examiner: Hafer; Robert A.
Claims
I claim:
1. A current distributor rail for supplying current to consuming
devices, comprising a C-section metal base "having two side members
an a central bridging member intermediate the side members and"
extending over the entire length of the rail, a plastic covering
enclosing said metal base, at least two current conductors embedded
in said plastic covering on each side of said rail and insulated
thereby an access opening for each conductor defined by said
covering and extending over the entire length of said rail, two
ground conductors arranged on and in contact with said central
bridging member and accessible from the interior of said rail
through recesses in said plastic covering, and two locating grooves
extending over the entire length of said rail defined by said
plastic covering and accessible from the interior of said rail,
said locating grooves having clamping surfaces to receive an
adaptor.
2. A current distributor rail as recited in claim 1, said metal
base being folded from steel sheet, with two rectangular section
ground conductors of non-corrodible metal extending parallel to
each other in the longitudinal direction of the rail over the
entire length of said rail with means for fastening said ground
conductors to said metal base.
3. A current distributor rail as recited in claim 1, wherein said
rail comprised a straight portion having lateral bends on each side
thereof, said bends being connected to said lateral shanks which
are parallel to each other and at right angles to said straight
portion, the free ends of said shanks forming support surfaces for
an adaptor, the free ends being bent inwardly towards each other
and directed parallel to said straight portion.
4. A current distributor rail are recited in claim 1, said plastic
covering enclosing and defining an inner space of said rail of
rectangular cross section, open on the lower side of said rail, and
said adaptor received in said space, said adaptor being capable of
being slid along said rail to a desired location.
5. A current distributor rail as recited in claim 3, comprising a
separate rectangular section supporting profile of plastic material
on each side of said rail, held in a receiving space defined by
said plastic covering, two current conductors clamped in receiving
spaces defined by said supporting profile said spaces opening to
the interior of said distributor rail.
6. A current distributor rail as recited in claim 1, wherein each
access opening for the current conductors comprises flexible
closing lips of insulating material.
7. A current distributor rail as recited in claim 1, wherein said
metal base is provided with means for locating and securing said
plastic covering in position thereon said means including holes
defined by said metal base.
Description
The present invention concerns a current distributor rail for
current consuming devices such as lamps or other electrical
apparatus, comprising at least two electric conductors and at least
one protective conductor.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a distributor
rail which is of simple construction, has long life, is inexpensive
to manufacture, and is extremely reliable electrically.
The rail may be fitted with one or more circuits.
A further object of the invention is to provide a current
distributor rail having current conductors positionally located in
a simple and reliable manner and which is electrically safe.
A further object is to provide a current distributor rail which
allows current to be tapped at any point along its length.
Moreover, an adaptor can be attached to the current distributor
rail at any point of the rail length.
A further object of the invention is to provide a stable rail
design. The rail is furthermore of compact structure and easy to
assemble.
According to the present invention, a current distributor rail for
current consumers is characterized by a metal-reinforced plastics
section which carries several electric conductors and earthing
means, the conductors forming two independently usable direct or
alternating circuits, or one three-phase circuit.
It is preferable to provide the current distributor rail with a
metal base having a C-shaped or partially C-shaped cross section,
surrounded by a plastic covering.
Two earthing conductors extending adjacent to each other over the
entire length of the rail, with a space between them; they are
secured near the upright portion of the C-shape to the metal rail,
the latter being formed from a strip of sheet metal, preferably a
strip of steel sheet. Two power conductors spaced apart one above
the other extend along each of the two side portions of the
plastics covering, each such conductor being clamped in a channel.
These conductors are accessible only from the interior of the
rail.
The free end of each lateral leg of the C-shaped metal section is
bent inwardly and forms a bearing for an adaptor serving as a
current feeding or connecting device for a series of current
distributor rails.
At a short distance in from the curved leg ends, a locating groove
for the adaptor is formed in the plastic covering, the groove
providing a sliding and clamping surface.
Because of its simple construction, the current distributor rail of
the present invention is economical to manufacture; it can be
produced in only a few operations, so that, due to the method of
manufacture, the production costs of the rail are greatly reduced
compared with known rails.
The metal-reinforced plastics shape is very stable. The plastics
covering increases the electrical safety, and the life of the metal
base is long due to the plastics material serving as a protection
against corrosion. This rail preferably has only a lower overall
height and can be simply and rapidly secured to the surface of a
structure, or inserted in a wall thereof.
