Abstract:
The invention relates to a terminal assembly and in particular a series terminal assembly for medium-voltage switchgears. The assembly includes at least two input-side connectors and at least two output-side connectors in addition to a configuration location. The input-side connectors and the output-side connectors are not interconnected in a fixed pre-configured manner. Each of the configuration locations for each input-side connector location and for each output-side connector location has a configuration connector location.

Description:
[0001]    This application is a §371 National Stage of PCT International Application No. PCT/EP2015/055633 filed Mar. 18, 2015. PCT/EP2015/055633 claims priority to DE20 2014 101 581.7 filed Apr. 3, 2014. The entire contents of these applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention concerns an electrical connector assembly for the connecting of two electrical functional components. 
         [0003]    For power transmission and distribution, control devices are required for low, medium, or high voltage switchgears. The control device, besides providing control functions, also takes on monitoring, protection, and/or measuring functions. For this, various electrical components are connected to each other, such as protective or auxiliary relays, electrical and/or mechanical switches, push buttons, pilot lights and/or measuring and/or indicating instruments for current, voltage, power and/or frequency. In order to assure their functionality, such switchgears need to be configured. Because of the many different functions required, the wiring expense may sometimes be substantial. 
         [0004]    For easier and quicker connections, series terminal assemblies are used in which input-side connectors for connecting electrical plugs or conductors to output-side connectors are joined together via bus bars. The bus bars can be interconnected via plug-in cross bridges arranged in the direction of the series terminals or within a series terminal, in order to connect the input-side connectors to the output-side connectors. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
       [0005]    DE 20 2008 013 610 U1 discloses such a series terminal assembly. In this series terminal assembly, an input-side connector is connected to an output-side connector via a bus bar. Furthermore, it is possible to interconnect leads via connectors, including via mutually perpendicular oriented connectors of various kinds. Also disclosed is a configuration in which a plug unit which is configurable with connectors is mounted on the series terminal assembly in order to appropriately connect the input and output-side leads. But for this reason the assembly does not allow the input-side connectors to be connected together, without at the same time interconnecting the output-side connectors connected to the input-side connectors via the bus bar. Also, it is therefore not possible to interconnect the output-side connectors without at the same time interconnecting the input-side connectors which are connected to the output-side connectors via the bus bar. Accordingly, the invention starts from the premise that the possible connection variants are needlessly restricted. 
         [0006]    The problem which the present invention proposes to solve is to create an easily manipulated electrical connector assembly which eliminates these drawbacks, and which therefore makes it possible to interconnect the input-side connectors without thereby also connecting the output-side connectors, and vice versa. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The problem is solved with a connector assembly, especially a series terminal assembly, especially for a medium-voltage switchgear, which includes at least two input-side connectors and at least two output-side connectors, between which a configuration location is provided, wherein the input-side connectors and the output-side connectors are not preconfigured and permanently interconnected via conductors or other bus bars of the connector assembly. 
         [0008]    The connector assembly is characterized in that the input-side connectors and the output-side connectors are not electrically interconnected. Furthermore, the configuration location for each input-side connector and for each output-side connector comprises a configurable connector. 
         [0009]    In this way, it is possible to interconnect individual input-side connectors without at the same time also connecting output-side connectors. Furthermore, it is possible to interconnect individual output-side connectors without at the same time also connecting input-side connectors. 
         [0010]    It is preferable to arrange the configurable connector between the input-side connectors and the output-side connectors and/or above the input-side connectors and the output-side connectors. In this way, it is easily accessible from the outside. 
         [0011]    In order to electrically interconnect the input-side and output-side connectors in the desired configuration by electrically connecting their associated connectors, it is preferred in a first embodiment to use a traditional connecting kit, such as is disclosed for example in DE 20 2008 013 610 U1. Such a connecting kit enables electrical connecting of configurable connectors both in a lengthwise direction and in a transverse direction through the use of cross connectors. 
         [0012]    In another preferred embodiment, the configurable connectors are designed as plug and/or socket connections, especially as spring-loaded terminals. In this embodiment, they are designed for connecting electrical sockets or plugs, and/or for connecting of electrical conductors. 
         [0013]    Furthermore, a preferred embodiment includes a connecting kit for the electrical connection of the configurable connectors, and which includes for each configurable connector a plug and/or a socket connection. In such a connecting kit, the configurable connectors are preferably interconnected by electrical conductors. 
