Leadthrough adapter for switch cabinets

• US 6,454,368 B1
• Filed: 02/26/2001
• Issued: 09/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wieland Electric GmbH (Wieland Holding GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Wieland Electric GmbH (Wieland Holding GmbH)
• Inventors: Schlichtig, Karl, Schuir, Alexander, Bedau, Norbert, Kager, German
• Primary Examiner(s): HANSEN, JAMES ORVILLE
• Application Number:
  US09/719,517
• Time in Patent Office: 575 Days
• Field of Search: 312/223.1, 312/223.2, 312/223.6, 312/265.1, 312/265.4, 312/265.5, 174/50, 174/65.R, 439/540.1, 439/544, 439/545, 439/559
• US Class Current: 312/223.1
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/518 for holding or embracing several coupling parts, e.g. frames
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/64 Means for preventing incorrect coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/74 Means for mounting coupling parts in openings of a panel
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/06 Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94

Abstract

A leadthrough adapter for connecting the components installed in a switchgear cabinet to external electric conductors. The adapter is located in a wall of the switchgear cabinet housing and one or more bushings are situated on the face of the adapter. The bushings can be accessed from the outside of the switchgear cabinet and plug-in connectors can be inserted into the bushings in order to connect the external electric conductors. Electric and/or electronic functional parts for the components that are accommodated inside the switchgear cabinet are arranged directly on the back of the adapter which faces towards the inside of the switchgear cabinet.

Claims

1. A switch cabinet having a leadthrough adapter that is disposed in a housing wall, having at least one bushing that is or are located on a front side of the adapter, which is accessible from the outside of the cabinet, the at least one bushing serving to receive plugs that are connected to external electrical lines and can be inserted into the at least one bushing, wherein electrical connecting elements for components housed inside the switch cabinet are disposed on a rear side of the adapter facing the inside of the cabinet, characterized in that the connecting elements have different plug-and-socket connectors for connecting the components disposed inside the switch cabinet and a front plate is mounted on the outside of the housing wall of the switch cabinet, said front plate having openings, which are aligned with the at least one bushing and correspond in number to the at least one bushing, where each opening has differently configured recesses formed into the edges of the openings for individual mechanical coding of each opening.

2. The switch cabinet according to claim 1, wherein the plug-and-socket connectors are selected from the group comprising:

keyed connectors, flat-line plug-and-socket connectors and latch-5 connectors.

3. The switch cabinet according to claim 1, wherein the leadthrough adapter has electrical or electronic structural elements.

4. The switch cabinet according to claim 3, wherein the electrical or electronic structural elements are selected from the group comprising devices for voltage supply or signal conversion, and display or separating elements.

5. The switch cabinet according to claim 3, wherein the electrical or electronic structural element is a circuit board.

6. The switch cabinet according to claim 5, wherein a circuit is printed on the circuit board.

7. The switch cabinet according to claim 5, wherein the electrical connecting elements are disposed on the circuit board.

8. The switch cabinet according to claim 5, wherein the at least one bushing is disposed on the circuit board.

9. The switch cabinet according to claim 1, wherein a receiving basket is embodied on the rear side of the adapter for receiving the electrical connecting elements and the structural elements.

10. The switch cabinet according to claim 1, further comprising a collar framing a respective opening and projecting from the front plate, said collar acting as a sealing bead in that the collar and the edges of the openings, which are provided to varying degrees with recesses, form a plug pot for the guided reception of the plug to be inserted.

11. The switch cabinet according to claim 10, further comprising at least one sealing rib, which projects laterally from a plug housing, and is supported with their end faces against the inside of the collar when the plug is completely inserted into the bushing for an additional, frictional-type seal of the plug pot against the environment.

12. The switch cabinet according to claim 1, wherein

the plugs inserted into the at least one bushing are equipped at the plug ends of their plug housings with one or more spring hooks, and

the spring hooks extend behind the edge of the associated opening when the plug is completely inserted into the bushing (22) for a form-fitting latching of the plug to the adapter front plate.

13. The switch cabinet according to claim 1, wherein

contact elements of the plug are crimped onto conductors laid in an auxiliary housing that is closed from the rear by a lid, and

the auxiliary housing is injection-molded around on the sides and rear to create a sealed plug bulkhead housing.

14. The switch cabinet according to claim 13, further comprising a bulkhead housing for the plug that includes

the auxiliary housing, which holds the contact elements and forms a plug end of the finished plug,

a sealing housing that is fixed on the rear side of the auxiliary housing, and

an injection-molded covering of a sealing material.

15. The switch cabinet according to claim 14, wherein the sealing housing comprises two housing-half shells that are latched together.

16. The switch cabinet according to claim 15, wherein partial regions of the housing-half shells rest against the insulating jacket of a conductor in the manner of clamping jaws, and fix the conductor between themselves to provide strain relief for the plug.

17. The switch cabinet according to claim 1, wherein

the adapter can be inserted into a housing-wall opening of the switch cabinet that is adapted to the adapter'"'"'s outer dimensions, and

pre-locking elements are embodied on the adapter as assembly aids for fixing the adapter in its final assembled position.