Device for attaching busbar to a support rail

• US 6,069,321 A
• Filed: 03/10/1998
• Issued: 05/30/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rittal-Werk Rudolf Loh Gmbh & Co. Kg
• Original Assignee: Rittal-Werk Rudolf Loh Gmbh & Co. Kg
• Inventors: Wagener, Hans, Zachrai, Jurgen
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid, Kristine
• Assistant Examiner(s): OLDS, MARK E
• Application Number:
  US09/037,351
• Time in Patent Office: 812 Days
• Field of Search: 174/99 B, 174/99 R, 174/99 E, 174/100, 174/68.2, 174/70 B, 174/71 B, 174/72 B, 174/72 C, 174/133 B, 174/149 B, 361/611, 361/612, 361/613, 361/614, 361/637, 361/638, 361/639, 361/640, 361/648, 361/649, 361/650
• US Class Current: 174/99.00B
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 1/20 Bus-bar or other wiring layouts, e.g. in cubicles, in switchyards installations of bus-bars H02G5/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 5/025 Supporting structures

Abstract

A device for attaching busbars of square or rectangular cross section on a support rail using electrically non-conducting support elements, which can be connected with the support rail and form a busbar receptacle adapted to the cross section of the busbar. With a simple fastener, assembly is considerably simplified because two post-shaped supports per busbar can be attached as support elements on the support rail, wherein spacing between the supports is matched to the width of the busbar and a height is matched to the thickness of the busbar. A base plate is arranged between the two supports, which insulates the busbar receptacle against the support rail and which is captively held between the holders. The ends of the supports facing away from the support rail can be closed by a strip.

Claims

1. In a device for attaching busbars having a rectangular cross section on a support rail by electrically non-conducting support elements, which can be connected with the support rail and form a busbar receptacle adapted to the rectangular cross section of one of said busbars, the improvement comprising:

two post-shaped supports (15) corresponding to each said busbar (40) attached on the support rail (10), spacing between the supports (15) being matched to a width of the busbar (40), the supports (15) having a height corresponding to a height of the busbar (40), the busbar (40) terminating flush with a free end of each of the two supports (15),

a base plate (19) arranged between the supports (15), the base plate (19) insulating the busbar receptacle against the support rail (10), the base plate (19) being captively held between the supports (15), and

a strip (23) closing ends of the supports (15) facing away from the support rail (10).

2. In the device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the supports (15) have a square exterior cross section and are placed, fixed against twisting, in the support rail (10) which has a U-shaped cross section.

3. In the device in accordance with claim 2, wherein the supports (15) have a screw receptacle (16) which, facing the support rail (10), makes a transition via a step into a fastening sleeve (18) reinforced by an inserted metal sleeve, a fastening screw (30) ending in a threaded part (31) matched to the fastening sleeve (18) and engageable within a threaded bore (14) of the support rail (10), the fastening screw (30) insertable into the screw receptacle (16), and the fastening screw (30) having a threaded receptacle (33) for a strip fastening screw (36) in a screw head (32) facing the strip (23).

4. In the device in accordance with claim 3, wherein the support (15) is embodied as a hollow body around the screw receptacle (16) and the fastening sleeve (18).

5. In the device in accordance with claim 3, wherein the screw receptacle (16) has a plurality of longitudinally-oriented guide strips (17) which reduce a diameter of the screw receptacle (16) to a shank diameter of the fastening screw (30).

6. In the device in accordance with claim 3, wherein the fastening screw (30) is supported on the fastening sleeve (18) of the support (15) by a shim plate (34) and a spring washer (35), and the strip fastening screw (36) is supported via a shim plate (37) and a spring washer (38) flush in a strip receiver (24) having a countersink.

7. In the device in accordance with claim 6, wherein the support (15) is embodied as a hollow body around the screw receptacle (16) and the fastening sleeve (18).

8. In the device in accordance with claim 7, wherein the screw receptacle (16) has a plurality of longitudinally-oriented guide strips (17) which reduce a diameter of the screw receptacle (16) to a shank diameter of the fastening screw (30).

9. In the device in accordance with claim 8, wherein the base plate (19) has an H-shape with leg projections (21) at least partially covering exteriors of adjoining said supports (15) extending parallel with a longitudinal direction of the support rail (10).

10. In the device in accordance with claim 9, wherein the base plate (19) has a plurality of cover sections (20) on the leg projections (21) facing the support rail (10) which cover exteriors of a plurality of lateral legs (12, 13) of the U-shaped support rail (10).

11. In the device in accordance with claim 10, wherein the strip (23) is recessed around a plurality of strip receivers (24) on a side facing the supports (15) and is designed as a hollow body.

12. In the device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the supports (15) have a screw receptacle (16) which, facing the support rail (10), makes a transition via a step into a fastening sleeve (18) reinforced by an inserted metal sleeve, a fastening screw (30) ending in a threaded part (31) matched to the fastening sleeve (18) and engageable within a threaded bore (14) of the support rail (10), the fastening screw (30) insertable into the screw receptacle (16), and the fastening screw (30) having a threaded receptacle (33) for a strip fastening screw (36) in a screw head (32) facing the strip (23).

13. In the device in accordance with claim 12, wherein the fastening screw (30) is supported on the fastening sleeve (18) of the support (15) by a shim plate (34) and a spring washer (35), and the strip fastening screw (36) is supported via a shim plate (37) and a spring washer (38) flush in a strip receiver (24) having a countersink.

14. In the device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the base plate (19) has an H-shape with leg projections (21) at least partially covering exteriors of adjoining said supports (15) extending parallel with a longitudinal direction of the support rail (10).

15. In the device in accordance with claim 14, wherein the base plate (19) has a plurality of cover sections (20) on the leg projections (21) facing the support rail (10) which cover exteriors of a plurality of lateral legs (12, 13) of the U-shaped support rail (10).

16. In the device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the strip (23) is recessed around a plurality of strip receivers (24) on a side facing the supports (15) and is designed as a hollow body.