EP3015030A1 - Device for supplying electric power to power consumers arranged on a shelf - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for power supply to be arranged on a shelf electricity consumers (20), wherein the shelf comprises at least one shelf post (10) having a cavity in the interior, which is accessible via at least one opening (15) from the outside, said Device further comprises at least one arranged in the interior of the Regalpfostens busbar (11) and a plug-like connecting element (13) with contacts, which is inserted from the outside through the at least one opening (15) of the Regalpfostens to the at least one busbar (11) to contact. According to the invention, the plug-like connecting element (13) has two spaced apart in the height direction of the shelf post pins, at the front ends are respectively the contacts that contact the busbar, the outline of a contact pin is smaller than the outline of an opening of the shelf post, in the the contact pin is inserted. This has the advantage of being able to use the device regardless of the outline shape and size of the holes in the shelf post.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for power supply to be arranged on a shelf electricity consumers, wherein the shelf comprises at least one shelf post with a cavity in the interior, which is accessible via at least one opening from the outside, wherein the device further arranged at least one inside the shelf post Busbar comprises and a male connector with contacts, which is inserted from the outside through the at least one opening of the shelf post to contact the at least one busbar,

A device of the type mentioned is known from the prior art and, for example in the DE 20 2013 101 760 U1 described. In this known device is to be regarded as a disadvantage that the arranged for contacting the inside of the shelf posts a plug is used, the insertion region is dimensioned so that it is adapted in its contour to the opening edge of the opening in the shelf post and thus the Plugs plug into this opening virtually form-fitting. However, such shelves have, depending on the shelf manufacturer very differently shaped holes in different sizes, so that the manufacturer of the power supply device must provide in this known system disadvantageously for each shelving system of each manufacturer a matching plug. Another disadvantage of the known device is that shelves of this type are already installed in many cases and must be retrofitted with consumers such as lights. Since the shelf posts often extend to the ceiling, the access from above into the cavity in the shelf post to introduce there the busbar, not possible, so that for the electrification of the shelf post, the shelf must be removed, resulting in a much higher Assembly costs.

As a fastening means for releasably securing the plug to the shelf posts are used in this known device spring tabs on the plug and a detent slope, so that There is a kind of locking connection when inserting the plug. There may also be grooves on the plug, which cooperate with webs on the openings of the shelf post and provide a guide of the plug when inserting. However, this embodiment is only suitable for shelving systems in which the shelf posts have such webs. The contacts are located on the side of the front end of the plug and are therefore suitable only for use with corresponding busbars, in which the contacts extend on webs in the insertion direction. The front end of the plug contacts with its front end region in each case both poles of a busbar in the same height relative to the vertical extent of the shelf post.

Object of the present invention is to provide a device for power supply to be arranged on a shelf power consumers with the features of the aforementioned type which allows a more universal application regardless of the shape and size of each existing in the rack posts holes.

The solution to this problem provides a device for power supply to be arranged on a shelf power consumers of the type mentioned with the features of the main claim.

According to the invention, the plug-type connecting element has two contact pins spaced apart in the vertical direction, at the front ends of which are the contacts which contact the busbar, wherein the outline of a contact pin is smaller than the outline of an opening of the shelf post, into which the contact pin is inserted. Since the outline of the contact pins is smaller than that of the holes in the shelf posts, it depends on the outline shape of the holes no longer. The plug-like connection element according to the invention is therefore universally applicable to a wide variety of rack posts with different hole shapes.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the plug-like connecting element comprises two contact pins, which are so far apart that they can be inserted into two adjacent openings of the shelf post. Since only one contact pin of the connecting element is inserted into a respective hole of the shelf post, the application is possible even with relatively small holes.

According to the invention, it is not necessary to make a mutual determination of connecting element and shelf posts on the contact pins, yet to set the plug-like fasteners in the inserted contact position, sees a Further development of the invention that at least one magnetic element is provided on the plug-like connecting element, by means of which the plug-like connecting element is releasably secured to a shelf post. The shelf post is usually made of metal and has a generally rectangular plan, so that there are planar metallic surfaces on the post walls in the areas between two spaced holes on which the magnetic elements of the male connector can dock to securely fix the latter to the shelf post. One or more such magnetic elements may be located in particular in the region of an end face of the plug-type connecting element facing the shelf post in the assembled state, which extends between the two contact pins of the connecting element.

Furthermore, according to an embodiment of the invention, the device preferably has at least one flexible bus bar, which is flexible in its longitudinal direction. This has the advantage that you can also retrofitted already mounted shelf posts with the busbars. It requires little space above the upper end of a shelf post and can lead away such a flexible busbar, which comes at the upper end of the cavity of the shelf post, for example, to the side. The time-consuming disassembly of the shelf post is therefore unnecessary.

