Tap device

The invention relates to a junction device for electrically conductive connection of a main cable with a cable side.

There are different kinds of branching devices of this type known, for example from the publications WO 00/30218, DE 199 20 768, DE 101 43 363 or WO 03/021721. In all these devices branch cable cores of the main cable can be contacted by cutting contacts. At the junction devices according to WO 00/30218, DE 199 20 768, DE 101 43 363 the addition cable can be inserted through a bush-and-plug connection, while in the branch device of WO 03/021721 the side cable is also contacted by a blade contact, whereby there is no possibility to replace the secondary cable needs according.

Known branching devices with jack-and-plug connections for secondary cables require relatively complicated shaped contacting elements, which are expensive to manufacture. For example, portions of a molded sheet are so bent or kinked, that a clamping action is produced between the flat sides of two sections. This has in addition to the complexity of the manufacturing process the additional disadvantage that the spring action essentially is formed from the bend out, which can have a rapid fatigue result in prolonged stress.

From WO 98/45896 a branching device is known, in which cable wires of a flat cable contacted by contact elements, which also comprises a fork contact for receiving a blade-shaped contact pin. The branching device is only suitable for specific cabling system. Also from US 6,142,817 are contact elements with an insulation displacement contact and a fork contact known.

Another issue relates to the encoding. It is known to provide plug and socket connections with an individual coding possibility. A mechanic can ensure by an act concluded during assembly on site coding, that various devices can only be inserted in the correct mains. A solution with a separable Kodiernocken is disclosed for example in DE 199 32 243rd The solution to a low-voltage network is only for use in a fixed network, for example. Suitable.

The object of the invention to provide a feeder device which issues overcomes according to the prior art and in particular enables cost-effective production. In this context, the creation of a contact-making, which is as simple as possible to manufacture, also an object of the invention.

This object is achieved by the invention as defined in the claims.

According to the invention, the branch device for connecting a trunk cable with a secondary cable contacting elements, which each have at least one insulation displacement connector for contacting the main cable wires and at least one terminal contact. The terminal contact is inventively flat or sheet-like and locally defined a plane, the clamping action - for example, between two wing elements. - By along the plane spring forces acting arises. The terminal contact may be similar to a tuning fork contact to be formed, so be ausgestaltetes example, as a tuning fork-like sheet, the wing members are prongs of the tuning fork-like structure. Between the tines then forming a contact hole, and the insertion of the contact is to the object (eg. Contact pin) results in a spreading of the contact tines against each other against the said spring force. Further, the branch device comprising a housing base part with means for guiding the main cable leads, wherein the contacting elements are fitted into the housing base part, wherein the housing base member further comprises a bushing seat, in which the socket is inserted and wherein the clamping contact one of said contact points of the female forms.

The term "flat" in this context does not necessarily mean that the entire clamping contact is strictly in a single plane. Rather, the terminal contact may be bent as a whole, for example. Or kinked. He is local sheet-like flat, and the clamping effect is, for example. in a pinch point, as mentioned caused by forces acting along the defined by the sheet metal surface at the location of the terminal point level.

Characterized in that the clamping contact according to the invention is flat, the result important advantages in the manufacture. The terminal contact can be stamped from sheet metal or molded by cutting fine without the sheet must be massively deformed afterwards. In addition, the clamping effect may even at low thicknesses be sufficiently large, by the width of wing members (or prongs), between which the clamping action occurs, is chosen sufficiently large. This allows the use of relatively thin sheets, which can also bring benefits. The frontal contact also causes even with thin sheets in operation a relatively small current density is present.

Also produced by the specific geometry of a weighty Another advantage: Since the clamping contact is made along a plane, the contact element can be substantially provided without major production effort with two or more terminal contacts. This makes it ideal ideally as part of a multi-socket-embodiments in which a single contact element makes contact to multiple sockets. This is advantageous both in the production and in the assembly of systems according to the invention with the branch connector device. Moreover, the concept can be extended to contact systems with, for example, a branching device and multi-socket configurations. An inventive contact in a multiple socket module also has terminal contacts of the type described above and may also be stamped from a sheet or produced by finely.

