Abstract:
The invention relates to a signaling device ( 1 ), in particular for industrial purposes, composed of several, at least two optical and/or acoustic signal transmitters, that are arranged essentially linearly next to each other and/or one above the other and connected to a power source via power lines, wherein the signal transmitters respectively have a case ( 3 ) in which power consumers ( 4 ) for generating an optical and/or acoustic signal are arranged, wherein adjacently arranged cases ( 3 ) are interconnected via a coupling member ( 27 ), and wherein the power consumers ( 4 ) can be connected to each other and/or to the power lines. A generic signaling device ( 1 ) of simple structure and that can be assembled essentially without bolt-on connections, wherein preferably simplified maintenance and expansion operations can be performed, in particular in view of replacing defective lighting means ( 43 ) and/or other electrical and/or electronic components, without requiring approximately complete disassembly, is provided in that the power consumers are arranged in mountings ( 42 ) and the mountings have a conductive device ( 37 ) detachably interconnecting the power consumers ( 4 ) of adjacent cases ( 3 ).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a signaling device, in particular for industrial purposes, e.g. for signaling various operating and/or malfunctioning conditions, for electrical machines, preferably automatic machines, composed or several, at least two optical and/or acoustic signal transmitters, that are arranged essentially linearly next to each other and/or one above the other and connected to a power source via power lines, the signal transmitters respectively having a case, in which power consumers for generating an optical and/or acoustic signal, e.g. a lighting means, are arranged, wherein adjacently arranged cases are interconnected via a coupling member, and wherein the power consumers can be connected to each other and/or to the power lines. 
     2. Discussion of the Background 
     Such signaling devices are known from the state-of-the-art. E.g., DE 90 10 187 U1 discloses an optical indicating device, in particular for industrial purposes, having a long stretched-out, hollow case with at least two longitudinal bands or sections that are at least partially transparent. In this case, a lamp supporting structure is inserted supporting at least two lamps, which are assigned to respective positions in the case bands and electrically connected to power connections arranged in a supporting structure end zone. Furthermore, this known indicating device has at least one electrical connector that is connected to said lamp supporting structure end zone and arranged so as to enable the electrical connection of the lamps and the circuit devices arranged outside the case. The case is composed of several linearly arranged sections that are screwed together. When replacing the lighting means arranged in the lamp supporting structures, it is therefore necessary to open the case at one end and pull out the lamp supporting structure. The drawback of this known device is that light protection between the individual case sections is not possible, so that in particular from a large distance, it cannot be seen which lighting means inside the device is shining. Furthermore, in the event of failures in the lamp supporting structure, the whole lamp supporting structure has to be replaced. 
     Another signaling device is known from DE 22 11 801 B2. This signaling device is composed of several identical superimposed individual lamps, which respectively comprise a transparent hood being fastened to a horizontal separation wall, whereon a light bulb is seated. Furthermore, feed lines traversing the individual lamps are provided, the ends of which are formed as contact devices for adjacent individual lamps. The separation wall has flexible connection devices that, by rotating the separation wall in relation to the cylindrical hood, in a certain position grip behind shoulders thereof. In addition to the two feed lines for the lighting means of an individual lamp, other feed lines are provided for individual lamps located above. 
     Finally, FR 1 526 306 discloses a signaling device with several superimposed case sections, wherein respectively one lighting means is inserted. The superimposed case sections are arranged between a base and a lid, the base being connected to the lid via threaded rods and/or screws. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Based on this state-of-the-art, it is an object of the invention to provide a generic signaling device, of sample construction and that can essentially be assembled without bolt-on connections, wherein preferably simplified maintenance and expansion operations can be performed, in particular in view of replacing defective lighting means and/or other electrical and/or electronic components, without requiring almost complete disassembly and without the risk of damaging power lines during maintenance and completion operations. 
     To achieve this object, provision is made for the power consumers to be arranged in mountings and the mountings to have a conductive device detachably interconnecting the power consumers of adjacent cases. 
     A signaling device developed according to this teaching in particular has the advantage that the superimposed cases can be separated effortlessly at each transition between two cases by removing the coupling member, wherein spreading apart the adjacent cases thus detached also allows the conductive devices in the adjacent cases to be separated. For this purpose, it is not necessary to mutually rotate both adjacent cases or to undo a screwed connection. Subsequently, the adjacent cases are separated in the previously described manner, so that e.g. the conductive device in the separated case can be replaced or completed or modified with regard to its electrotechnical configuration. 