         [0014]    The use of a separate connecting kit has the advantage that this can be configured separately from the input-side connectors and separately from the output-side connectors. 
         [0015]    Furthermore, it is preferred that the input-side and/or output-side connectors also be designed as such plug and/or socket connections. 
         [0016]    In a first preferred embodiment, the input-side and the output-side connectors as well as the configurable connectors are arranged on a single overall terminal block. 
         [0017]    Yet another embodiment is especially preferred, in which the input-side connectors and their associated configurable connectors are arranged on a first input terminal block, and in which the output-side connectors and their associated configurable connectors are arranged on a second output terminal block. It is preferable that the input terminal block and the output terminal block be separable from each other. In this way, they can be configured separately and independently of each other. 
         [0018]    Or they are provided to be displaceable, rotatable, or swivelable at least relative to each other, so that the input-side connectors, the output-side connectors and the configurable connectors are very easily accessible from the outside, at least during the configuration. 
         [0019]    The input terminal block and the output terminal block are preferably identical in design, in order to keep the number of different parts needed for the connector assembly as small as possible. 
         [0020]    It is moreover advantageous and simple for the configurable connectors to be designed as plug and socket connectors at the input and output sides and for the mating configurable connectors corresponding to the configurable connectors to be designed as corresponding plug and socket connectors. Further, it is advantageous and simple for the mating configurable connectors and the corresponding plug and socket connectors to be interconnected by means of wires, bus bars, jumpers, or by at least one circuit board provided with conductor tracks. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0021]    Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification when viewed in the light of the accompanying drawing, in which: 
           [0022]      FIG. 1 a    is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of a connector assembly according to the invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 1 b    is an exploded front plan view of a portion of the assembly of  FIG. 1   a;    
           [0024]      FIG. 1 c    is perspective view of a portion of the assembly of  FIG. 1   a;    
           [0025]      FIG. 2 a    is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a connector assembly according to the invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 2 b    is a sectional view of the assembly of  FIG. 2   a;    
           [0027]      FIG. 2 c    is an exploded top perspective view of the assembly of  FIG. 2   a;    
           [0028]      FIG. 2 d    is an exploded bottom perspective view of a portion of the assembly of  FIG. 2   a;    
           [0029]      FIGS. 3 a  and 3 b    are partial cutaway and perspective views, respectively, of a connector assembly according to a third embodiment of the invention; 
           [0030]      FIGS. 3 c  and 3 d    are front and rear perspective views, respectively of the assembly of  FIGS. 3 a  and 3 b    in an open configuration; 
           [0031]      FIGS. 3 e  and 3 f    are front perspective and cutaway views, respectively, corresponding with  FIGS. 3 c  and 3 a    of the assembly and illustrating conductors for the assembly; 
           [0032]      FIGS. 4 a  and 4 b    are top perspective views of a connector assembly according to a fourth embodiment in open and closed conditions, respectively; 
           [0033]      FIGS. 4 c  and 4 d    are top and bottom exploded perspective views, respectively, of the assembly of  FIGS. 4 a    and  4   b;    
           [0034]      FIG. 4 e    is a top perspective view corresponding with  FIG. 4 a    and illustrating conductors for the assembly; 
           [0035]      FIG. 5 a    is a top perspective view of a connector assembly according to a fifth embodiment of the invention; and 
           [0036]      FIG. 5 b    is an exploded bottom view of the connector assembly of  FIG. 5   a.    
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0037]      FIGS. 1 a - d    illustrate a first embodiment of the connector assembly  3 , namely, in a perspective view ( a ), in a cross section through the connector assembly  3  ( b ) and a traditional connecting kit  1  for the connector assembly  3  ( c ). 
         [0038]    This connector assembly  3  is a series terminal assembly with a plurality of series terminals  20  placed alongside each other in an arrangement direction  52 , and therefore in a row. Eight series terminals are shown, but any number may be provided. The series terminals  20  preferably each have locking devices  251 ,  252  for mounting on a support rail (not shown). 
         [0039]    Each of the series terminals  20  includes a plurality (in this example four) of input-side connectors  21  and output-side connectors  22 . The connectors  21 ,  22  are arranged one on top of another in the vertical direction  51 , i.e., in a column. At the input and output side, the connector assembly  3  therefore includes a patch field with 4*8 connectors  21 ,  22 . 
         [0040]    The connectors  21 ,  22  are designed as plug-in units. But a design as socket units is also possible. 
