Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
1:1353~3
Electrical apparatus, particularly apparatus for installation
The invention relates to an electrical apparatus, particularly
apparatus for installation, such as a signal light, switch gear,
transformer, or similar, consisting of a plurality of compon-
ents joinable to each other, for optional installation in an
apparatus housing, a switch cabinet, or on a mounting board.
An electrical apparatus for installation, of the aforenamed
category, to be mounted in the aperture of a carrier plate
is known from DE publication of specifications 26 09 473. This
apparatus has a front part with a sleeve shaped neck with an
external thread which can be inserted from the exterior through
an aperture of the carrier plate as far as a stop, wherein this
neck is mountable onto the carrier plate by means of a circular
nut that can be threaded against the carrier plate from the in-
terior. For joining to a block containing the electrical com-
ponents, two segmental ribs, facing each other, are molded onto
the free end of the sleeve-shaped neck. These two ribs are pro-
vided at their ends with detent projections intended to engage
detent grooves. For this purpose, the face of the block to be
connected, facing the front wall, is provided.
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with two insertion apertures conforming to the sectional shape
of the ribs. On inserting the ribs of the front part into
the apertures of the block, the detent projections of the
ribs will engage the detent grooves of the block. Further-
more, a guide space is provided transversal to the central
longitudinal axis of the block, within which a latch is held
laterally movable, serving for fixing the ribs within the
block by abutting these.
It is of disadvantage in this apparatus for installation, that
a relatively large space is required on the side of the appar-
atus to allow lateral inserting of the latch securing the de-
tents and to withdraw it again upon detaching the components.
A further essential disadvantage consists in the segmental rib
at the sleeve-shaped neck of the front part having to be insert-
ed into the conformingly-shaped insertion apertures of the face
of the block. The ribs and detents can neither be seen or
checked from the exterior; in their assembled position they
are therefore neither reachable nor operable from the exterior,
i.e. they cannot be made to engage or release the detents. The
laterally insertable latch is thus required under all circum-
stances, in order to effect securing of the detents at all. This
means, however, cumbersom manipulations on assem~ling
the individual components of the apparatus for installa-
tion on one hand, and on the other this will result
in a relatively complicated design. Contary to the
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aforegoing, the invention is based on the object of creating
an electrical apparatus wherein individual components of simple
design and low space requirements will allow easy assembling
and detaching of the individual components, and wherein secure
attachment of the components is nevertheless ensured.
The object as set is attained as per invention by the compon-
ents being detachably joined to each other and the apparatus
housing or switching cabinet, by means of lateral, externally
visible and operable elastic elements engaging detents. Fur-
ther advantageous embodiments of the invention derive from the
subordinate claims.
The drawing represents in a schematic, embodiments of the in-
vention, shown in
FIG. 1 a perspective view of an electrical apparatus
with a plurality of components, represented
at a distance from each other;
FIG. 2 a detail in a fragmentary view;
FIG. 3 the components corresponding to FIG. 1 in
front view, also at a distance to each other;
FIG. 4 a side view to FIG. 3; and
FIG. S an individual component of different configura-
tion, in a fragmentary side view.
The embodiment shown in FIG- 4 is an electrical apparatus
intended to be accommodated in total within an apparatus
housing it. It may, however, be particularly emphasized,
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that the purpose will also be served by using, instead
of the housing 1, a switch cabinet as known per se,
or a board as, for instance, shown in dot-dash lines in
figures 3, 4 and 5, and referenced therein by 15. The in-
vention will thus not limit itself to the selection of the
mounting or accommodation of the electrical apparatus.
It is furthermore to be noted in advance, that those parts
of the electrical apparatus hereinafter simply called compon-
ents, and intended for selective assembling, may be of differ-
ing nature. The components may, f.i., be in the shape of sig-
nal lights or indicator lights of any type, or as switching
apparatus which may be actuated in the manner as known per se,
by means of push buttons, locking keys, etc. Furthermore,
transformers, potentiometers and other components, as custom-
arily assembled in switching cabinets, mounting boards, etc.,
may also be used herein.
~n the components represented by the drawings, the internal
electrical equipment is not shown in detail since this is not
essential to the invention. Of essential significance, however,
is the manner of assembling the components and their releasable
connection with each other and with the respective carrier, i.e.
either with the apparatus housing, the switching cabinet or the
respectively present mounting board.
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Using Figs. 1 to 5, a particularly advantageous embodiment
of an apparatus for installation will be described. The
apparatus housing 1, intended to accommodate all components,
consists in essence of longitudinally side walls la, lb, two
cross walls lc, ld with apertures le for leading electrical
cables in and out, and the floor lg. The corners of the
apparatus housing may be reinforced and provided with thread-
ed bores lf allowing to screw onto it a common housing cover,
not shown in the drawing, which is provided with cutouts
corresponding to the number of the individual apparatus con-
tiguously arranged in the housing and described hereinafter,
with the heads of the apparatus with their keys or switches
etc. projecting through the recesses outward to the operator
side.
Two longitudinal support rails 2, 3 are provided on the floor
lg of the apparatus housing 1, against which the two flanges
8b outward swaged flanges 8b of an otherwise U-shaped common
rail 8 may rest. The common rail 8 serves for the contiguous
accommodation of a plurality of snap-in components arranged
side by side, as will be explained more closely hereinafter.
