EP2282379A1

EP2282379A1 - Device for power supply

Info

Publication number: EP2282379A1
Application number: EP10007045A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Anders Falk
Original assignee: Xcen AB
Current assignee: Xcen AB
Priority date: 2009-08-04
Filing date: 2010-07-08
Publication date: 2011-02-09
Also published as: SE0901062A1; SE534019C2

Abstract

A current supply rail has a front side (7), a rear side (6) and two side surfaces (8), there being provided electric conductors (10) in longitudinal grooves (9) disposed in the side surfaces (8). The rail has at least one outlet device (2, 3) with contact means (23) which are insertable in the grooves (9) to contact with the conductors (10). The contact means (24) display ramp portions (27) which are obliquely inclined in relation to the insertion direction of the contact blades or pins of a plug, in order to be displaced thereby into contact with the conductors (10) on insertion of the plug.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an apparatus for current or power supply and comprising an elongate rail with a front side, a rear side and two opposing side surfaces, there being disposed, in the rail, longitudinal electric conductors that are connectible to a power source, and at least one power outlet or socket disposed on the rail.

BACKGROUND ART

It is previously known in the art to employ electrically conducting rails or large gauge wires which as a rule are uninsulated and are located in spaced apart relationship from one another and supported in a ceiling or on a wall. Small fittings are secured on these rails by means of clamp connections or screw connections, as a rule these fitting being provided with halogen lamps.
Current supply of the above-outlined type may be both aesthetically attractive, flexible and easy to use, but, for reasons of safety, naturally cannot be used in such situations where full mains voltage is required.
Current supply rails are also previously known in the art which operate with full voltage. Such rails are used, for example, in public areas, exhibition premises, shop environments and the like where extremely high demands are placed on flexible positioning of illumination fittings and other types of electric equipment. Current supply rails for this purpose often display considerable dimensions and have, in their front side, i.e. that side which is turned to face away from the substrate on which the current supply rail is fixed, a longitudinal aperture opening into the interior where the electric conductors of the rail are located. A connection device is, as a rule, insertable in the rail in any optional position therein and may be secured there, for example by a twisting movement so that electric contact is established. A current supply rail of this type functions excellently, for example disposed in the ceiling in electricity shop where fittings often need to be taken down and put up in varying positions.
On the other hand, the prior art current supply rail cannot be used in such situations where the space is limited, principally in a direction out from the substrate on which the current supply rail is secured, for example behind shop shelves, display cases, etc.

PROBLEM STRUCTURE

The present invention has for its object to design the apparatus intimated by way of introduction such that the problems inherent in the prior art technology are obviated. In particular, the present invention has for its object to design the apparatus intimated by way of introduction such that it may be employed for full mains voltage without safety issues, that it may be employed also in extremely restricted spaces with optional positioning of the outlets or power points in the longitudinal direction of the apparatus, and that it may be manufactured at low cost.

SOLUTION

The objects forming the basis of the present invention will be attained if the apparatus intimated by way of introduction is given the characterising features which are apparent from the characterising clause of appended Claim 1.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described in greater detail hereinbelow with reference to the accompanying Drawings. In the accompanying Drawings:

Fig. 1: is a perspective view of an apparatus according to the present invention, the apparatus having an unearthed outlet device, an earthed outlet device and a connection device, the rail included in the apparatus according to the presenting invention being of considerably shorter length than is the case in the majority of practical applications;
Fig. 2: is a side elevation of the connection device according to Fig. 1;
Fig. 3: is a section taken through the connection device in Fig. 2, along the section marking A-A;
Fig. 4: is a view corresponding to that of Fig. 2 showing an unearthed outlet socket; and
Fig. 5: is a section corresponding to that of Fig. 3 through the outlet socket according to Fig. 4, along the section marking B-B.