The contact element is formed in one piece according to a preferred embodiment. Therefore, it can be stamped as a whole from a sheet or produced by finely cut, which then, if necessary, the cutting of the insulation displacement terminal can be manufactured by embossing or sanding and where necessary, the level of insulation displacement terminal and / or a clamping contact against the original plate plane is twisted , The latter can be done in an embossing process.

The branch system preferably has a multi-level coding. A first stage consists of factory-mounted mechanical codings, for example. Notches in the connector, which run parallel to the plug axis and ridges in the socket match (or do not comply with incorrect coding) or vice versa. The second stage consists of removable and / or addable elements, for example. Existing plug side cams whose lateral position corresponds to that which can be introduced from the socket side pins.

In the following, embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to drawings. In the drawings:<ul><li>FIG. 1: A view of the inventive feeder device, in order to safeguard the overview all housing parts removed</li><li>Figures 2a and 2b. Views of a contact-making element of the device according to Figure 1.</li><li>Fig. 3: A view of the device according to Figure 1 with the cable wires of the main cable to be guided in the housing base part and wherein a wiring cover is drawn..</li><li>Fig. 4: A view of the same device, wherein the wiring cover is in the final position and also being an inserted into the female connector is drawn.</li><li>Fig. 5: The device with the connector is included cover.</li><li>Figure 6, 6a and 6b. One embodiment of the inventive device for use with mains plugs and detail views of the corresponding contacting elements.</li><li>7, 7a and 7b. One of the Ausführungsgsform of Figure 6 is similar embodiment, wherein the property of the stackability is visible..</li><li>Fig. 8 shows another embodiment of the contacting. </li><li>FIG. 9 is a branch circuit with two multiple sockets, so that there is a connection system.</li><li>Fig. 10 A contact for a connection system.</li><li>FIG. 11a and 11b front views of a plug connector with coding.</li><li>FIG. 12 is a fragmentary view of the device according to FIG. 5,.</li></ul>

The principle of an inventive device in branch <b>figure 1</b> visible. A main cable 1 with the main cable cores 2 is contacted by a secondary cable 3 with side cable wires. 4 Serve this purpose contact-5, which are electrically contacted by plug contacts. 6 The plug contacts are eg. Via terminals 7 fixed to the side cable Cores 4.

As the in the <b>Figures 2a and 2b</b> is visible, has each contacting element 5 an insulation displacement contact 11 for contacting the Hautpkabeladern and at least one terminal contact 12, in the illustrated embodiment, there are two terminal contacts. 5, the contacting element is integrally formed, as a a punched from a sheet metal stamped part. The formed on the inside of the insulation displacement terminal 11 has been sharpened cutting after punching by embossing or grinding. The insulation displacement terminal is - turned towards the sheet plane - by about 45 ° in the example shown. This allows for a geometry of the feeder apparatus as depicted in Figure 1, ie with the main cable parallel connector contacts but 6. There are other geometries conceivable example. Without turned Scheid terminal and perpendicular direction away from the main cable connector contacts, or with Scheid terminals that other one angle than 45 degrees are rotated with respect to the plane of the sheet, for example by an angle between 45 ° and 90 °.

The terminal contacts 12 of the contact-making, in contrast to the prior art at least locally flat so that a plane is defined. In the example shown the terminal contact of a tuning fork with two prongs similar formed in the plane. A clamping action for the plug contacts 6 is formed between the two prongs by spring forces along the plane similar to a fork contact. The terminal contacts can - unlike in the embodiment shown - also be rotated relative to the original plane of the sheet.

The material from which the contacting is made is, for example, copper or a copper alloy. The thickness of the sheet is for example between 0.5 mm and 1.2 mm, preferably 0.7 mm to 0.9 mm. The width of the teeth is chosen such that a desired spring force is produced and is therefore dependent on the sheet thickness of the length of the tines and the material. It is, for example, about 1 mm to 3 mm, preferably about 1.7 mm to 2.4 mm. The length of the tines can be eg. Between 12 mm and 25 mm.