The busbars may be constructed, for example, according to a development of the invention that they each have two approximately parallel and spaced approximately in a plane adjacent contact strips, which face one of the walls of the shelf post and which are separated by a protruding insulating web. These contact strips can be contacted by the contacts at the front ends of the contact pins of the plug-like connecting element, in each case one contact strip by a respective contact of a contact pin.

To hold a busbar in the cavity of the shelf post, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, for example, at least one support web made of plastic be provided with at least one locking receptacle, in each of which an end portion of a busbar edge is latched. Such a locking connection allows easy and quick installation.

The support bars can be easily inserted into the rack posts, the busbars can be attached to the support bars without tools. For example, two of these support webs can be inserted into the approximately rectangular cavity in a rack post, so that a bus bar respectively with their edge areas between two spaced apart support webs is held and the bus bar extends transversely to the extension direction of the support webs. The support webs may in turn extend approximately parallel to one of the side walls of the cavity. If these are, for example, the longitudinal side walls of a rectangular rectangular cross-section mullion, then the contact strips of the busbar facing the transverse side wall and the contact pins of the plug-like connection element can be easily inserted through holes in the transverse side wall until their front ends touch the contact strips of the busbar.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that two busbars are held in each case by latching connection in support bars in a rack post, wherein the busbars are arranged so that they face each other with their insulated rear sides and with their respective contact surfaces to each other opposite walls of the shelf post are aligned. This variant has the advantage that you can insert plug-like fasteners from both sides into the cavity in the shelf post and thus has more options to provide consumers on the shelf with power.

The features mentioned in the dependent claims relate to preferred developments of the task solution according to the invention. Further advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description.

• Figur 1 eine perspektivische Ansicht einer Vorrichtung zur Stromversorgung von an einem Regal anzuordnenden Stromverbrauchern gemäß einer beispielhaften Ausführungsvariante der vorliegenden Erfindung;
• Figur 2 eine Ansicht eines beispielhaften steckerartigen Verbindungselements als Teil einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung;
• Figur 3 eine Draufsicht auf das steckerartige Verbindungselement von Figur 2;
• Figur 4 eine stirnseitige Ansicht des steckerartigen Verbindungselements gemäß den Figuren 2 und 3;
• Figur 5 eine Schnittansicht durch einen Regalpfosten mit in diesem verlegten Stromschienen;
• Figur 6 eine weitere Schnittansicht durch einen Regalpfosten mit in diesem verlegten Stromschienen gemäß einer alternativen Ausführungsvariante der Erfindung;
• Figur 7 eine Ansicht einer Anordnung von zwei beispielhaften flexiblen Stromschienen, die am oberen Ende eines Regalpfostens herausgeführt sind;
• Figur 8 eine Ansicht eines Einspeisers für die elektrische Versorgung der Stromschienen.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in more detail by means of embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. Showing:

• FIG. 1 a perspective view of a device for power supply to be arranged on a shelf power consumers according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
• FIG. 2 a view of an exemplary male connector as part of a device according to the invention;
• FIG. 3 a plan view of the plug-like connection element of FIG. 2 ;
• FIG. 4 an end view of the male connector according to the FIGS. 2 and 3 ;
• FIG. 5 a sectional view through a shelf post with laid in this busbars;
• FIG. 6 a further sectional view through a shelf post with laid in this busbars according to an alternative embodiment of the invention;
• FIG. 7 a view of an arrangement of two exemplary flexible busbars, which are led out at the top of a shelf post;
• FIG. 8 a view of a feeder for the electrical supply of the busbars.

It will be initially on the FIG. 1 Reference is made and with reference to a possible exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention is explained, which serves to power consumers to be mounted on a shelf consumers such as lights or the like. In the drawing, a partially cutaway shelf post 10 can be seen in the cross-section, for example, rectangular cavity busbars 11 are laid, which are held by means of support webs 12 in the shelf post 10 in position. In order to contact the busbars 11 in the interior of the shelf post 10, the device according to the invention comprises plug-type connecting elements 13, each having two contact pins 135, 136 which project through holes 15 in the shelf post 10 and into their contacts 137, 138, which are each in the region of the front ends of the Konstaktstifte 135, 136, with the conductors of the bus bar 11 in electrical contact.

On the back side, the plug-type connecting elements 13 can have bushes 17, so that plug-in connectors 19 can be inserted there. These connection cables 18 then lead to the appropriate places where you can connect an electrical consumer such as one in the FIG. 1 attach illustrated lamp 20 and want to provide power.