The current supply apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1 comprises a connection device 1, an earthed (grounded) outlet device 2, an unearthed (ungrounded) outlet device 3, an endpiece 4 and a rail 5 which serves for accommodating the above-mentioned components. Fig. 1 shows a combination of earthed 2 and unearthed 3 outlet devices, which does not occur in practice since this would be contrary to valid regulations. Thus, there are provided on one and the same rail 5, either earthed 2 or unearthed 3 outlet devices.
Both the connection device I and the endpiece 4 are fixed in relation to the rail 5 and cannot be moved along it. On the other hand, both the earthed outlet device 2 and the unearthed outlet device 3 may be displaced along the rail and positioned in any optional position therealong. Further, any optional number of outlet devices, provided that space is sufficient, may be placed on one and the same rail.
The rail 5 has a rear side 6 which is turned to face in towards the substrate against which the rail rests or is secured, respectively. Further, the rail 5 has a front side 7 which faces out from the substrate. Finally, the rail 5 displays opposing side surfaces 8 which are considerably narrower than the rear side and the front side. Preferably, the front side and the rear side are between three and seven times wider than the two opposing side surfaces, preferably however approximately fives times wider. As a result, the rail will have a substantially rectangular outer contour with those exceptions which will be described in greater detail hereinbelow.
As is apparent from Figs. 1, 2 and 4, the rail 5 displays, in its side surfaces 8, longitudinal grooves 9 which extend in towards the central region of the rail and which are defined by surfaces which are substantially parallel with both the front side 7 and the rear side 6 of the rail.
In the bottom of these grooves 9 there are disposed electric conductors 10 which extend throughout the entire length of the rail 5. These conductors 10 have free metal surfaces, at least along that part of the peripheral surface which is turned to face towards the longitudinal grooves 9 and principally their openings at the side surfaces 8 of the rail.
As is intimated in Figs. 1 and 3, the connection device 1 is in two parts, where the plane of division also includes a longitudinal centre line to the rail 5 (when the connection device 1 is mounted thereon). Both of the halves 11 and 12 of the connection device are urgeable against one another by means of screws 13 which extend through insulation sleeves 14 disposed interiorly in the connection device 1. As a result, the risk that any of the screws 13 may come into electric contact with live components interiorly in the connection device 1 is eliminated.
Interiorly in the connection device 1, there are provided connecting means 15 which are produced from spring metal in the form of leaf springs which are L-shaped. The width in the longitudinal direction of the rail 1 is, in one practical embodiment, of the order of magnitude of between 8 and 12 mm.
As is apparent from Fig. 3, the connecting means 15 are L-shaped and have one shank 16 which engages in the longitudinal grooves 9 of the rail 5 in order to contact the conductors 10 located in the bottom of the grooves. The opposite end of the connecting means 15 is accommodated in a bracket 17 which at least positionally fixes the connecting means in the longitudinal direction of the rail and in a direction out from the longitudinal centre line of the rail. This implies that, on tightening of the screws 13, the shanks 16 of the connecting means 15 will be pressed against the conductors 10, on the one hand to realise an electric contact therebetween, and also with sufficiently great force to positionally fix the connection device 1 in relation to the rail in the longitudinal direction thereof. The positional fixing of the connection device transversely of the rail and transversely of the front and rear sides of the rail is realised by means of the engagement of the shanks 16 in the grooves 9 of the rail.
In the brackets 17, there are also provided connections to a conductor which is passed into the connection device I via a stress relieving device 18, see Figs. 1 and 2.
In order to improve the positioning of the connection device 1 in relation to the rail 5, the connection device is provided with guide heels 19 which, in the mounted position of the connection device on the rail 5, abut against both of the opposing side surface 8 thereof. Finally, the connection device has fixing lugs 20 for fixing against the substrate.
Fig. 1 shows both earthed and unearthed versions of the outlet device or power point 2 and 3, respectively. As was mentioned above, these are not used simultaneously on one and the same rail 5. In order to be able to employ an unearthed outlet device 2, there is required an additional conductor in the rail 5 in addition to the two above-described conductors 10. This conductor 21 (Fig. 3) is an earth conductor which is connected to earth and, as a result, carries no potential. This earth conductor 21 is positioned in the central region of the rail 5 in the bottom of a groove 22, Figs. 1 and 5, which is open towards the front side 7 of the rail 5.
In order to contact the earth conductor 21, the earthed outlet device 2 has a drag spring or some similar contactor device, which is in communication with an earth connection 23 which is intended to cooperate with a corresponding earth device in an earthed plug. As regards the connection to both of the conductors 10, the construction of the earthed outlet device 2 is identical or almost identical with that which applies to the unearthed outlet device 3.
The unearthed outlet device 3 has inner contact members 24 which are provided for realising electric contact between the longitudinal conductors 10 of the rail 5 and the contact blades or pins on a plug inserted in the outlet device 2. The contact members 24 have contact portions 25 which correspond to the shanks 16 of the connecting means 15 and which, both as regards contact with the conductors 10 and retention of the outlet device on the rail, fulfil the same function as them. Choice of material and dimensioning also correspond approximately to those which were disclosed for the connection device 1.
The unearthed outlet device 3 has insertion openings 26 for insertion of the contact blades or pins of an unearthed plug. In association with these insertion openings 26, the contact members 24 have ramp portions 27 which are obliquely inclined in relation to the insertion direction of the contact blades or pins of the plug. This implies that, on insertion of the contact blades or pins in the insertion openings 26, the inner ends of the contact blades or pins will press against the ramp portions 27 and strive to move them in a direction towards one another. This in turn implies that the contact portions 25 are urged against the conductors 10 so that electric contact is established.
The inclination of the ramp portions 27 in relation to the insertion direction in the insertion openings 26, in combination with the resilient properties in both of the contact members 24 is selected in such a manner that the force which occurs between the contact portions 25 and the conductors 10 is sufficient, in addition to the electric contact, also to realise a mechanical retention of the outlet device 3 in the longitudinal direction of the rail 5. In order for this to be possible, the opposing ends of the contact members 24, thus facing away from the contact portions 25, must be prevented from moving in a direction towards one another under the action of the contact blades or pins of the plug. According to the present invention, this is realised in that the contact members 24 have stop portions 28 bent in a direction towards one another and abutting against an abutment portion 29 fixedly disposed in the outlet device 3. The abutment portion 29 is formed as a T, where the stop portions 28 are located under the transverse crosspiece of the T. As a result, both of the contact members 24 will be positionally fixed in the outlet device 3 in a direction towards and away from the rail 5.
The unearthed outlet device 3 also has guide heels 19 which abut against the opposing side surfaces 8 of the rail 5 so that the outlet device will as a result be better supported in relation to the rail transversely of its longitudinal direction.
As will be apparent from the foregoing disclosures, without any inserted plug in the outlet device 3, both of the contact members 24 will lie loosely in their positions interiorly in the outlet device. This implies that the contact members 24 are free to be pivoted to some extent away from one another so that there is no electric contact, nor any direct mechanical engagement, between the contact portions 25 of the contact members and the conductors 10. In this state, the outlet device may readily be slid in the longitudinal direction of the rail 5. On insertion of a plug in the outlet device via the insertion openings 26 thereof, the contact blades or pins of the plug will come into contact with the above-mentioned ramp surfaces 27 and strive to urge them towards one another so that the contact portions 25 are urged against the conductors 10 at the same time as a certain resilient deformation is realised in the contact members 24. Hereby, there will be established at the same time on the one hand an electric contact and on the other hand a mechanical clamping of the outlet device in a selected position along the rail.
It should be mentioned that the contact blades or pins on a plug of the so-called Euro type are relatively thin, while the contact pins of a conventional plug are of a slightly larger diameter. This implies that the exact dimensioning of the contact members 24, their positioning and the inclination of the two ramp surfaces 27 must be adapted in each individual case to the type of plug which is to be employed. Thus, dimensioning, positioning and detailed design of the contact members 24 cannot be exactly the same in an earthed outlet device 2 as in an unearthed outlet device 3.
According to one variation of the outlet device, it is possible that the one contact member is fixedly mounted and thus not movable under the action of a contact blade or pin in a plug when the plug is inserted in the outlet device. In such an alternative, the opposite, moving contact member 24 accounts for the entire movement, both as regards establishing electric contact and as regards fixedly clamping the outlet device on the rail.

