Mounting rail system with a tapping element

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023400176-A1
Application number	US-202118251280-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 25, 2021
Priority date	Nov 30, 2020
Publication date	Dec 14, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present invention relates to a mounting rail system (100) comprising a mounting rail (1) with an elongate profiled mounting rail (2) which has a longitudinal extent (L), delimits an interior (I) and has an elongate coupling opening (20), and an elongate busbar (4), which extends longitudinally (L) in the interior (I) of the profiled mounting rail (2), wherein the busbar (4) has at least one electrical conductor (40) for electrically connecting electrical or electronic components (30) via the coupling opening (20). The mounting rail system (100) further has a tapping element (10), which is detachably inserted into the interior (I) via the coupling opening (20) and byway of a contact portion (5) is electrically coupled to the busbar (4). The tapping element (10) further has a supply element (6), which is provided on the outside in relation to the mounting rail (1) and is electrically connected by way of electrical connecting element (7) to the contact portion (5) via an opening (24), independent of the coupling opening (20), in the profiled mounting rail (2) in order to supply the electrical tapping by the contact portion (5) from the busbar (4) via the supply element (6) on the outside.

First claim

1 . A mounting rail system ( 100 ) comprising:
a mounting rail ( 1 ) with
an elongate profiled mounting rail ( 2 ), which has a longitudinal extent (L), delimits an interior (I) and has an elongate coupling opening ( 20 ), and
an elongate busbar ( 4 ), which extends longitudinally (L) in the interior (I) of the profiled mounting rail ( 2 ), wherein the busbar ( 4 ) has at least one electrical conductor ( 40 ) for electrically connecting electrical or electronic components ( 30 ) via the coupling opening ( 20 ), and
a tapping element ( 10 ), which is detachably inserted into the interior (I) via the coupling opening ( 20 ) and by way of a contact portion ( 5 ) is electrically coupled to the busbar ( 4 )
wherein the tapping element ( 10 ) further has a supply element ( 6 ), which is provided on the outside in relation to the mounting rail ( 1 ) and is electrically connected by way of electrical connecting element ( 7 ) to the contact portion ( 5 ) via an opening ( 24 ), independent of the coupling opening ( 20 ), in the profiled mounting rail ( 2 ) in order to supply the electrical tapping by the contact portion ( 5 ) from the busbar ( 4 ) via the supply element ( 6 ) on the outside.

2 . The mounting rail system ( 100 ) according to claim 1 ,
wherein the contact portion ( 5 ) is completely accommodated in the interior (I), and/or wherein the contact portion ( 5 ) comprises a rotary tap ( 51 ) with contact elements ( 52 ), which is movable between an insertion position in which the contact elements ( 52 ) are retracted and a contacting position in which the contact elements ( 52 ) are extended for contacting with the busbar ( 4 ).

3 . The mounting rail system ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the supply element ( 6 ) comprises a part of a standard interface, preferably a standardized socket or plug, in order to supply the electrical tap outwardly wherein the end ( 70 ) of the connecting element ( 7 ) facing the supply element ( 6 ) preferably comprises a corresponding part of the standard interface for electrically coupling to the part of the standard interface.

4 . The mounting rail system ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the opening ( 24 ) is provided on a side of the profiled mounting rail ( 2 ) facing away from the coupling opening ( 20 ).

5 . The mounting rail system ( 100 ) according to claim 1 ,
wherein the profiled mounting rail ( 2 ) comprises a plurality of the openings ( 24 ), which are preferably arranged so as to be distributed, preferably evenly, along the length (L) of the profiled mounting rail ( 2 ).

6 . The mounting rail system ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , further comprising a cover ( 9 ),
wherein the cover ( 9 ) is provided for optionally covering the opening ( 24 ), and, if present, also the associated coupling opening(s) ( 20 ).

7 . The mounting rail system ( 100 ) according to claim 1 ,
wherein the profiled mounting rail ( 2 ) is U-shaped or C-shaped or H-shaped in cross-section in the direction of the longitudinal extent (L).

8 . The mounting rail system ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , further comprising an electrical or electronic component ( 8 ),
wherein the electrical or electronic component ( 8 ) comprises a terminal portion ( 80 ) for connecting to the supply element ( 6 ) and thus for electrical coupling to the busbar ( 4 ) and/or for direct electrical connection to the busbar ( 4 ) and/or the further electrical conductor ( 12 ) via the terminal openings ( 26 ).