The following is with reference to the FIGS. 2 to 4 an exemplary inventive connector-type connecting element 13 is explained in more detail. This has an approximately cuboid housing with an extension in the longitudinal direction 131, for example, a smaller extension in the transverse direction 132, resulting in the plan view in accordance with FIG. 3 approximately rectangular outline results, as well as, for example, a smaller extent in the depth direction 133, as in the FIGS. 2 and 4 recognizable. At one of the end faces 134 of the cuboid housing, which faces the shelf post during assembly If, viewed in the longitudinal direction 131, two contact pins 135, 136 insulated for the two poles are located at a distance from one another in their rear region. At the respective front ends of the two contact pins 135, 136 protrude from a highly electrically conductive material contacts 137, 138 from the contact pins. These contacts 137, 138, for example, have an approximately circular segment-shaped cross section, so that results in an approximately part-cylindrical shape. The part-cylindrical shape of the two contacts 137, 138 is in mirror image with respect to a central plane in the longitudinal direction through the housing of the plug-like connecting element 13, wherein the rounding is respectively on the outside and the flat side in each case inside. This cross-sectional shape makes it possible for the plug-type connecting element with its contacts to contact the two contact strips of the two different poles of a busbar, which are located on both sides of an insulating central web of the busbar, as will be explained in more detail below.

The two isolated contact pins 135, 136 are seen in the longitudinal direction 131 of the connecting element 13 so far apart that it is possible to insert the one contact pin through a hole 15 of the shelf post 10 and the other contact pin through another hole 15, for example, the next introduce adjacent hole into the cavity in the shelf post 10. The outline shape of the contact pins 135, 136 in the isolated area is in the embodiment according to the FIGS. 2 to 4 cylindrical, but it could also be square or polygonal, in principle arbitrary, because the outline of a contact pin is smaller than the outline of a hole 15 in the shelf post, so that when inserting between the outer contour of a contact pin and the inner contour of the hole space. This has the significant advantage that the contact pin can actually always be inserted into the holes of the common types of shelf posts, no matter which outline shape the holes 15 each have. Thus, the application of the device according to the invention is not limited to shelf posts with a particular shape of the perforation, but more versatile applicable.

In the FIGS. 2 and 3 Furthermore, it can be seen that on the end face 134 of the housing of the plug-like connecting element 13 respectively in the region in the longitudinal direction 131 between the two contact pins 135 and 136 respectively magnetic elements 14 are located, which serve the plug-like connecting element 13 on a metallic surface of a Regal post 10 in the position in which the electrical contact is made to the inner bus bars 11 set. By way of example, these are two magnet elements 14 which are spaced apart from one another. The plug-type connecting element 13 adheres with its frontal surface 134 to these magnet elements a side surface of the shelf post 10, while the two contact pins 135, 136 respectively in a hole 15 of, for example, two superposed holes 15, which are above or below the adhesive surface, can protrude.

In FIG. 3 is also seen that in the contact pins 135, 136 each have an axially aligned compression spring 1351, which has the task to press the contact pin against the busbar 11 respectively. In this way, tolerances in the distance between the outer contour of the shelf post 10 and the inner lying in the cavity busbar 11 can be compensated.

Furthermore you can see in FIG. 3 in that in each case two juxtaposed sockets 17 are located on the rear end side 139 opposite the contact pins 135, 136 and the magnetic elements 14, so that plug connectors 18 can be inserted there (see also FIG FIG. 1 ) to connect the electrical load 20. For example, in each case one consumer 20 can be connected via each of these sockets, so that slots for, for example, two consumers each are provided on a plug-type connecting element 13.

Further details of the invention will become apparent from the sectional view according to FIG. 5 showing a cross section through a first possible embodiment of a shelf post 10, in the cavity of two busbars 11 are attached to the support webs 12 according to the invention. The approximately rectangular rectangular cross-section posts 10 has two longitudinal walls 102 opposite one another and two transverse walls 103 lying opposite one another FIG. 5 the support webs 12 are approximately dimensioned so that they extend in the cavity 101 in the shelf post approximately in the longitudinal direction each near a longitudinal wall 102 and approximately parallel thereto. The two busbars 11, however, are held by the support webs 12 so that they each extend in the transverse direction, that is parallel to the two transverse walls and in the example each viewed in the longitudinal direction approximately in the middle of the cavity, which means that in the sectional view according to FIG. 5 the extent of the two bus bars, which are comparatively close to each other in the middle of the cavity 101, approximately perpendicular to the extension of the support webs 12. The busbars 11 are of course in the illustration according to FIG. 5 shown in cross-section and its longitudinal extent is perpendicular to the plane, which corresponds to an erected shelf post 10 of the height direction of the shelf post and the shelf.