     Regarding the case design, it is provided according to another feature of the invention that each case is pot-shaped and composed of a cylindrical hollow tube section, limited at one side by a lid. Preferably, the tube section and the lid are formed integrally and made of plastic, preferably by the deep-drawing method. 
     Furthermore, provision is made for the lid to be light-proof, so that light energy is not transmitted from one case, in which a lighting means is shining, into an adjacent case, in which the lighting means is not supplied with electric energy. 
     The tube section is made of a translucent material, in particular color-dyed, preferably of ductile hard plastic. 
     Furthermore, provision is made for the lid to have openings for routing the conductive device or parts thereof to provide secure power transmission from one case into the adjacent one. 
     In order to avoid pollution, such as dust and in particular moisture, from penetrating, a seal can be placed on the case at the shoulder, the seal water-and/or airproofing the transitional area between adjacent cases. This also prevents corrosion at the electrical and/or electronic components, in particular metal conductors. 
     According to another feature of the invention, provision is made for allowing the case to be connected to a case base, which can be fastened directly or indirectly to the device to be monitored. Furthermore, provision is made for allowing the case to be connected preferably at the lid to a closing lid, which can be fastened to the case by means of a coupling member. This allows, the closing lid to be easily fastened at the uppermost case. When the inventive signaling device is to he expanded, the closing lid can be removed once the closing member has been detached and another case stacked up, before placing the closing lid on the stacked up case and fixing in thereto via a coupling member. The coupling member previously arranged between the closing lid and the uppermost case and detached can now be used either for connecting the two uppermost adjacent cases or for connecting the closing lid to the uppermost case. Consequently, as spare parts or expansion parts for expanding an inventive signaling device, only one case and one coupling member can be provided. Of course, the electrical and/or electronic components arranged inside the case are also part of such an expansion module. 
     The conductive device preferably has, at opposite ends, at least one plug and at least one socket, which are interconnected electrically. In this embodiment, the assembly of the inventive signaling device is considerably simplified, because by mutually assembling adjacent cases, the conductive devices are interconnected as a plug-in connection. In this case, the conductive device can either be permanently connected to the case and stacked simultaneously or, in a first step, the conductive device with its plug can be plugged into the socket of the adjacent case, before pulling the case over the conductive device, so that the socket of this case in turn is ready to receive the plug of the next conductive device. At any rate, this results in a considerably simplified assembly, especially because bolt-on connections between the individual cases can be omitted. 
     Plug and socket are preferably developed with multiple poles, so that through different pole configurations, the various lighting means or acoustic signaling means can be controlled in the various cases of the inventive signaling device, without requiring additional power lines. Furthermore, the conductive devices or printed boards can receive electronic components, such as capacitive, inductive or ohmic resistors as well as transistors or the like, in order to form certain circuits inside a case. Consequently, for the inventive signaling device, it is possible that, in addition to purely electrical signaling devices, electronically controlled signaling devices can be used, wherein the electronics of such signaling devices can be housed in the corresponding case. Consequently, it is possible to combine electrically and electronically controlled signaling devices, wherein the subsequent integration of electronic signaling devices in an already existing inventive signaling device is possible, without therefore requiring considerable interventions in the overall structure of this signaling device. 
     According to another feature of the invention, provision is made for the mounting to be essentially U-shaped and to have two legs as well as a leg-linking bar. Preferably, the power consumer is arranged and fixed between the two legs. The socket is provided at the free end of one mounting leg. 
     In particular, the mounting is formed of two pieces, wherein both mounting halves can preferably be assembled by means of at least one snap connection. The advantage of this embodiment is that screwing the two halves can be omitted and by dividing the mounting into two pieces, the conductive device can be assembled easily in the mounting, wherein the two halves can be plugged together by interposing the conductive device so that the conductive device is maintained positively or nonpositively between the two mounting halves. 
     According to another feature of the invention, provision is made for the two halves to have respectively two snap-in hooks and two snap-in recesses. These fixing members interact respectively, i.e. that each snap-in hook of one half is engaged in a snap-in recess of the opposite half. Here it is an advantage to arrange the snap-in hooks at diametrically opposing edges of the mounting halves. 
