Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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l ELECTRICAL-INSTALLATION SYSTEM
2 The invention concerns an electrical-installation system
3 involving junction boxes that accommodate electrical fittings
~ like switches, consumer equipment, outlets, communications
devices, etc. An installation system of this type is
6 described in German OS 3 004 950.
8 That system involves boxes that accommodate electrical
9 equipment. Embedded into the base of the boxes are
conductive strips. The strips in adjacent boxes are
11 connected by connectors that also combine the boxes into an
12 installation system. Once the system has been installed,
13 however, it is no longer possible to separate its components
14 and the user is stuck with the original connections.
16 A surge-protected connecting and distributing box for
17 communications is disclosed in German OS 2 341 232, which
18 describes the boxes as having a definite elevation at the
19 base or an elevation in the lid. This external
characteristic, however, is intended only to inform the user
21 of the surge protection.
22
23 German OS 3 431 836 describes an installation device
24 intended for connecting switches, outlets, dimmers, antenna
leads, and similar fittings. The object is to replace the
26 device, which dictates the specific electric function, as
27 simply as possible. A single type of base plate accepts such
28 different types of connecting cable as power cords, antenna
29 cables, etc. The~e is, however~ a drawback to this system in
that the speci~ic electrical function of the individual
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1 devices is in the form of completely encapsulated plug-in
2 modules.
4 With the state of the art summarized in the foregoing as a
point of departure, the object of the present invention is to
6 provide basic components in accordance with the known
7 principle of installation that will be simple to manufacture
8 and easy to install, comprising a stable dimensional
9 structure and allowing modifications to be undertaken as far
as the installed areas when the user so wishes. It must be
11 emphasized, however, that it is not such eonsumer equipment
12 as switches, plugs, ete. that are involved, but the basic
13 unit of the installation system.
14
This objeet is attained in aceordanee with the invention in
16 that junetion boxes with one or more aceommodations are
17 ereated by providing permanent wiring at the base that can,
18 however, when neeessary be replaced with wiring of a
19 different structure. The boxes ean also be easily aligned
at a desired distanee apart. Aeeess from the equipment is
21 provided by way of prefabrieated equipment-end lines and a
22 simple system of plugs to the assoeiated eonduetors at the
23 base.
24
The junetion boxes employed in aeeordanee with the invention
26 are basieally of eonventional design. It must be emphasized
27 in partieular that break-out entranees and passages have been
28 stamped into their sides, through whieh the system can be
29 provided with incoming and outgoing lines. The distribution
of the eondueting eontact rails over the base of the boxes,
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1 embedded in a recess in the base in one special embodiment,
2 constitutes the simplest conceivable solution for
3 associating such a rail with the box. Power cords, circuit
4 lines, and consumer equipment, the last by way of connecting
lines from the equipment, can be individually connected,
6 depending on the wiring diagram, to the strips associated
7 with each box. A system of this type can definitely be
8 constructed in accordance with the thresholds dictated by
9 safety regulations, with at least five installation areas
being aimed at. It has been demonstrated as especially
11 practical that any modifications all the way down to
12 separating and assembling installation areas can easily be
13 underta~en subsequently, once the system has been installed,
14 that is, at the connections themselves without having to
interfere in the building structure in any way
16
17 The embodiments of the invention recited in the subsidiary
18 claims round the overall system off. In the sense of
19 providing the basic units that assemble into the installation
system with adequate stability it has been demonstrated as
21 practical to make the basic units, the single and multiple
22 boxes, that is, interlocking. The ends of the housing in
23 another embodiment can be removed. This approach results in
24 an unimpeded passage through an installation system
comprising several basic units. Assembly of the conducting
26 contact rails in individual installation areas is facilitated
27 by applying bridging wire to the cores of the rails in
28 adjacent areas. When three individual junction boxes are
29 combined, for example, the separable association of a
partition that corresponds to the end with one of the
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1 housings can be provided between the installation areas in
2 order to ensure spatial and electrical separation between the
3 areas when necessary, when they are connected to different
4 supply lines for example.
s
6 One embodiment of the object of the invention will now be :
7 specified with reference to the schematic drawings, wherein
9 Yigure 1 illustrates a double junction box in
accordance with the invention,
11
12 Figure 2 is a side view of the box,
13
14 Figure 3 is an end view of the box,
16 Figure 4 illustrates one of the ends that can be
17 inserted into and removed from the box illustrated
18 in Figures 1 through 3,
19
Figure 5 is a perspective view of a conducting-
21 strip holder,
22
23 Figure 6 illustrates a conductor contact rail that
24 can be inserted in the holder illustrated in
Figure 5,
26.
27 Figure 7 is a top view of a cover associated with
28 the conducting-strip holder,
29
Figure 8 is a top view of the mounting lid that can
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1 be placed over the double junction box illustrated
2 in Figure 1,
4 Figure 9 is a front view of the lid, and
s
6 Figure 10 is an illustration of the wiring.
9 The housing 9 of the double junction box illustrated in
Figures 1 through 3 consists of a base 1 that has two
11 recesses 3 and 4 with a web 2 left between them, two long
12 sides 12 and 13, and two ends 14 that can be attached to and
13 removed from it. Additional webs 5 and 6 adjoin recesses 3
14 and 4 at the sections of the base of housing 9 not covered by
the recesses. Webs 2, 5, and 6 have longitudinal grooves 7
16 and 8. The purpose of the grooves is to accommodate the
17 connecting wires between the individual connection blocks
18 inside recesses 3 and 4.
