Apparatus for distributing current in a low-voltage system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9960574-B2
Application number	US-201515119285-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 24, 2015
Priority date	Feb 24, 2014
Publication date	May 1, 2018
Grant date	May 1, 2018

Abstract

An apparatus for distributing current in a low-voltage system includes a plurality of disk-shaped modules that can be arranged adjacent to each other in a row and mounted or locked on a carrier rail. At least one supply module, at least one fuse module, and at least one distributing module are provided. The modules have at least one cross connector for a positive potential and at least one cross connector for a negative potential. The fuse module and the distributing module also have at least one additional cross connector for a potential that is protected by the fuse module.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. Apparatus for distributing current in a low-voltage system, comprising
(a) a plurality of modules arranged in series and mounted on a carrier rail, said plurality of modules including at least one supply module, at least one fuse module and at least one distributor module;
(b) a first cross connector connected between said plurality of modules for delivering a positive potential;
(e) a second cross connector connected between said plurality of modules for delivering a negative potential; and
(d) a third cross connector connected between a fuse module and a distributor module for delivering a secured potential from said fuse module.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein said fuse module comprises at least one electronic fuse.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein said fuse module comprises at least one fuse separating in a two-pole manner.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein said distributor module includes at least one conductor connector and a separating device connected between said at least one conductor connector and said cross connectors.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 , wherein said supply module includes a ground connection and a second separating device connected between said ground connection and said cross connectors.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein each of said cross connectors comprises a through, straight cross connector.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein said fuse module includes at least one third cross connector for transmitting at least one of an alarm signal and a control signal.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 , wherein said third cross connector comprises a single wire data bus for transmitting the at least one of an alarm signal and a control signal in encoded form.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8 , and further comprising a signal processing module including at least one connection for said third cross connector and at least one signal connection through which said at least one of an alarm signal and a control signal is exchanged via the data bus in decoded form.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 8 , wherein said supply module includes at least one connection for said third cross connector, at least one signal connection through which said at least one of an alarm signal and a control signal is exchanged via a data bus, and a bus decoder for decoding said at least one of an alarm signal and a control signal.

Assignees

• Weidmueller Interface Gmbh & Co Kg

Inventors

• Böcker Marc
• Gerkens Michael
• Hähnel Andreas
• Lange Stephan
• Schürmann Klaus
• Tempel Ralph

Classifications

• H05K7/1459

  Circuit configuration, e.g. routing signals · CPC title

• H05K5/0256

  of interchangeable modules or receptacles therefor, e.g. cartridge mechanisms · CPC title

• H02B1/052

  Mounting on rails · CPC title

• H02J1/06

  Two-wire DC power distribution systems · CPC title

• H05K7/023

  Stackable modules · CPC title