     Moreover, the inventive signaling device provides for a housing for a signal transmitter to be arranged at the mounting and preferably and to have an essentially light-proof board, which together with the case defines a chamber, wherein the signal transmitter, preferably the lighting means, is arranged. This embodiment has the advantage that, on the one hand, due to the light-proof lid, and on the other hand, due to the light-proof board, the case is light-proof in both axial directions with regard to adjacent cases, so that the light rays emitted by lighting means arranged in the case cannot penetrate into an adjacent case. As a result, an observer can clearly distinguish the light signals. 
     The board is preferably arranged at the leg-linking bar of the mounting, wherein it has been found to be advantageous for the board to be circular in shape. 
     In an alternative embodiment of the inventive signaling device, it is provided for the conductive device to have several, at least two conductor strips. These two mutually separated conductor strips are for supplying the signaling device with the required electric energy. Both conductor strips are integrated in the power consumer and usually embedded into plastic. 
     According to another feature of the invention, it is provided that the conductive device is made of two pieces, wherein at least one piece of the conductive device has several conductor strips. In this embodiment, it is possible advantageously to use the conductor strips for controlling different power consumers in the individual cases arranged one above the other or next to each other. Preferably, the conductor strips are unwound once or twice in their longitudinally extending plane, in the direction of the surface normal of this plane and/or in a direction extending perpendicularly thereto. 
     Moreover, it is provided that the conductor strips at one end are formed as plug contacts and at the opposite end at least partially as flexible sockets. The flexible sockets permit secure fitting of the socket contacts at the plug contacts of the adjacent conductive device. 
     Finally, according to another feature of the invention it is provided that at least part of the conductor strips are divided into several poles, at least at one end. For this purpose, e.g. one conductor strip can be developed so as to slave, on the one hand, a pole for connecting to a lighting means holder as well as one or several poles for connecting to an electrical or electronic circuit. Finally, it can also be provided that in addition to the poles mentioned above, an additional pole is provided, that is also developed as an flexible socket according to the meaning above. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Further features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following description of the accompanying drawing representing preferred embodiments of an inventive signaling device. Where: 
     FIG. 1 shows the signaling device in a perspective illustration of an exploded view; 
     FIG. 2 shows a case with a power consumer in a perspective illustration of an exploded view; 
     FIG. 3 shows the power consumer according to FIG. 2 in a perspective view; 
     FIG. 4 shows a case with a coupling ring or the signaling device according to FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 shows a case with a coupling member of a second embodiment of a signaling device in a perspective illustration of an exploded view; 
     FIG. 6 shows a mounting for a power consumer in a cutaway lateral view and a cutaway plan view along cutting plane C—C; 
     FIG. 7 shows a case with a coupling member and an acoustic signal transmitter, for a signaling device according to FIG. 5 in a perspective illustration of an exploded view; 
     FIG. 8 shows the case with the acoustic signal transmitter according to FIG. 7 in a cutaway lateral view; 
     FIG. 9 shows in a perspective illustration of an exploded view of a closing member that can be combined with a signaling device according to FIGS. 1 to  8 ; 
     FIG. 10 shows another embodiment of a closing member according to FIG. 9; and 
     FIG. 11 shows the mounting according to FIG. 6 in a perspective illustration of an exploded view. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A signaling device  1  illustrated in FIG. 1 is composed of several linearly superimposed signal transmitters  2 . Each signal transmitter  2  has a case  3 , wherein a power consumer  4  is arranged for generating an optical and/or acoustic signal. 
     Furthermore, the signaling device  1  has a base  5 , which can be fixed to an electrical machine (not shown), e.g. an automatic machine. This base  5  has a circular stand  6 , wherein equidistant bores  7  are arranged, through which screws can be introduced connecting base  5  to the machine (not shown). 
     The base  5  further has an essentially pyramidally shaped adapter body  8 , wherein a center bore  9  is arranged for receiving a base rod  10 . Furthermore, in, the adapter body  8 , a bore  11  extending perpendicularly to bore  9  is arranged for receiving a locking screw  12 . Consequently, bore  11  has a female thread cooperating with the male thread of locking screw  12 . By means of locking screw  12 , the base rod can be fixed nonpositively in the bore  9  of the adapter body  8 . 