<b>figure 3</b> shows a view of the components according to FIG. 1, wherein the cable cores of the main cable are guided in a housing base part 21 and wherein a wiring member, namely, a wiring cover 22 is drawn. The housing base part has a female seat (in the figure below shown) and a main cable wire guide (in the figure above) with guide webs 23. The contacting elements 5 are fitted into the housing base part, so that the insulation displacement contacts 11 cable insulation from between the guiding ribs 23 guided main cable wires intersect and contact the main cable cores.

The wiring cover 22 serves to receive a resistance sufficiently depress, via pressing webs 26, the main cable cores deep between the guide webs so that they are reliably contacted by the insulation displacement terminals 11th The wiring cover 22 has pivot pins 24, which are suspended in frontal recesses 25 of the guide webs, whereupon the wiring cover around the pivot axis is pivotally guided. In an end position of the wiring cover is fixed by catches 27th Are also conceivable wiring cover respectively wiring means through which can be connected vertically by forcing or pressing tongs.

In liner seat two bushings 31 are introduced, in which plug contacts 6 of a plug can be inserted. In the illustrated arrangement is one socket - relative to the direction of the main cable - directed forwards and backwards. The contacting and sockets are mutually positioned such that the inserted plug contacts between the prongs of the terminal contacts are out and contact them thus.

<b>figure 4</b> the whole branch system - ie the branch apparatus including corresponding plug, wherein the wiring cover 22 is in the end position and the plug is marked introduced 41 into the socket.

In <b>figure 5</b> one sees the branch device 10 as a whole with the plug is pulled 41 including cover 51. The cover has a transparent window 52, ​​which allows a view of the main cable cores. This provides an inspector the opportunity to verify the correct installation of the cable wires without opening the cover. In the illustrated embodiment, marks 53 are on the window still attached with Phase identifiers that point to the correct position of the phase, neutral and earth or of different kind of cable wires. The cover may be manufactured as a whole a transparent material for manufacturing reasons, wherein, for example. only the window is ground so that a glass-clear view of the cable wires is possible.

The wiring cover may, but need not remain in its end position when the cover is mounted and the branch device is ready for use.

For some installations, the locking of the connector with the sockets are (ie the sockets for power cord) required by the regulations. In known products, the latching is achieved with an additional locking part. The drawn embodiment of the invention includes a latch 42 which is molded onto the plug. Alternatively, there may be a separately manufactured eg. Metallic item the latch. The latch cooperates with a socket present on the inner side locking edge (not visible) together and causes latching. This can only be solved by a pressing member 44 is pressed against the connector inside, whereby the latch is pushed inward. Because of the molded latch formed during the production no additional costs for the catch. This principle of integrally molded on the connector latch can also be used for contact systems, which are otherwise not configured in accordance with the invention.

In the illustrated, preferred embodiment, the feeder device for three-pole power cable is determined. The inventive design of the junction device can of course be used for other cable systems but, for example, two or five pole power cables, data cables with any number of cable cores, for speaker cables etc.

The embodiment of the inventive device according branch <b>figure 6</b> also has contacting elements and a housing of the type described above. However, it is in contrast to the embodiment of Figures 1 to 5 for standard plug 61 (shown are plugs and sockets according to Swiss standard) formed. This requires some design changes. Thus, the tines of the terminal contacts must be spread further apart, since the contact pins 62 of the standard plug are usually round, as in<b>6a</b> is shown. Furthermore, the contact pins are not arranged at the same height, so that the terminal contacts 12 must be correspondingly adjusted positions. This may require that the terminal contacts are attached to offset each other as drawn in the figure. In<b>figure 6b</b> is an arrangement of three contact-drawn, as used in the embodiment of FIG. 6 This arrangement ensures that the polarity relative to the connector is always the same.

