Abstract:
The aim of the invention is to provide a switching device ( 1 ) based on a uniform control tile, which is easy to produce and assemble, ensuring good electric insulation properties. To achieve this, the device comprises an adapter ( 12 ) with second contact means ( 13 ), arranged to form a connection between first contact means ( 7, 8 ) and a conductor ( 10 ) that is to be connected. Said adapter and second contact means have insulating isolating elements ( 18, 18   a   , 18   b   , 18   c ), at least bordering several sides, for defined creepage distances and clearances.

Description:
This application is the national phase under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of PCT International Application No. PCT/DE02/02637 which has an International filing date of Jul. 18, 2002, which designated the United States of America and which claims priority on German Patent Application number DE 101 37 497.6 filed Jul. 31, 2001, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention generally relates to a switching device, in particular a protective switching device. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   A connecting unit of this type for a multipole switch with a main enclosure is known from DE 100 61 564 A1. This connecting unit contains an auxiliary enclosure and connecting conductors which, at one of their ends each have a connection section connected to an associated connecting terminal of the switch, and which, at their other end, have a connecting section for connection of a cable wire. The connection sections project outward from the auxiliary enclosure. Further, the connecting sections are surrounded by the auxiliary enclosure. The interior of the auxiliary enclosure is subdivided by phase isolation walls into wiring areas for the individual poles. 
   Switching devices of this type withstand the loads that occur when switching electrical equipment on and off, both in the sound operating state and in the faulty operating state. If necessary, a further embodiment of a switching device such as this in the form of a protective switching device also complies with overload and short-circuit conditions. 
   A switching device is known from EP 0 511 043 A1. In this case, if is designed such that it has an additional contact block. The contacts of the contact block are coupled to the switching mechanism of the switching device. 
   A protective switching device of the second-mentioned type is known from DE 196 38 653 C1. In this case, an auxiliary switch additional block is used for insertion into an enclosure opening in an electrical switching device with main contacts. The contacts of the auxiliary switch additional block are connected to the main contacts of the switching device. 
   It is also generally known for plugs to which wiring has already been fitted to be used for quick connection, and if necessary with incorrect polarity protection, to appliances or terminal strips. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   An object of an embodiment of the present invention is to specify a switching device which can be produced, assembled and installed easily on the basis of the standard switch module, bearing in mind electrical insulation and isolation characteristics that have to be ensured. 
   According to an embodiment of the invention, this object may be achieved by a switching device. 
   The redesign, which can be avoided by way of an embodiment of the invention, of the already available standard switch module which satisfies fundamental requirements is caused by the fact that it is possible to add the switch module in a manner which is simple from the manufacturing, assembly and installation points of view, on the basis of a high electrical dielectric strength that has to be ensured. An embodiment of the invention is particularly suitable for use in a protective switching device. Furthermore, an embodiment of the invention may include an adapter that can be mounted on the existing connecting device for the switching device. As such, a standardized switching device, for example in accordance with IEC 60947, can be retrofitted as required in a very simple manner to form a so-called “Self-protected type E combination controller” in accordance with UL 508. 
   The switch unit advantageously has at least one adapter in each case on the input side and on the output side. Thus, the switch module can be matched in a simple manner to the requirements of UL 489, thereby satisfying the requirements for a circuit breaker in accordance with the standards. 
   In one preferred refinement, at least two angled disconnecting elements are in each case provided for each contact device, so that large isolating gaps are achieved using little material. 
   At least one frame-like disconnecting element is advantageously in each case provided for each contact device, thus forming a large air gap and creepage distance in a simple manner. 
   The second contact device advantageously has an associated holding area for connection of at least one of the conductors, thus providing a reliable and rapid contact in a simple manner. 
   The holding area is advantageously subdivided. Further, at least one of the conductors can in each case be connected in each part. This thus improves the geometric configuration of the adapter. In this case, two conductors can be clamped, for example one above the other, and this results in a space saving which allows two or more disconnecting elements to be arranged between the contact device. 
   The adapter can advantageously be arranged and/or fixed on the switch unit in an interlocking manner, thus allowing the adapter to be fitted easily and with an accurate fit, forming a homogeneous enclosure surface. 
   The first contact device can advantageously be covered by a panel. As such, this results in a closed enclosure in this area, thus avoiding dirt, which could assist the formation of a creepage path. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description of preferred embodiments given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings, which are given by way of illustration only and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein: 
       FIG. 1  shows a protective switching device with an adapter and with a panel, in the form of a three-dimensional illustration, and 
       FIGS. 2 and 3  show a front view and a rear view, respectively, of an adapter as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   In the following text, identical parts in the figures are provided with the same reference symbols or, in the same sense, with similar reference symbols. 
     FIG. 1  shows a switching device  1  with a standard switch module  2  which can be used universally and has a first and a second permanently integrated connecting unit  3  and  4 , respectively. The switching device  1  may, in particular, be in the form of a protective switching device. Three accesses  5 ;  6  are in each case arranged at the front, that is to say on the control face or surface, for a first contact device  7  or  8 , respectively, (which is illustrated schematically here) for the two respective connecting units  3  and  4 . 