     At the base rod  10 , opposite to base  5 , a case base  13  is fixed together with a base plate  14 . The case base  13  is screwed to the base plate  14  by means of screws  15 , a seal  16  being arranged between the case base  13  and the base plate  14 . For receiving seal  16 , the base plate  14  has a shoulder  17 , the outer diameter of which matches the inner diameter of seal  16  and of case base  13 , so that the case base  13  can be slipped onto the shoulder  17  of the base plate  14 . 
     Furthermore, base plate  14  has a circular opening  18  for receiving base rod  10 . The opening  18  is arranged in the center of base plate  14 . Between the shoulder  17  and the wall  19  of opening  18 , an adapter member  20  with an essentially rectangular section is arranged. This adapter member  20  is meant to receive a socket  21 , which is screwed to the base plate and connected to a power source through power lines, not shown in further detail, that are routed through base rod  10  and base  5 . 
     The case base  13  is formed as a tube section, case base  13  having a shoulder  22 , whereupon another seal  16  can be slipped. At the shoulder  22 , the case base  13  has several, at least two, snap-in recesses  23 , which can be engaged with snap-in projections arranged in case  3 , so that case  3  adjacent to case base  13  can be slipped upon case base  13  with positional accuracy. 
     Each case  3  is composed of a pot-shaped section with a lid  24 , which is arranged at one end of the pot-shaped case  3  and at its casing surface forms a shoulder  25 , the outer diameter of which is smaller than the outer diameter of case  3 . In turn on this shoulder  25 , a seal  16  can be placed that seals two adjacent causes  3  from each other so that dust and/or moisture is prevented from penetrating into case  3 . 
     Where shoulder  25  merges into the casing surface of case  3 , case  3  has snap-in recesses  26  that are formed according to the snap-in recesses  26  that are formed according to the snap-in recesses  23  in case base  13  and consequently also cooperate with respective snap-in projections on the inner surface of the adjacent case  3 , so that once cases  3  are assembled, they cannot be rotated in relation to each other. 
     Connecting two adjacent cases  3  together or one case  3  to case base  13  is done by means of coupling members  27  composed of two ring sections  28  that can be connected together positively. For this purpose, at the ends, cach ring section  28  has, on the one hand, a snap-in projection  29  and at least one respective recess  30 . Furthermore, at the ends, each ring section  28  has a flattened part  31 , wherein the flattened parts  31  of each ring section  28  are arranged, at one end, on the outer surface  32 , and at tho second end, on the inner surface  33 . 
     The snap-in projection  29  and the corresponding recess  30  are here arranged at the flattened part  31 , snap-in projection  29  extending flush with the free end of ring section  28 . 
     Furthermore, the ring sections have a projection  34  peripheral at the inner surface  33 , which cooperates with shoulder  25  of case  3 . The result is therefore coupling members  27  fitting flush with adjacent cases  3  or one case  3  and the adjacent case base  13 . 
     Furthermore, on their inner surface  33 , the ring sections  28  have bayonet guides  35  that can be engaged with projections standing out beyond the casing surface of case  3 , so that adjacent cases  3  in the axial direction are securely connected together. 
     Each pot-shaped case  3  is made of translucent, in particular color-dyed, ductile hard plastic, wherein the lid  24  is made light-proof. In the lid  24  is an opening  36  for routing a conductive device  37  of the power consumer  4 . The exact structure of the power consumer  4  or the conductive device  37  will be described hereafter with reference to FIGS. 2 to  4 . 
     The signaling device  1  illustrated in FIG. 1 further has a closing lid  38  that is slipped upon case  3  arranged at a distance from base  5  by interposing another seal  16  and is connected to case  3 . For this purpose, it is also possible to use a coupling member  27  or a coupling ring. However, it can also be envisaged that closing lid  38 , having no electrical conductive devices, is screwed onto the last case  3 . 
     The power consumer  4  is composed of the conductive device  37  formed as printed board  39 . The printed board is essentially L-shaped and has two legs  40  and  41 . In the transitional area of the two legs  40  and  41 , a mounting  42  for lighting means  43  is arranged. Alternatively, it is also possible to arrange an acoustic signal transmitter in this area. The mounting  42  is electrically connected to the printed board  39 . 