In <b>figure 7</b> as illustrated on the basis of the inventive feeder device a connection system can occur without massive design changes or refined additional parts would be needed. The system includes stackable modules 71, wherein said contacting elements 5 engage by contact holes 63, 73 into the respective adjacent module or the branching device 10 and contact a contacting 5 of banachbarten module or branch circuit. The contacting can thereby have a combined as insulation displacement connector and plug contact formed contact slot, as in the<b>Figures 7a and 7b</b> is illustrated. Then 71 identical contact elements can be used for feeder device 10 and stackable modules. Alternatively, the contacts of the modules may have instead said contact slots displacement contacts, for example, are the same design as the clamp contacts already described, but are rotated relative to this about 90 °.

The stackable modules 71 have in the embodiment drawn still rocking and positioning cam 74 and locking tabs 75 for fixing the respective overlying or underlying module.

Instead according stackable modules 7 may itself be equipped with multiple sockets or -outlets the junction device. In these junction devices used contacting elements then are, for example, formed like the one in the<b>figure 8</b> drawn contacting 5 with six serving as socket contacts terminal contacts 12th

Another advanced contact system is in the <b>figure 9</b> drawn. Besides the branch device 10 two aneinanderreihbare multiple sockets 81 are drawn. Each multiple socket has multiple socket contacts, which also have terminal contacts of the type described above and which are also formed, for example. In one piece from a metal sheet. In the lower half of Figure 5 or contacting multiple socket contacts 82 are drawn as they come in contact system for use. The multiple socket contacts have a pin section 83, which eg. Formed plate-like and is rotated by 90 ° relative to the original plane of the sheet. The pin portion can be made of the stamped part by twisting, or (eg. When punching) be prepared by compression. The terminal contacts 84 are as mentioned analogous to the terminal contacts 12 of the contact elements 5 is formed.

<b>figure 10</b> still shows a contact 92 for a simpler compared to 9 module of a connection system with only two sockets. Such a module may also be connected in series with any number of additional modules.

The embodiments of contacting system according to figures 7 to 10 are mere examples to illustrate the various design possibilities that exist through the inventively executed contacting or multiple socket contacts at very low manufacturing costs. By designing of contacting or multiple plug contacts with any number of one or both sides outwardly projecting terminal contacts any multiple socket arrangements are designed.

According to one aspect of the invention is a connection system - equipped with a multi-stage mechanical coding system - according to the above-described type or with other types of contacts.

By mechanical codings can be prevented that a user mistakenly connectors makes that are not wanted, and possibly result in damage to equipment.

Contacting systems according to this aspect of the invention possess a basic coding, which has been set at the factory, and individual coding. The principle of multi-stage mechanical encoding is in the<b>Figures 11a and 11b</b> as in <b>figure 12</b> illustrated. The basic coding is made in the form of plugs and sockets predetermined fixed mechanical features, such as notches 43 in the plug or socket, in which ridges 102 in the bush or in the plug can be inserted. The notches and ridges may be present in a known per se in different numbers and with different dimensions. They may be made during the casting of the socket or plug. They are used, for example, to distinguish between low-voltage, extra-low or data networks. According to a second stage is also an individual coding provided. For the individual coding of the individual networks guide grooves 103 are provided with a guide pin 104 on the socket side. At appropriate points of the plug irreversibly removable cams 45 are provided, which are inserted when inserting the plug into the groove. Also reversibly separable elements are conceivable. For the individual coding the installer can on the can side using one or more coding pins 106 and plug side the corresponding Kodiernocken - for example with a knife -. Separated. When coding is inserted, in the arrangement according to FIG. 12 of the plug only be moved when the upper cam 45 is removed. This is because the in respect to the plug axis (corresponding to the direction along which the plug is moved for insertion) lateral position of the pin corresponds to the lateral position of the cam and therefore, during the insertion in the way. Through combinations of different basic codes with individual coding a variety of combinations are possible.

This approach allows the use of a contacting system, for example with an inventive feeder device -. In low, extra low or data networks, since different reason codes are possible, and it also provides a convenient, easy way for an additional, individual coding of the plug-in system.