A further advantage of the invention is that it incorporates two
independent circuits so that the current carrying capacity is
high.
Alternatively the power conductors of the current distributor rail
may carry a three-phase current, so that the rail is very
versatile.
Due to the construction of the rail and the use of an adaptor, it
is possible, by detaching or cutting out one or more adaptors, for
any desired portion of a series of rails to be de-energized a
feature which ensures great safety in assembling rails or in any
other work thereon.
The current distributor rail of the present invention may be used
in a wise variety of situations on account of its economical
design, its long life and its great safety. The rail can be
produced in uniform or varying lengths, or may be cut to any
required length, and is thus constantly ready for use. The current
distributor rail may be laid from wall to wall. Electrical
connection with several rails is simple and reliable. The rails is
adapted to be mounted from its open longitudinal side.
Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying
drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a current distributor rail,
FIG. 2 is a cross section through the same current distributor
rail,
FIG. 3 is a cross section through a current distributor rail with a
ceiling or hanging support,
FIG. 4 is a view from below of abutting end portions of two current
distributor rails,
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a current distributor rail with a
protective cover closing the front of the rail,
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a current distributor rail having a
plastics covering welded to the ends,
FIG. 7 is a cross section through a current distributor rail
comprising additional supporting members of plastics material.
A current distributor rail for current consuming devices such as
lamps or electrical apparatus is formed as a metal-reinforced
plastics shape, having a metal base 10 which extends over the
entire length of the rail and is covered with a plastics material
11.
This metal base 10 serves to reinforce the plastics shape and is of
C-shaped cross section. The section 10d is provided with openings
14.
A current distributor rail may be secured in direct contact with a
locating surface (a ceiling or wall) by means of securing members
such as screws 15, or may be spaced from the locating surface. The
plastic covering 11 is provided with an inner groove 27 extending
over the entire length of the rail so that the heads of the screws
do not project into the interior 16 of the rail.
The termination 24 has a cover 25 affixed thereto or an adhesive
connection welded or cemented thereon, the cover or connection
covering the end faces of the conductors 12, 18 and thus preventing
contact with the conductors for safety. The cover means are
provided over their entire length with a rail 10, 11 having a
constant cross-section and with conductors 18, 12, thereby allowing
the distributor rail to be cut into any desired length whilst
ensuring electrical safety.
It is not necessary for the cover means to cover more than the ends
of the conductors 18, 12 and thus they do not have to overlap the
entire cross-section of the rail.
A locating groove 21 in the cover mean is formed as a longitudinal
extension of the locating groove 21 formed in the rail.
For the suspended mounting of the rail, suspension rods or tubes
(not shown), are provided which can be secured at one end to a
securing and compensating member 28 (see FIG. 5), connected to the
upper portion of the distributor rail. This securing and
compensating member 28 is secured by means of bolts 29 to the
distributor rail, the bolts extending though the slots 14 in the
rail. The suspension members (tubes or rods) engage in a slot 30 of
the member 28 extending in the longitudinal direction of the rail
so that the rail may be secured with an adjusting action in the
longitudinal direction of the rail.
Alternatively, the rail may be suspended from a securing surface by
clamp-like securing means (not shown) engaging directly in the
openings 14.
FIG. 7 of the drawings shows an arrangement of a current
distributor rail located between ceiling divisions 31. The rail is
secured to a supporting profile 32 mounted in the region 10d of the
rail and having a U-shaped cross-section. The profile 32 may be
secured to the mounting surface directly or by means of suspended
securing means 33. The parts of the ceiling 31 are secured to this
supporting profile 32 by means of holding members 34 inserted in
the supporting profile 32. The underside of the ceiling parts 31
and of the distributor rail lie flush in one plane.
The additional support profile 32 serves to hold the distributor
rail and ceilings 31 together. The distributor rail can be secured
in the plaster of a wall of a building.
Current is fed to a distributor rail through an adaptor, which may
serve simultaneously as a current supply point and for the
electrical connection of a pair of rails.
A whole rail portion may be rapidly and reliably de-energized by
separating adjacent rails by removing interconnecting adaptors.
The plastic covering 11 may be shaped so that the current
distributor rail fits a cavity in which it is located.
The other embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings,
relating to a current distributor rail having a metal reinforced
plastics profile, corresponds in its basic construction to the rail
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and may be detachably connected to a surface
of a structure.