     Furthermore, in the transitional area of the two legs  40  and  41  of the printed board  39 , a plug  44  with a plurality of poles  45  is arranged. Of these poles  45 , at least  2  poles  45  are connected electrically with mounting  42 , the plurality of poles  45  controlling the linearly superimposed power consumers  4  arranged in the cases  3 . 
     At She end of leg  41 , opposite plug  44 , the printed board  39  further has a socket  46 , which has a number of poles  45  corresponding to the number of adapter openings  52 . When the signaling device  1  is assembled, this adapter opening  46  is arranged at the opening  36  in the lid  24  so that the adjacent power consumer  4  can be plugged with its plug  44  into the socket  46  of the power consumer  4  located below and consequently a continuous electrical connection between the power source and the uppermost power consumer  4  in the uppermost case  3  is possible. For this purpose, the printed board  39  can be fitted with electrical or electronic components for controlling and/or biasing certain functions of the power consumer  4 . E.q., time delay units can be provided here. 
     In FIG. 2, the power consumer  4  is illustrated in exploded view. It appears that the mounting  42  is formed of two pieces and has two halves  47  that can be assembled. For this purpose, each half  47  of mounting  42  has two snap-in hooks  48  arranged in diagonally opposite corner areas as well as snap-in recesses  49  at the corner areas without snap-in hooks  48 , into which the snap-in hooks of the second half  47  can be engaged. For fixing the mounting  42 , in leg  40  of printed board  39  openings  50  are provided that are traversed by the snap-in nooks  48  arranged at the lower edge area of both halves  47 . The mounting  42  is therefore fixed positively to the printed board  39 , Furthermore, inside the two halves  47  of mounting  42 , electrical contacts  51  are provided, which are electrically connected to at least one pole  45  of plug  44  or to one adapter opening  52  in socket  46 . 
     As is apparent from FIG. 4, the printed board  39  can have an essentially light-proof board  53 , which together with the inner wall of case  3  defines in a light-proof way a chamber, wherein lighting means  53  is arranged. For this purpose, board  53  is formed in circular shape, mounting  42  being inserted into the center recess of board  53 . 
     In FIG. 5, a second embodiment of a signaling device  1  is illustrated, also having signal transmitters  2 . In contrast to the first embodiment, described in detail, of the signaling device of FIGS. 1 to  4 , this second embodiment of the signaling device  1  according to FIG. 5 has a one-piece coupling ring  54  that is formed at its inner surface  33  according to the two ring sections  28  of FIGS. 1 to  4  and in addition, arranged on the inner surface  33 , has an adaptor groove  55  that is peripheral on the inner surface  33  of coupling ring  54 . Once the coupling ring  54  is assembled, in this adaptor groove  55 , a resilient spring washer  56  is engaged that according to FIG. 5 has a gap or opening  57  so as to have the required radial flexibility. Furthermore, this spring washer  56  is engaged in an adaptor groove  58  that is arranged peripherally in the casing surface  59  of case  3 . In this case, the ring washer  56  connects case  3  with coupling ring  54 , so that coupling ring  54  cannot be pulled off from case  3  in the axial direction. For this purpose, when coupling ring  54  has been assembled, spring washer  56  stands out beyond the casing surface  59  of case  3  so that, on the one hand, it is engaged with a partial area of its radial extension and adaptor groove  55  of coupling ring  54  and, on the other hand, with the remaining radially area, in the adaptor groove  58  of case  3 . 
     Consequently, when mounting coupling ring  54  on case  3 , in a first step, spring washer  56  is placed into the adapter groove  58  of case  3  and pushed with flexible pretension into this adapter groove  58  until spring washer  56  is flush with the casing surface  59  of case  3 . In order to achieve the required flexibility and thus press the spring washer  56  into the adapter groove  58 , the above-mentioned opening  57  of spring washer  56  is provided. Subsequently, coupling ring  54  is slid in the axial direction over the end of case  3  fitted with spring washer  56  until spring washer  56  releasing its pretension snaps into the adapter groove  55  on the inner surface  33  of coupling ring  54 . 
