Grounding arrangement, especially for clean rooms

• US 5,954,524 A
• Filed: 11/14/1997
• Issued: 09/21/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Meissner + Wurst GmbH + Company Lufttechnische Anlagen Gebaude--Und Verfahrenstechnik
• Original Assignee: Meissner & Wurst GmbH & Co. (Jenoptik AG)
• Inventors: Wingert, Erhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Bradley, Paula
• Assistant Examiner(s): WRIGHT, CECELIA B
• Application Number:
  US08/970,929
• Time in Patent Office: 676 Days
• Field of Search: 175/51, 439/92, 439/801, 439/782, 439/781, 174/51
• US Class Current: 439/92
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/66 Connections with the terrestrial mass, e.g. earth plate, earth pin
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 1/16 Earthing arrangements earthing arrangements for substations H02B5/01; earthing arrangements for switchgear H02B11/28, H02B13/075
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 13/00 Installations of lightning conductors; Fastening thereof to supporting structure
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 13/40 Connection to earth
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 13/80 Discharge by conduction or dissipation, e.g. rods, arresters, spark gaps
• CPC Class Codes: H05F 3/02 by means of earthing connections

Abstract

A grounding arrangement, especially for clean rooms, is provided. The arrangement includes grounding conductors to which electrically conductive components, such as metallic housings of machines, are connected by connecting lines. The conductors are flexible leads that are conductively interconnected by connecting terminals. The conductors are connected to a foundation by at least one shunt line.

Claims

1. A grounding arrangement comprising:

grounding conductors to which electrically conductive components are adapted to be connected via connecting lines, wherein said grounding conductors are flexible leads;

connecting terminals for conductively interconnecting said leads of said grounding conductors;

at least one shunt line connecting said grounding conductors to a foundation.

2. A grounding arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said grounding conductors are disposed in a grate-like configuration.

3. A grounding arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said grounding conductors intersect one another, and wherein said connecting terminals conductively interconnect said grounding conductors at points of intersection.

4. A grounding arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said connecting lines are flexible.

5. A grounding arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said grounding arrangement is accommodated in a floor of a clean room.

6. A grounding arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said grounding arrangement is disposed in a ceiling region of a clean room.

7. A grounding arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said grounding conductors are provided with an insulating cover that surrounds individual leads.

8. A grounding arrangement according to claim 7, wherein said connecting terminals penetrate said insulating cover of said grounding conductors.

9. A grounding arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said connecting terminals comprise two parts that can be secured together.

10. A grounding arrangement according to claim 9, wherein at least one and preferably both of said connecting terminal parts are provided with metallic teeth.

11. A grounding arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said grounding arrangement is connected with said at least one shunt line via at least one flexible line.

12. A grounding arrangement according to claim 9, wherein said at least one flexible line is connected to said grounding arrangement and to said to at least one shunt line via further ones of said connecting terminals.