This purpose is served by the bores 8a adjoiningly arranged
at a requisite distance from each other, which may be engaged
by dowels of the components, for instance, elastic dowels 17b
as per Fig. 2, the latter having external projections at their
ends,
A
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so shaped that after insertion into the bores 8a they
will engage the detent and ensure a firm hold, but will allow
simple release if the need arises.
The attachment of the rail 8 in the apparatus housing 1 is
effected by lateral elastic components 6 visible and operable
from the exterior through the apertures le. The engaging com-
pon,ents are illustrated in the lower portion of Figs. 3 and 4.
The rail 8 is slid with each of the two outer bores, over one
respective hollow dowel. Every hollow dowel holds a bent
spring 6, so shaped that the rail is held in detents, i.e.
when being slid over the offset portion 6a of the spring.
Pressing in the direction of the arrow 7 onto the free spring
end projecting outward, this offset portion is moved arcuately,
anticlockwise, into the i~terior of the hollow dowel, so that
the rail 8 may be detached again from the hollow dowel. The
hollow dowel 5 is located within a socket 4 open at the top
and towards the interior, which may be fixedly attached by
screws 4a, or similar, to the floor lg of the apparatus hous-
ing. The face 4c of the socket is provided with an aperture
allowing the free end of the spring 6 to protrude, whilst the
side walls 4d serve for improved guiding of the rail 8. The
hollow dowel 5 is seated on the bottom plate 4b of the socket
4.
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Attaching of the rail 8 in the manner described will be
effected however only after the components have been contigu-
ously attached on the rail in the number and composition
desired.
The components may be arranged as desired. In the embodi-
ment shown in the drawing, an intermediate piece 9 is initial-
ly arranged, which at the lower side of a bottom part 9b is
provided with projecting dowels for insertion into the bores
8a of the rail 8. Furthermore, essentially flat ribs 9c, 9d
are provided being elastical and having recesses 9e which
act conjointly with the detents lOb of a component 10 to be
attached thereonto. As shown in FIG. 4 in a side view onto
the intermediate piece 9, further detent projections 9f can
be provided which, for instance, will elastically engage
over the flanges of the rail 8 and effect an additional hold.
The component 10 may, for instance, be a transformer or
a switching apparatus, or simply an electrical connector with
screwed clamps lOa, for connection to electric lines. Insteacl
of a transformer, a resistor together with a diode may be pro-
vided within the same housing. This component has the advantage
of being a solution, at favorable cost, for the reduction of
voltage when compared with the expense for a transformer.
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The component 10 is again provided with two opposite,
essentially flat, ribs lOc with detents lOd, wherein
the latter will act conjointly with corresponding
projections llb or grooves of a further superimposed
component 11. In the present instance, this component
is provided with a lamp socket llc and an incandescent
lamp lld.
A further interposed component 12 follows, combining two
connecting functions, e.g. once by the two flat ribs 12b
projecting downward herein, again laterally and externally
visible and operable, engaging elastic detents of the lower
component 11. It is understood that the center portion 12a
as per FIG. 1 will have a large central aperture to allow pass-
age of an incandescent lamp and lamp socket. The second func-
tion, e.g. connection with an upper contiguous component 13
is accomplished by means of a somewhat U-shaped spring 12d
which is held in the intermediate element 12 in such a man-
ner, that the two parallel legs of the spring will partially
be located within the large central aperture 12g. By this,
elastical components to engage detents, are created again,
detently herein in grooves 13d of the head 13 of a signal
lamp. This signal lamp head consists essentially of a hollow
cylinder with an outer thread 13b onto which a holding ring
14 can be threaded in the manner as known per se,
should it be desired to effect attachment on a mounting
board or, within a switch cabinet, if so desired in
the respective design. At the outer end of the cylinder,
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provision is made, for instance, for locating a round or
rectangular head 13c with a colored translucent disc.
In another version, a push key or similar may be provided.
As per Fig. 5, a head 19 with two or a plurality of signal
lamps l9a, l9b or with push keys may be attached on a common
cylinder. To release the detent engagement between the compon-
ents 12 and 13, the former is provided with a U-shaped bracket
12e, as well as apertures 12c and 12f. Herein, inserting of a
screw driver allows in a simple manner to move outward the
ends of the legs of the spring 12d bent inward, thus releasing
the detent so that the component 13 with its hollow cylinder
may be pulled out from the aperture 12g of the component 12.
In the left portion of Fig. 1 a different assembly of the compon-
ents 16 and, respectively 17 or 18, can be seen. The component
16 may again engage the rail 8 by means of dowels corresponding
to the dowels 17b of FIG. 2, whilst the oppositely arranged flat
ribs 16a at the upper side will serve for attaching to, or respec-
tively, connecting with, other suitable components. The compon-
ent 17 with bottom plate 17a, the attachment dowels 17b at the
lower side, and the two upper oppositely arranged flat ribs 17c,
will serve here again as an intermediate element, for instance for
connection with a variable resistor or a potentiometer 18 r the elec-
trical portion 18c of which, with its rorating axis 18d, is held in
a U-shaped bracket wherein provision is made at both sides of the
center piece 18a for elastic ribs or legs 18b with detent projec-
tions to engage the detent grooves of the component 17.
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As can be seen from the above, all components are connected
in a consistent manner amongst each other and also with the
aperture housing or, respectively, the switch cabinet or the
mounting board, by lateral elastic elements externally visible
and operable, this, in such a manner, that a connection is ef-
fected only by mutual engagement. Releasing these detents may
be made however if so desired in a simple manner from the exterior,
for instance by means of a screw drive. In addition, it is possi-
ble to externally check every detent for correct engagement.