     Furthermore, it is apparent from FIG. 5 that case  3  is formed as a tube section in to which a lid  60  can be inserted. The seal  16  is arranged between the outer wall of lid  60  and the inner wall, represented as a shoulder in FIG. 5, of case  3 . In this embodiment, lid  60  is the same as lid  24  of FIGS. 1 and 4. Below lid  60 , a board  61  for fitting electrical and electronic components is provided, which is fitted according to the function of signal transmitter  2 . The board  61  is then in electrical contact with conductive device  37 , which is an integral component of power consumer  4 . 
     Furthermore, it is apparent from FIG. 4 that at the casing surface  59  of case  3 , projections  62  are provided, which correspond to the bayonet guides  35  on the inner surface  33  of coupling ring  54 , so that the assembly of adjacent cases  3  is performed so that a case  3  assembled with coupling ring  54  is stacked upon the adjacent case so that the projections  62  are engaged in the respective bayonet guides  35 , whereupon coupling ring  54  is adjusted in relation to the two superimposed cases  3 , until the projections  62  are wedged in bayonet-style in the bayonet guides  35 . The relative movement of coupling ring  54  to the adjacent cases  3  is then possible in that coupling ring  54  is arranged above spring washer  56  at case  3  in a freely rotating manner. 
     It appears that at case  3 , three projections  62  are distributed equidistantly to each other over the circumference of case  3 . Of course, the bayonet guides  35  are also arranged correspondingly on the inner surface  33  of coupling ring  54 . 
     In FIGS. 7 and 8, an alternative embodiment of power consumer  4  is illustrated in a signaling device  1 . In this case, it is a sound generator  63  that accordingly produces an acoustic signal. The sound generator  63  is essentially shaped as a flat cylinder and in its center has a bore  64  through which the sound generator  63  can be plugged onto a spigot  65  at one leg  66  of power consumer  4 . 
     Moreover, the sound generator  63  is arranged in a mounting  67  that for this purpose has a bore  68  corresponding to the dimensions of the sound generator  63 . 
     Mounting  67  and sound generator  63  are arranged in case  3  so that the longitudinal axis of the sound generator  63  or mounting  67  extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of case  3 . In this respect, case  3  has in its casing surface  59  openings  69  that permit unrestrained emission of sound waves from case  3  so that the acoustic signal produced by sound generator  63  can be output essentially without damping by signaling device  1 . It has to be mentioned here that this embodiment of case  3  allows to output a very loud and intensive acoustic signal, even if the sound generator  64  only has low performance. 
     Between the inner surface of case  3  and mounting  67 , a vibration reducing mean  70  is arranged that prevents the sound waves generated by sound generator  63  from transmitting vibrations to the case  3 , so that such vibrations could cause damage, in particular to the conductive devices  37  or electrical contacts. It appears from FIG. 8 that the vibration reducing means  70  is arranged inside mounting  67 , which maintains the sound generator  63  on leg  66  of power consumer  4 . 
     Finally, FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate two alternative embodiments for closing a signaling device  1 , which can be blipped on, instead of a closing lid  38  as illustrated in FIG. 1, or can be used alternatively as a signaling device for machines. 
     Essentially, a closing signal transmitter  71  illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10 is composed of a dome-shaped case  72  with a dome-shaped glass insert  73 , which incidentally can also be made of plastic. Case  72  is connected via coupling ring  54  either to a signal transmitter  2  illustrated in FIG. 5 or FIG. 7, or to a base  74 , namely in the manner that has been described above for the connection of two adjacent cases  3 . Consequently, closing signal transmitter  71  also has the spring washer  56 , with which coupling ring  54  can be fixed to case  72 , whereas coupling ring  54  is fixed to base  74  or an adjacent case  3  via bayonet guides  35  and the corresponding projections  62 . Inside case  72 , a power consumer  4  with lighting means  43  is arranged. The lighting means  43  is inserted in a mounting  42  and connected thereto. 
     In the illustrative embodiment depicted in FIG. 9 of the closing signal transmitter  71 , the power consumer  4  has a plate  75 , which has diametrically opposed resilient snap-in members  76 . Such resilient snap-in members have radially outward projecting snap-in tenons  77  which snap into respective recesses inside base  74 . Through a movement that brings the snap-in members  76  moved closer to each other, the snap-in tenons  77  can be disengaged prom the respective recesses of base  74 , so that power consumer  4  can be pulled out easily from base  74 . Furthermore, FIG. 9 illustrates the electrical contacts  78  that reach through plate  75  into the mounting area  42  to establish electrical contact with lighting means  43 . 