In FIG. 5 is further seen that each of the two bus bars 11 each have two contact strips 111, 112, between each of which an insulating web 113 is located approximately in the middle of the busbar approximately perpendicular to the plane of the contact strips 111, 112 and the latter spatially separated from each other , The two bus bars 11 are in the variant of FIG. 5 arranged comparatively close to each other approximately in the middle of the shelf post, but in each case aligned with the isolated back 114 against each other. As a result, the contact strips 111, 112 of the busbars 11 are each facing outwardly toward one of the transverse walls 103 of the shelf post 10. In the transverse wall 103 are the holes 15, which, however, in the sectional view of FIG. 5 are not recognizable. As a result of this type of arrangement, it is possible either to contact one of the two busbars 11 from the outside, either from one side or from the other transverse side, via the contacts 137, 138 of the contact pins 135, 136. As previously mentioned, the contact pins 135, 136 have approximately a semicircular shape in cross-section and are mirror-inverted and oriented so that the flat side faces inward in both cases. Therefore, you can contact one of the two busbars so that one contact with its end face contacts the contact strip 111 of the one pole of the busbar, while the second contact contacts with its end face the contact strip 112 of the other pole of the busbar 11, which is beyond the central insulating web 113 lies. The contact points are in the longitudinal direction of the bus bar 11, that is perpendicular to the plane spaced from each other, since the two pins 135, 136 are spaced from each other on the plug-type connecting element 13.

In FIG. 5 is further seen that the support webs 12 each seen in the direction of the longitudinal walls 102 of the shelf post have approximately two middle recesses 121 in which the edge ends of the two busbars can be snapped on both sides, whereby the two busbars in position transversely are held to the support webs 12 in the cavity 101 of the shelf post 10.

The position of the locking receptacles 121 and their number may vary according to the invention, depending on whether you want to accommodate one or two busbars in the cavity 101 and seen depending on the desired distance position of the busbars in the direction of the depth of the cavity. Here shows the FIG. 6 an alternative embodiment to FIG. 5 in which, although two busbars 11 are provided, so that you can also contact here from both sides of the shelf post 10 ago. Accordingly, the two busbars 11 are here so that their respective back 114 faces the back of the other busbar. However, compared with FIG. 5 in the variant of FIG. 6 the distance between the two busbars in the insertion direction (ie parallel to the Seen longitudinal walls 102) considerably larger. This is also related to the fact that here a larger profile is provided as a shelf post 10, so that the length of the longitudinal walls 102 is correspondingly larger than in FIG. 5 and consequently the distance of the busbars 11 must be greater if the same insertion distance for the contact pins 135, 136 of the plug-type connecting elements 13 is to be maintained. It can be seen by comparing the two embodiments according to the FIGS. 5 and 6 in that the distance from the transverse wall 103 in which the holes 15 are located to the contact strips 111, 112 of the busbars is the same in each case, so that in both cases the same plug-type connecting elements 13 can be used.

In both embodiments, the busbars 11 are formed so that the contact strips 111, 112 of the two poles of the busbar are adjacent to each other and approximately parallel to the transverse wall 103 of the shelf post 10 in such a way that they are each facing a transverse wall, from which they be contacted through the holes 15 via the contact pins of the plug-type connecting elements 13. If, as in the examples of the FIGS. 5 and 6 each two busbars in the shelf post 10 are located, you can attach from the other side of the rack post her forth more plug-like fasteners 13 and insert there additional plug with connecting cables for other consumers.

The following is with reference to the FIG. 7 explained with reference to an embodiment of the advantage of using a flexible busbar 11 according to a preferred variant of the invention. It can be seen in this view, the upper end portion of a shelf post 10, from the cavity of two flexible busbars 11 according to the invention are led out. In addition, the two bus bars are respectively engaged in support bars 12 according to the invention and thus fixed in their position. One sees in the example according to FIG. 7 a plurality of such support webs 12 in each case at a distance from one another, on each of which the busbars 11 are fixed and held at a distance from each other. For better fixation, the support webs 12 may, for example, be located alternately on one or the other side of the two busbars 11.

In FIG. 7 recognizes further that the two busbars 11 are led out of the shelf post 10 at the top laterally in the corner and describe an arc in its longitudinal extent. This is possible due to the flexibility of the busbars 11. Here, the particular advantage of flexibility is clear, because the busbars 11 would be rigid, they would have to be led out in alignment straight up from the shelf posts. In many cases, however, above the upper end of the shelf post 10 is not sufficient space, since there joins the ceiling. Therefore, it would not be possible for the Busbars to lead upwards over a sufficient distance on. However, this is not a problem due to the flexible training, as the example of FIG. 7 shows. The busbars can be bent and it is comparatively little space above the shelf post 10 when continuing the busbars 11 required.