Claims

An apparatus for current or power supply comprising an elongate rail (5) with a front side (7), a rear side (6) and two opposing side surfaces (8), there being disposed, in the rail, longitudinal electric conductors (10) that are connectible to a power source, and at least one power outlet (2, 3) or socket disposed on the rail, characterised in that the conductors (10) are disposed in longitudinal grooves (9) disposed in the side surfaces (8), that the outlet device (3) has contact means (24) which are insertable in the grooves to contact with the conductors (10), and that the contact means in the outlet device are located in order to be contacted by the contact blades or pins of a plug, when this is inserted in the outlet device.
The apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the grooves (9) are located in planes which are substantially parallel with the rear side (6) of the rail (5), that the conductors (10) are located at the bottom of each respective groove, the contact means (24) having contact portions (25) which, in opposing directions transversely of the longitudinal direction of the rail, are movable in relation to one another in the grooves.
The apparatus as claimed in Claim I or 2, characterised in that the contact means (24) display, interiorly in the outlet device (2, 3), ramp portions (27) which are obliquely directed in relation to the insertion direction of the contact blades or pins of a plug, and which are located in order to be acted on by them, whereby the contact means are influenced in a direction towards one another and brought into contact with the conductors (10) on insertion of the plug.
The apparatus as claimed in Claim 3, characterised in that the outlet device (2, 3) is freely slidable along the rail (5) without an inserted plug in the outlet device, but fixedly retained thereon by the sliding of the contact means (24) in the grooves (9).
The apparatus as claimed in Claim 3 or 4, characterised in that the force which is realised between the contact means (24) and the conductors (10) on insertion of a plug in the outlet device (2, 3) is sufficient to positionally fix the outlet device along the rail (5).
The apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the contact means (24) are produced as leaf springs from a resilient metal material.
The apparatus as claimed in any of Claims I to 6, characterised in that the rail (5) displays, on its front side (7), a longitudinal groove (22), with an earth conductor (21) which is in contact with an earthing device (23) in an earthed outlet device (2).
The apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the rail (5) has a connection device (1) with connecting means (15) which are tensioned towards the conductors (10) in the grooves (9) and which are connected to an incoming conductor to the connection device.
The apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the front side (7) of the rail (5) is of a width which is approximately between three and seven times greater than the width of the side surfaces (8), preferably approximately five times greater.
The apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the rail (5) displays, in one end, an endpiece (4) which there terminates the longitudinal grooves (9) of the rail.