     FIG. 10 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the closing signal transmitter  71  that is embodied as a flashing device. This closing signal transmitter  71  also has a case  72 , whereon a dome-shaped glass insert  73  can be assembled. At one end, case  72  has a lid  79  with a slit  80  extending in the center area of lid  79 . Lid  79  is oriented towards the dome-shaped glass insert  73 , wherein, below lid  79 , i.e. oriented away from the dome-shaped glass insert  73 , a board  81  is arranged with an essentially U-shaped flashing device  82 . Board  81  is fixed to a fixing plate  83 , which .n turn is maintained in case  72  through screws  84 . 
     The flashing device  82  then traverses slit  80  so that it is arranged inside the dome-shaped glass insert  73 . 
     For the rest, the structural design of the fixing members and the related operating mode of this closing signal transmitter  71  is similar to the embodiment of the closing signal transmitter of FIG.  9 . 
     FIG. 11 illustrates a mounting  42  with one part  100  of the conductive device  37 . Part  100  of the conductive device  37  is composed of a single conductor strip  101  as well as of conductor strip unit  102  electrically insulated from conductor strip  101  and having several conductor strips  103 . 
     Each conductor strip  101  or  103  has aL one end a pin-shaped plug contact  105  and, in comparison to conductor strips  101  or  103 , has a reduced diameter or reduced width. At the opposite end of conductor strips  101  or  103  resilient sockets  106  are formed that are essentially V-shaped when seen in side view. These resilient sockets are to be brought in contact with the plug contacts  105  of an adjacent power consumer  4 . For this purpose, the sockets  106  are arranged in the socket so that their poles are pressed apart when they are introduced into the plug contacts  105  of the adjacent power consumer  4  and, due to their resiliency, are pressed with sufficiently great strength against the plug contacts  105 , so that a secure electrical connection exists between the plug contacts  105  of a power consumer  4  and the sockets  106  of conductor strips  101  or  103  of the adjacent power consumer  4 . 
     As is apparent from FIG. 11, in addition to socket  106 , conductor strip  101  has a two-piece pole  107 , electrically connected with conductor strip  101 , which cooperates with an equivalently formed pole  108 , pole  108  being arranged at a conductor strip  103  of conductor strip unit  102 . Both poles  107  and  108  are connected to an electrical consumer  4  in the mounting  42  for the lighting means  43 , so that the poles  107  and  108  establish the electrical connection with the poles of the lighting means  43 . 
     Furthermore, conductor strip  101  has another pole  109  that can be connected for instance to lines that are arranged on a board and which connect pole  109  to electrical or electronic components, such as resistors, transistors, diodes or the like. 
     Similarly, conductor strip  103  also has another pole  110  that is arranged at conductor strip  103 , which also has pole  108 . Pole  110  has the same function as pole  109  of conductor strip  101 . 
     In FIG. 11, it appears furthermore, that mounting  42  is composed of two halves  111  and  112 . Mounting  42  has an essentially U-shaped section and consequently has two legs and a bar connecting the legs, wherein the legs are referenced as  40  and  41  and the bar is constituted by board  53 . At the outer edges, legs  40  and  41  have projections  113  that expand in T-shape at one end and that can be inserted in respective recesses inside case  3  to secure the mounting inside the case. 
     It appears furthermore that the mounting has an adapter  114  for the power consumer, namely the lighting means  43 . For this purpose, the adapter  114  has at its inner wall a bayonet-shaped opening  115  that is formed as an undercut at its closed end. 
     Furthermore, mounting  42  has adapters  116  for conductor strips  101  and  103 . Between the adapters  116 , bars  117  are arranged, so that the conductor strips  103  are electrically completely separated from each other. It appears that conductor strips  103  have a double U-bend in their longitudinally extending plane, in the direction of the surface normal of this plane, and in the direction extending perpendicularly thereto. Conductor strips  103  therefore have a linear offset, on the one hand in relation to the plane of leg  40 , and on the other hand in parallel to the plane of leg  40 . 
     FIG. 6 illustrate the embodiment of FIG. 11 in a form cutaway in parallel to legs  40  and  41  and in assembled form.