         [0041]    Each input-side connector location  21  and each output-side connector location  22  is electrically connected by a bus bar  24  to a connector  23  which may be a configurable connector. The bus bars  24  have no preconfigured electrical connection, such as by bus bars or the like. 
         [0042]    The connectors  23  are arranged on a configuration location K. They are grouped into rows R and columns S. In the embodiment shown, the connectors  23  on the input side E connected to the input-side connectors  21  and the connectors  23  on the output side A connected to the output-side connectors  22  are spatially separated from each other by a housing  26 , especially an electrically insulating housing. 
         [0043]    The connectors  23  are also designed as plugs, while a socket design is preferred. 
         [0044]    The connectors  23  are arranged in the vertical direction  51  above and between the input-side and output-side connectors  21 ,  22 . The bus bars  24  make an angle  27  to each other, here a right angle. The connectors  23  are thereby easily accessible to the user from above, and the input-side and output-side connectors  21 ,  22  are accessible from opposite sides in an extension direction  53  of the connector assembly  3 . 
         [0045]    The connectors  23 , the input-side connectors  21  and the output-side connectors  22  are arranged on a terminal block  2 . This is formed from the series terminals  20  arranged in rows. Therefore, by arranging rows of more or fewer series terminals  20 , the overall terminal block  2  can be adapted to the required number of connectors  21 ,  22 ,  23 . 
         [0046]    In the sample embodiment shown, a plug and/or socket connection  4  for a wiring harness (not shown) is shown at the input side E and at the output side A, for example, which can be attached to the input-side or output-side connectors  21 ,  22 . The plug and/or socket connections  4  include sockets, especially push-in connections, as a mating connector location  41  for pushing onto the plugs of the connectors  21 ,  22 . In this embodiment, a wiring harness plug and/or socket connection  4 , especially a ready assembled connection, can be easily attached at the input or output side to the overall terminal block  2 . The plug and/or socket connections  4  of the wiring harness can therefore be configured/assembled independently of the connector assembly  3 . 
         [0047]    For the electrical connection of the input-side connectors  21  to the output-side connectors  22  there is shown a connecting kit  1 . The connecting kit  1  is also formed from a plurality of row caps  10  arranged in a row. It can likewise be adapted to the required number of connectors  21 ,  22 ,  23  by having more or fewer row caps  10  arranged in a row. 
         [0048]    The connecting kit  1  includes, for each connector  23  of the overall terminal block  2 , a mating connector  11 . 
         [0049]    The mating connectors  11  are designed as sockets, especially as push-in connectors. They can therefore be attached by simple pushing onto the plug units of the connectors  23 , especially from above. 
         [0050]    The mating connectors  11  can be flexibly interconnected in the connecting kit  1  independently of the connector assembly  3  and in regard to the possible plug and socket connections. For this, each mating connector  11  includes a connecting plug  13 ′. The connecting plugs  13 ′ of the connecting kit  1  shown in  FIG. 1 ( b )  are designed as plug units, with those of the connecting kit  1  shown in  FIG. 1 ( c )  as socket units. The connecting kit  1  therefore includes a second configuration location K′ designed to correspond to the configuration location K. At the second configuration location K′, a connecting plug  13 ′ is provided for each mating connector  11 . 
         [0051]    For the electrical connection of the connecting plugs  13 ′,  FIG. 1 ( c )  shows a first cross connector  62  which interconnects a plurality of connecting plugs  13 ′ of the same column S. The first cross connector  62  inserted in the connecting plugs  13 ′ therefore extends in the extension direction  53  of the connector assembly  3 . In this way, it interconnects a plurality of input-side and/or output-side connectors  21 ,  22  of the same series terminal  20 . 
         [0052]    Furthermore,  FIG. 1 ( c )  shows a second cross connector  61  which extends in the arrangement direction  52 . The second cross connector  61  therefore interconnects a plurality of connecting plug locations  13 ′ of the same row R. In this way, it interconnects a plurality of input-side or a plurality of output-side connectors  21 ,  22  of different series terminals  20 . 
         [0053]    In the embodiment of the connector assembly  3  shown in  FIGS. 2 a - d   , the input-side connectors  21  and the connectors  23  electrically connected to them, especially by the bus bars  24 , are arranged in a first terminal block  201 . Furthermore, the output-side connectors  22  and the connectors  23  electrically connected to them, especially across the bus bars  24 , are arranged in a second terminal block  202 . The terminal blocks  201 ,  202  are completely separable from each other. They can therefore be assembled or configured independently. 