The distributor rail according to FIG. 3 is provided on each side
with a separate plastics support profile 35 holding the two
electrical conductors 18. This material is inserted in a receiving
space 36 of the plastic covering 11 from the interior 16 of the
rail.
The supporting profile 35 holding the electric conductors 18 is
secuted by clamping or adhesive in the receiving space 36 of the
plastic covering. it is preferable to form each supporting profile
35 with a rectangular (standing on edge) cross-section, and to form
it as long as necessary.
These two supporting profiles 35 are inserted, after the rail is
made, into the receiving spaces 36 accessible from the receiving
space 16 and opening inwards. The two earthing conductors 12
arranged on the upright 10d of the metal base 10 are conductively
connected to the base and are secured thereto before the metal base
is folded or, without previous securing, held on the base 10 by the
plastics covering 11. During the location of the earth conductor 12
it is not necessary to form receiving grooves 13 so that the
upright portion 10d, may be provided extending downwardly and
outwardly at a right angle to the portion 10d.
The upper rail part 23 is provided at the top with several
compensating portions 23a extending in the longitudinal direction
of the rail and spaced apart across the rail, these compensating
portions 23a providing a good contact with a securing surface for
the distributor rail and compensating for irregularities in the
securing surface; these compensating members 23a are formed during
the production of the plastics covering 11.
The two ends of the current distributor rail are provided near the
termination 24 or the cover 25 with an opening 37 (FIGS. 3, 5 and
6) corresponding to the shape of the adaptor to be used. It is
preferable to provide the ends of the rail alternately with a
lateral fixing bar 38 extending into the inner cavity 37 above the
securing groove 21. At one end of the distributor rail the bar 38
is provided on one side of the opening and at the other end of the
rail on the opposite side of the opening, the opening 37 is thus
asymmetrical. The two fixing bars 38 extend from the upper edge of
the particular securing groove 21 as far as the upper edge of the
receiving space 16 and make it possible to locate an adaptor in the
abutting are of adjacent distributor rails, so that a connection
between the power conductors 18 of adjacent rails is ensured by the
adaptor. The adaptor is provided with a relatively displaced fixing
grooves in the longitudinal direction, corresponding to the
projecting fixing members 38.
The termination 24 or the protective cover 25 is shaped in the
region of the fixing grooves 21 to the cross sectional size of the
locking members retaining the adaptor in the rail, so that only the
recess 22 adjacent to the fixing groove 21 is covered; the adaptor
locking members partially engage in the two adjacent distributor
rails and simultaneously bring them into alignment.
In addition to the recesses 22 for holding the protective cover,
another recess may be provided in the upper lateral portion of the
rail (near the rail projection 23) which recess opens outwardly in
the region of the outer plastics covering.
The cross section of this recess 22 may be circular, oval or
u-shaped.
Near the insertion openings 19 and in the region between the bend
10a and the power conductor 18 adjacent thereto, grooves 39 are
formed to increase leakage current paths.
The insertion openings 19 of the distributor rail are closed by
means of flexible sealing lips 19a at the opening end (FIG. 2); the
sealing lips 19a form a unit with the plastics covering 11.
The closing lips 19a extend along the upper and lower insertion
edges of the openings 19 and are directed towards each other; each
insertion opening 19 for the electrical leads 18 is provided with
two oppositely disposed lips 19a, closing the opening 19 from the
cavity 16.
The sealing lips 19a are pressed into the insertion opening 19 by
the electrical terminals of the adaptor when said adaptor is
positioned, and then return to a closed position. These lips 19
extend over the entire length of the rail and keep the openings 19
closed except near an adaptor, so that adequate protection to the
power conductors is ensured.
The sealing lips 19a may be formed as brushes which are rigidly or
detachably arranged in the plastics covering 11. Alternatively the
sealing lips 19a are formed of separate parts such as strips, which
can be detachably secured in the region of the insertion openings
19 on the plastics covering 11.
Alternatively only one sealing lip 19a may be provided covering the
insertion side of the opening 19.
The rail may be produced in fixed or optional lengths or, may be
cut to any desired length and is thus always ready for
installation.
The current distributor rail may be laid from wall to wall.
Electrical connection with a plurality of rails is simple and
reliable.
The mounting of the rail is preferably effected from the open
longitudinal side of the rail.
* * * * *