Below is the on the FIG. 8 Reference is made, in which a so-called feeder 21 is shown, which serves to feed the current from a supply line coming from a power source in the bus bars 11. This feeder 21 is designed in principle similar to that in FIG. 3 As can be easily seen by comparison, but missing at the feeder 21, the two jacks 17 on the back, since the feeder is not used to plug electrical consumers on the shelf on the shelf, but to supply the busbars 11. For this purpose, the feeder 21 in FIG. 8 top side recognizable cable 211, which is connected for example to a transformer. However, at the feeder 21 as well as at the male connector 13, the magnetic elements 14 are provided for attachment to the shelf post as well as the contact pins 135, 136 with the respective contacts 137, 138 at their ends, so that the feeder 21 via the contacts 137, 138th can come into contact with the lying in the cavity of the shelf pole busbar 11.

For higher powers, it may be advantageous, alternatively, to bring the power via a line directly from a transformer to the busbars, for example by the line is screwed there. One possible embodiment would be, for example, to attach to the lines eyelets, which are then mounted with screws or the like in holes at one end of the busbar.

The busbars 11 may according to the invention, for example, consist of an extruded plastic profile, are glued into the two interconnects. At the ends of the busbar, for example, the conductor tracks can be shortened by a few cm with respect to the plastic profile in order to protect it and to prevent a short circuit occurring in the bottom area of the water (for example, by cleaning the room).

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

uprights

101

cavity

102

longitudinal wall

103

partition

11

conductor rail

111

first contact strip

112

second contact strip

113

Insulating web

114

insulated rear of the busbar

12

retention standoff

121

locking receivers

13

plug-type connecting elements

131

longitudinal direction

132

transversely

133

depth direction

134

front

135

pin

1351

compression spring

136

pin

137

Contact

138

Contact

139

back end face

14

magnetic elements

15

holes

17

sockets

18

connection cable

19

plug

20

electrical consumer / light

21

feeder

211

management

Claims (10)

Device for power supply of electricity consumers to be arranged on a shelf, wherein the shelf comprises at least one shelf post (10) with a cavity in the interior, which is accessible via at least one opening from the outside, wherein the device further comprises at least one bus bar arranged inside the shelf post (10). 11) and a plug-type connecting element (13) with contacts which can be inserted from the outside through the at least one opening (15) of the shelf post in order to contact the at least one bus bar, characterized in that the plug-type connecting element (13) has two in Height direction spaced contact pins (135, 136), at the front ends of each of the contacts (137, 138) are located, the contact the busbar (11), wherein the outline of a contact pin (135, 136) is smaller than the outline of a Opening (15) of the shelf post, in which the contact pin is inserted. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that two contact pins (135, 136) of a plug-like connecting element (13) are so far apart that they can be inserted into two adjacent openings (15) of the shelf post (10). Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that on the plug-like connecting element at least one magnetic element (14) is provided, by means of which the plug-like connecting element (13) releasably on a shelf post (10) can be fixed. Device according to Claim 3, characterized in that at least one magnetic element (14) is arranged in the region of an end face (134) of the plug-type connecting element (13) facing the shelf post (10) in the mounted state, which is located between the two contact pins (135, 135). 136) of the connecting element. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises at least one flexible busbar (11) which is flexible seen in its longitudinal direction. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the holder for the at least one bus bar (11) in the cavity of the shelf post (10). comprises at least one support web (12) made of plastic with at least one latching receptacle (121), in each of which an end region of a busbar can be latched edge side. Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that a bus bar (11) is held in each case with its edge regions between two spaced support webs (12) and the bus bar (11) extends transversely to the direction of extension of the support webs (12). Device according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that in a rack post (10) two bus bars (11) are each held by latching in support webs (12), wherein the bus bars are arranged so that they each with their isolated backs ( 114) face each other and are aligned with their respective contact surfaces to opposite walls (103) of the shelf post (10). Device according to one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the busbars (11) each have two approximately parallel and at a distance approximately in a plane adjacent contact strips (111, 112), one of the walls (103) of the shelf post (10 ) and which are separated by a protruding insulating web (113). Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the two contact pins (135, 136) in each case in the end regions contacts (137, 138), which preferably have an approximately circular segment-shaped cross section, wherein preferably both contacts to a longitudinal center plane through the Housing of the plug-like connecting element (13) are mirror-inverted and each contact different adjacent contact strips (111, 112) of a busbar (11).

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