         [0054]    Instead of first assembling a wiring harness plug and/or socket connection  4  (see  FIG. 1( a ) ) and then connecting it to an overall terminal block  2 , the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2  makes a direct connection of a wiring harness to the input-side or the output-side connectors  21 ,  22  possible. 
         [0055]    In order to minimize the number of components needed for the connector assembly  3 , the input terminal block  201  and the output terminal block  202  are identical in design. They are arranged in mirror symmetry. In this way, the input side E and the output side A are arranged in the extension direction  53  on opposite sides of the connector assembly  3 . 
         [0056]    The electrical connection of the input-side connectors  21  with the output-side connectors  22  is also performed by a connecting kit  1 , which is designed similar to the embodiments described in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0057]    Also in this embodiment of the connector assembly  3  the two terminal blocks  201 ,  202  are formed each time from a plurality of series terminals  20  placed in a row in the arrangement direction  52 . Furthermore, the connecting kit  1  is also formed from a plurality of row caps  10  lined up in a row in the arrangement direction  52 . The number of connectors  21 ,  22 ,  23  is therefore also adaptable by using more or fewer series terminals  20  and row caps  10 . 
         [0058]    However, not every series terminal  20  here includes the locking devices  251 ,  252  for locking on the support rail. Instead, the series terminals  20  are arranged on a support  31  designed as a strip. On the support  31  there are arranged locking devices  351 ,  352  for locking on the support rail. 
         [0059]      FIG. 2 ( a )  shows a perspective representation of the connector assembly,  FIG. 2 ( b )  a cross section through the connector assembly,  FIG. 2 ( c )  an exploded representation of the connector assembly in a perspective view and  FIG. 2 ( d )  an exploded representation of the connector assembly without the support in another perspective view. 
         [0060]    The terminal location K is shown in  FIGS. 2 ( c ) and ( d ) . The connectors  23  are designed as plug units in  FIG. 2 ( c ) , and the mating connectors  11  are designed as sockets in  FIG. 2 ( d ) . 
         [0061]    The embodiment of  FIG. 3  of the connector assembly  3  also includes an input terminal block  201  and an output terminal block  202 . The input terminal block  201  and the output terminal block  202  are also identical in design in this embodiment. They are likewise arranged in mirror symmetry, so that the input side E and the output side A in the extension direction  53  are arranged on opposite sides of the connector assembly  3 . 
         [0062]    However, in this embodiment the connectors  23  are each arranged flush with their input-side or output-side connectors  21 ,  22 . Furthermore, the input terminal block  201  and the output terminal block  202  are spaced apart from each other in the extension direction  53 . The terminal location K is thereby arranged between the input terminal block  201  and the output terminal block  202 . 
         [0063]    Furthermore, the input terminal block  201  and the output terminal block  202  in this embodiment are arranged each time in a housing. 
         [0064]    In  FIG. 3 ( a ) , which shows a perspective view of the connector assembly  3 , parts of the housing  341 ,  342  are left out, so that the terminal location K can be seen between the input terminal block  201  and the output terminal block  202 . 
         [0065]    In order to make the terminal location K for the electrical connection of the input-side connectors  21  with the output-side connectors  22  accessible to the user, the two housings  341 ,  342  can swivel relative to each other about a swivel axis  32  in a swivel direction  320 . 
         [0066]      FIG. 3 ( b )  shows the connector assembly of this embodiment without the housing sections.  FIGS. 3 ( c )-( e )  show the connector assembly, the housing  342  of the output terminal block  202  being swiveled relative to the housing  341  of the input terminal block  201  by 180° in the swivel direction  320  about the swivel axis  32 . In this way, the housings  341 ,  342  are open. The terminal location K is then accessible to a user from the outside. 
         [0067]    In  FIGS. 3 ( c ) and ( e )  the terminal location K is shown with the connectors  23 . In  FIG. 3 ( d )  the input side E with the input-side connectors  21  and the output side A with the output-side connectors  22  of the connector assembly  3  are shown. 
