Connection device for an electrical machine

• US 7,517,257 B2
• Filed: 04/08/2005
• Issued: 04/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Handwerker, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams; Neil
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen; Phuong
• Application Number:
  US11/573,863
• Publication Number:
  US 20080067884A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,467 Days
• Field of Search: 439/715, 439/712, 439/709, 439/171, 439/174, 439/221
• US Class Current: 439/709
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/115 U-shaped sockets having inwardly bent legs, e.g. spade type
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/428 by resilient locking means on the contact members; by locking means on resilient contact members
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 29/00 Coupling parts for selective co-operation with a counterpart in different ways to establish different circuits, e.g. for voltage selection, for series-parallel selection, programmable connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/30 utilising a screw or nut clamping member H01R4/50 takes precedence; utilising a clamping member acted on by screw or nut H01R4/38; for coaxial cables H01R9/0521
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 11/33 Drive circuits, e.g. power electronics H02K11/38 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/10 with arrangements for protection from ingress, e.g. water or fingers
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/225 Terminal boxes or connection arrangements specially adapted for submersible motors H02K5/132

Abstract

The aim of the invention is to reduce the logistical and assembly expenses during the connection of electrical machines. To this end, a connection device is provided with a base body (7) that can be mounted in a terminal box socket (1) of the electrical machine. A plurality of contacts (6) of the electrical machine can be plugged or clipped into said base body (7). Outer contacts can be connected to the base body (7) by means of connection elements (4). Preferably, the connection elements (4) are collected together by a plug housing base body (8) in such a way that a plug-in system is provided by means of the socket base body (7).

Claims

1. A connection device for an electrical machine, comprising:

a socket base body being attached to a terminal box socket of an electrical machine, said socket base body constituting a first plug-in element of a plug-in system;

a plug housing base body to which external contacts are connectable and which constitutes a second plug-in element being snapped onto the first plug-in element in four positions, which are rotated respectively by 90°

, while the socket base body maintains its position with respect to the terminal box socket;

wherein the socket base body is constructed to enable a plurality of contacts of the electrical machine to be snapped into the socket base body from a bottom side thereof facing the terminal box socket, with the contacts sized to extend upwards beyond the socket base body to act as plug contacts for connection of the external contacts.

2. The connection device of claim 1, wherein the contacts of the electrical machine are constructed as flat plug-in contacts, which is snapped into the socket base body.

3. The connection device of claim 1, further comprising connection elements constructed to snap to the second plug-in element for attachment of the external contacts.

4. The connection device of claim 3, wherein the connection elements have each a threaded bolt or a screw terminal for attachment of an external contact.

5. The connection device of claim 3, wherein each of the connection elements has a cuboid central section having opposite sides, a threaded bolt extending out from one of the sides of the central section for attachment of a respective one of the external contacts, and a plug-in sleeve extending out from the other one of the sides of the central section for acceptance of a respective one of the plurality of contacts.

6. An electrical machine, comprising:

a terminal box socket;

a plurality of contacts; and

a connection device, said connection device including;

a socket base body being attached to the terminal box socket, said socket base body constituting a first plug-in element of a plug-in system;

a plug housing base body to which external contacts are connectable and which constitutes a second plug-in element being snapped onto the first plug-in element in four positions, which are rotated respectively by 90°

, while the socket base body maintains its position with respect to the terminal box socket;

wherein the socket base body is constructed to enable the contacts to be snapped into the socket base body from a bottom side thereof facing the terminal box socket, with the contacts sized to extend upwards beyond the socket base body to act as plug contacts for connection of the external contacts.

7. The electrical machine of claim 6, further comprising a member selected from the group consisting of plug housing, terminal box housing, and cover plate, for detachable securement to the terminal box socket, said member having a first opening for guiding power lines, and a separate, second opening for guiding control lines.

8. The electrical machine of claim 6, wherein the contacts are constructed as flat plug-in contacts for connection to the socket base body.

9. The electrical machine of claim 6, wherein each of the contacts has a flat section for acceptance in the socket base body.

10. The electrical machine of claim 6, further comprising connection elements constructed to snap to the second plug-in element for attachment of the external contacts.

11. The electrical machine of claim 10, wherein the connection elements have each a threaded bolt or a screw terminal for attachment of an external contact.

12. The electrical machine of claim 10, wherein each of the connection elements has a cuboid central section having opposite sides, a threaded bolt extending out from one of the sides of the central section for attachment of a respective one of the external contacts, and a plug-in sleeve extending out from the other one of the sides of the central section for acceptance of a respective one of the plurality of contacts.