19
To allow ends 14 to be secured to and removed from housing 9,
21 the housing and the ends are provided with interlocking
22 structures 10 and 11 and
23 projections 15 and 16 that snap into them. When for example
24 a threefold combination is employed with two different
circuits, a bridge in the from of an end 14 must be inserted
26 between the double and the single box. Indentations 42 make
27 it possible in conjunction with grooves 7 and 8 for the
28 corresponding lines to also extend beneath end 14.
29
Housings 9 are also provided with connectors 17, 18, and 19
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1 at the ends to allow two adjacent housings to be secured
2 together. In this event the end 14 of one housing component
3 acts when necessary as a partition between the adjacent
4 contact a~eas. If modifications are made to the building
S later, the partition can easily be removed and the existing
6 installation changed without any problems and without much
7 installation expense. To satisfy this function, an end 14
8 can also be inserted in an existing housing component, for
9 which purpose other connecting components 21 for example can
also be provided on the housing component. Both long sides
11 12 and 13 and ends 14 can also be provided with dropouts 22
12 and passages 23. Dropouts 22 and passages 23 are normally
13 closed off and can be broken through when needed.
14
The recesses 3 and 4 in base 1 are completely occupied by
16 replaceable conducting-strip holders 24 made of an insulating
17 material. The holders are made of an insulating material and
18 are provided with a number of separated and adjacent channels
19 25 that have conducting contact rails 26 inserted in them.
Extending over conducting-strip holder 24 and its conducting
21 contact rails 26 is a cover 27 that interlocks with the
22 recesses 3 and 4 in the base 1 of housing 9 by way of a
23 connecter 28. Cover 27 has a number of separated
24 perforations 29 and releasing slots 30 that provide access to
the conductors below it. The cords that connect the consumer
26 equipment, unillustrated in this case, that is to be attached
27 are introduced into the appropriate perforations 29. The
28 resilience of conducting contact rails 26 maintains the
29 contact. The connection is disestablished by eliminating the
conductor contact rail's hold on the inserted connecting
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1 cable by acting on a releasing slot 30 in a communicating
2 cable inserted next to perforation 29 with a small, flat
3 tool.
The housing 9 of the potential embodiment illustrated in
6 Figures 1 and 2 is finished off with a mounting lid 31 that
7 locks onto the housing. The lid's attachment to;hausing 29
8 is ensured by catches 33 that engage beads 32 on long sides
9 12 and 13, constituting the interlock. This attachment can
be rapidly disestablished with a screwdriver for~example,
11 providing access to the conducting-strip holders in the
12 recesses under cover 27. The holders can be replaced once
13 the cover has been removed or as an entire block.
14
Projecting out of mounting lid 31 are supporting rings 34 and
16 35, the purpose of which is to accommodate whatever equipment
17 is being employed. Screws 36 generate a positive connection
18 between the installed equipment and the installation system.
19
Depending on the particular application, the requisite number
21 of boxes are locked together by way of fasteners 17, 18, 19,
22 and 20. When a single box that is in principle designed for
23 use with the illustrated double box is available,
24 installation systems with any number of installation areas
permitted by safety regulations can be constructed. The
26 resulting installation system will finally be wired to
27 confirm with the particular installation requirements by
28 securing bridging wires 37 that extend between the adjacent
29 installation areas to the conductor sections that constitute
a component of the areas and are assembled in the conducting-
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1 strip holders. The installation system is then connected to
2 a power line 38 that is part of the mains line and or also to
3 the connection 39 between the circuit lines, whereby the
4 mains line can as a rule extend through one of the ends 14
along with the circuit lines as well as through the dropouts
6 22 and passages 23 through the long sides 12 and 13 of the
7 housing. The cores of the mains lines and of the
8 connections 39 between the circuit lines and the conducting
9 contact rails 26 in the individual channels 25 that are
combined into continuous conductors by bridging wires 37 are
11 connected by securing the lines 26 or connections 29 that
12 extend through the cover 27 over the conducting-strip holders
13 24 and into clips 40 that constitute a component of
14 conducting contact rails 26 generally in an area of the
installation system adjacent to one of the ends. The
16 installation system, accordingly wired and provided with a
17 mounting lid 31, is then mounted below or on the plaster.
18 The installation equipment is then secured in its individual
19 installation areas by way of connecting lines 41 in
accordance with the wiring diagram. The securing can be
21 carried out with pole shoes on the connecting lines or by
22 extending the insulated connecting lines 41 through
23 perforations 29 as far as conducting contact rails 26.
24 Connecting lines 41 themselves extend through perforations 29
introduced in the cover 27 over conducting-strip holders 24
26 for use as part of the still free clips 40 that constitute
27 conductors. The installation equipment, connected and
28 introduced into the housing, which rests, once it has been
29 introduced into housing 9, on the supporting ring 34 and 35
on mounting lid 31, is then connected to the lid by screws
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1 36.
3 All of the electric linkages undertaken in the installation
4 system can also be modified directly on the installed system
without much expenditure when necessary. The conductor
6 sections embedded in the recesses can also be replaced by
7 correspondingly different conductor sections, for
8 communications systems for example. In so doing it is
9 necessary to observe the prevailing regulations of the
individual certifying institutions, especially with respect
11 to the distances between conductors and to the appropriate
12 contact pressure. These measures in accordance with the
13 invention make the overall system very flexible and provide
14 the electrician with substantially more room to work in.
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