9 . The mounting rail system ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one cover element ( 3 ),
wherein the cover element ( 3 ) is detachably connectable to the profiled mounting rail ( 2 ), in order to at least partially cover the coupling opening ( 20 ), and wherein the cover element ( 3 ) further covers at least a part of the contact portion ( 5 ).

10 . The mounting rail system ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the tapping element ( 10 ) further comprises a functional element ( 54 ) having a functional portion ( 55 ) in order to supply the electrical tapping of the contact portion ( 5 ) from the busbar ( 4 ), wherein the functional portion ( 55 ) is preferably provided so as to be exposed outwardly when the tapping element ( 10 ) is assembled via the coupling opening ( 20 ) and preferably arranged laterally adjacent in relation to the longitudinal extent (L) to at least one of the cover elements ( 3 ), if present.

11 . The mounting rail system ( 100 ) according to claim 1 wherein the contact portion ( 5 ) comprises an adjustment portion ( 53 ) in order to adjust the electrical tap from the busbar ( 4 ) towards the supply element ( 6 ), and in particular to voltage, power, and/or frequency.

12 . The mounting rail system ( 100 ) according to claim 1 wherein the adjustment portion ( 53 ) of the contact portion ( 5 ) has an interface portion ( 50 ), which comprises a part of a standard interface, wherein the end ( 71 ) of the connecting element ( 7 ) facing the contact portion ( 5 ) comprises a corresponding part of the standard interface for electrical coupling to the part of the standard interface.

13 . The mounting rail system ( 100 ) according to claim 1 wherein the opening ( 24 ) as well as the at least one terminal opening ( 26 ) are arranged in a defined hole pattern, wherein a plurality of these hole patterns are arranged so as to be distributed evenly along the length (L) of the profiled mounting rail ( 2 ).

14 . The mounting rail system ( 100 ) according to claim 1 wherein the profiled mounting rail ( 2 ), independently of the coupling opening ( 20 ), further comprises one or more terminal openings ( 26 ) which extend longitudinally (L) in the interior (I) and is/are electrically contactable from the outside.

15 . The mounting rail system ( 100 ) according to claim 1 wherein the cover ( 9 ) is provided so as to be rotatably and/or longitudinally slidable along the profiled mounting rail ( 2 ).

16 . The mounting rail system ( 100 ) according to claim 1 wherein the profiled mounting rail ( 2 ) comprises coupling structures ( 25 ), via which the cover ( 9 ) is mechanically coupled to the profiled mounting rail ( 2 ) and is movably supported on the profiled mounting rail ( 2 ).

17 . The mounting rail system ( 100 ) according to claim 1 wherein the cover ( 9 ) comprises alignment structures ( 90 ) at a bottom ( 91 ) facing the profiled mounting rail ( 2 ), in order to selectively align the end ( 70 ) of the connecting element ( 7 ) which is guided outwardly from the opening ( 24 ), wherein the alignment structures ( 90 ) extend along the length (L) of the profiled mounting rail ( 2 ).

18 . The mounting rail system ( 100 ) according to claim 1 wherein the profiled mounting rail ( 2 ) comprises two substantially parallel side wall legs ( 21 , 22 ) and a transverse wall leg ( 23 ) connecting these side wall legs ( 21 , 22 ), wherein the opening ( 24 ) is provided in the transverse wall leg ( 23 ).

19 . The mounting rail system ( 100 ) according to claim 1 wherein the electrical or electronic component ( 8 ) comprises an assembly portion ( 81 ), by means of which the component ( 8 ) can be mechanically coupled to the profiled mounting rail ( 2 ), wherein the assembly portion ( 81 ) comprises profiled portions ( 82 ) in order to be mechanically coupled to the coupling structures ( 25 ), or further coupling structures, of the profiled mounting rail ( 2 ), slidably along the length (L) of the profiled mounting rail ( 2 ).

20 . The mounting rail system ( 100 ) accor

Assignees

• Zumtobel Lighting Gmbh

Inventors

• Ladstätter Gerald
• Mayr Gregor

Classifications

• F21V21/35 Primary

  with direct electrical contact between the supporting element and electric conductors running along the guiding element · CPC title

• F21V23/06

  the elements being coupling devices {, e.g. connectors} · CPC title

• H01R25/142 Primary

  Their counterparts · CPC title

• H01R24/76

  with sockets, clips or analogous contacts and secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. to a wall · CPC title

• H01R25/14 Primary

  Rails or bus-bars constructed so that the counterparts can be connected thereto at any point along their length (supporting elements for lighting devices, displaceable along guiding elements and making electrical contact with conductors running along the guiding elements F21V21/35) · CPC title