   The first contact device  7 ;  8  includes so-called combination screws, which each have a connecting terminal with a covering disk. A first and a second connecting area  9 , which is illustrated in the form of an attachment here, for conductors  10  that are to be connected are provided at right angles to the accesses  5 ;  6 , and thus on the insertion side. Isolating enclosure parts  11  are in each case arranged between two adjacent contact device  7 ;  8 , and may be in the form of webs and/or may be flush with the surface. 
   An adapter  12  can be arranged on the switch unit  2 , and has at least one second contact device  13 , which is illustrated schematically here. The second contact device  13  is provided with at least one connecting element  14 , and is electrically conductively connected to it. The connecting element  14  can be electrically and mechanically connected to the first or to the second corresponding contact device  7  or  8 , respectively, of the switch unit  2 . The switching device  1  is accordingly composed of the switch unit  2  and of the adapter  12  which is connected to it. 
   The adapter  12  can advantageously be arranged in an interlocking manner, in particular by way of a molding  15  and a cutout  16 , on the switch unit  2 , so that it is possible to form a switching device unit. This may be done simply by mounting the adapter  12  on the switch unit  2 , without in the process having to remove components of the switching device  1 . In this case, the adapter  12  provides incorrect polarity protection and thus contributes to reducing possible connection faults. The accesses  5 ;  6  to the two connecting units  3  and  4 , respectively, may also be covered at the front by a panel  17 , thus resulting in an advantageous enclosure termination of the switching device  1 . An insertion panel which closes the accesses  5 ;  6  is likewise possible in the form of an enclosure termination in a further embodiment. 
   The adapter  12  also has disconnecting elements  18 , which hold the second contact device  13  on the front and on the insertion side, at least on two sides. The disconnecting elements  18  are used to improve the isolation characteristics, in particular with regard to air gaps and creepage distances which can be defined between two adjacent contact devices  13  or between the second contact device  13  and an electrically conductive part in or on the switching device  1 . The disconnecting elements  18  may be designed in various design variants as shown in  FIG. 2 , as wall-like disconnecting elements  18   a , in the form of angled disconnecting elements  18   b  or frame-like disconnecting elements  18   c , or else may be designed as partition walls or ribs. 
     FIG. 2  shows a three-dimensional front view illustration of the adapter  12  as shown in  FIG. 1 , with at least two wall-like disconnecting elements  18   a  in each case being arranged laterally for every second contact device  13  in order to improve the isolation characteristics of the adapter with minimal complexity and/or the contact device  13  in each case having disconnecting elements  18   b  which are angled on an insertion-side surface  19  adjacent to the front face. 
   On the insertion side, the contact device  13  also have frame-like disconnecting elements  18   c  which, in this embodiment, are in the form of a closed frame and/or form an air gap of ≧1 inch and a creepage distance of ≧2 inches, with these gaps and distances advantageously also satisfying stringent requirements for isolation characteristics that have to be complied with. 
   A refinement such as this for the standard, standardized switch unit  2  according to IEC 60947 is particularly advantageous since there is no need whatsoever to carry out any cost-increasing adaptation work or modifications. An adapter  12  can thus advantageously be used for upgrading purposes to form a so-called self-protected type E combination controller in accordance with UL 508, or a so-called circuit breaker in accordance with UL 489. 
   Since the adapter  12  has its own second contact device  13 , this results in a high degree of freedom for the geometrical configuration. In the illustrated embodiment, the second contact device  13  are in the form of connecting terminals, each having a holding area  20 . The holding areas  20  are in this case subdivided so that two conductors  10  to be connected can be accommodated for every second contact device  13 . The holding areas  20  are advantageously located one above the other so that, for example, three contact devices  13  each having two disconnecting elements  18  can be accommodated with the adapter  12  having a physical width of 45 mm. 
   As an alternative to this, the connecting areas  20  can be arranged alongside one another, in which case one disconnecting element  18  can be located between the contact devices  13 , with the same physical width. A disconnecting element height of ≧1 inch, instead of half an inch in accordance with the embodiment mentioned above, can accordingly be provided between two adjacent contact devices  13  in order to achieve a creepage distance of ≧2 inches. Other air gaps and creepage distances which differ from those stated above may, of course, also be used in a similar manner. It is thus possible to comply with individual requirements of individual countries and their regulations. 
     FIG. 3  shows a rear view of the adapter  12  as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , with Y-shaped connecting elements  14 . 
   The type of refinement of the standard switch unit  2  as described above to ensure electrical isolation characteristics and subject to the requirement for simplicity of manufacture, assembly and installation can be used in the same or in a modified version for a circuit breaker, for a motor circuit breaker or for a power breaker. This can also equally well be transferred to an electromagnetic switching device or to a device installed in a row of devices, such as a contactor or a relay. 
   The main essence of the present idea is to achieve a switching device  1  which can be manufactured, assembled and installed easily on the basis of a standard switch unit  2  and with respect to electrical isolation characteristics to be ensured, with an adapter  12 , which can be arranged in a connection between a first contact device  7 ;  8  and a conductor  10  to be connected, being provided, having a second contact device which, in the sense of defined air gaps and creepage distances, has isolating disconnecting elements  18  which are held on at least two sides.