         [0068]    In  FIG. 3 ( e )  a sample configuration of the configuration location K is shown. For the electrical connection of the input-side connectors  21  and the output-side connectors  22  to each other, electrical conductors  6  are provided. In the configuration shown, all electrical conductors  6  connect one input-side connector location  21  to one output-side connector location  22 . Each time one connector  23  at the input side E connected to an input-side connector location  21  is electrically connected by an electrical conductor  6  to a configuration connector location  23  at the output side A connected to an output-side connector location  22 . But a configuration is also conceivable where electrical conductors  6  only interconnect input-side connectors  21  or only output-side connectors  22 . In this configuration, an electrical conductor  6  only interconnects configuration connectors  23  connected to input-side connectors  21 , or only configuration connectors  23  connected to output-side connectors  22 . 
         [0069]    Also in  FIG. 3 ( f ) , housing parts are left out from the housing  341 ,  342  of the connector assembly  3 , so that the terminal location can be seen.  FIG. 3 ( f )  shows the final configured connector assembly  3  with housings  341 ,  342  closed. 
         [0070]      FIG. 4  shows another embodiment of the connector assembly  3  with an input terminal block  201  and an output terminal block  202 . The input terminal block  201  and the output terminal block  202  each include two two-row and four-column attachment plugs  28  alongside each other, whose connectors  21 ,  22  are designed as sockets. The number of connectors  21 ,  22  can be adapted by the number of attachment plugs  28  and/or the number of their rows R or columns S. 
         [0071]    The attachment plugs of the input terminal block  201  and the output terminal block  202  are each arranged on a support  31 . The support of this embodiment includes no locking devices for locking onto a support rail, but it is possible to provide them if desired. 
         [0072]    The input terminal block  201  and the output terminal block  202  are spaced apart from each other. Between them is provided the terminal location K. 
         [0073]    A connecting kit  1  is provided for the electrical connection of the input-side connectors  21  to the output-side connectors  22 . 
         [0074]    In the representation shown in  FIG. 4 ( a ) , the connecting kit  1  is attached to the terminal location K. 
         [0075]    The connecting kit  1  includes a cover  12  which can swivel about a swivel axis  33  in a swivel direction  330 . The representation shows the connecting kit  1  with the cover  12  swiveled about the swivel axis  33 . In this way, the interior  14  of the connecting kit  1  can be seen. In the interior is arranged the second terminal location K′ with the connecting plug locations  13 ′. 
         [0076]      FIG. 4 ( b )  shows the connector assembly  3  with cover  12  closed.  FIG. 4 ( c )  shows the connector assembly  3  in an exploded representation, with the connecting kit  1  arranged above the terminal location K, in a perspective view from above.  FIG. 4 ( d )  shows the arrangement of  FIG. 4  ( c ) in another perspective view from below.  FIG. 4 ( e )  shows the final configured connector assembly  3  in a representation similar to  FIG. 4 ( a ) . 
         [0077]    Since the connecting kit  1  in  FIG. 4 ( c )  is spaced apart from the terminal location K, the connectors  23  can be seen in this representation. The electrical connections, especially bus bars, of the input-side connectors  21  to the configuration connectors  23  and of the output-side connectors  22  to the connectors  23  are arranged in the support  31 . The connectors  23  here are designed as sockets. 
         [0078]    The mating connectors  11  corresponding to the connectors  23  are shown in  FIG. 4 ( d ) . 
         [0079]    The connector assembly  3  of  FIG. 5  differs from that of  FIG. 4  on the one hand by the smaller connecting kit  1 . Here, the connectors  23  at the input side E and  23  at the output side A are provided. The electrical connections of the input-side connectors  21  to the connectors  23  and the output-side connectors  22  to the connectors  23  are arranged in the support  31 . For this, wires, bus bars or at least one circuit board or a plurality of circuit boards with conductor tracks can be provided in the support  31  (also able to be pushed in or inserted in the support). 
         [0080]    The connectors  23  are designed as plug and socket connectors (sockets or pins). The mating connectors  11  corresponding to the connectors  23  (plug and socket connectors corresponding to the plug and socket connectors  23 , i.e., pins or sockets) can be seen in  FIG. 5 ( b ) . For connecting the input and output-side plug and socket connectors  11  at the input side E and  11  at the output side A there is provided at least one circuit board LP. This circuit board can be fabricated and provided with conductor tracks corresponding to the occupancy of the input and output-side connectors  21 ,  22 , for example with the aid of an appropriate circuit board layout configuring system, which has a corresponding circuit board layout configuring program in which the occupancy of the connectors  21  and  22  is put in as data. This makes a manual connection with wires or jumpers, e.g., longitudinal connectors and cross connectors rotated by 90° relative to them unnecessary. Plug and socket connections can be provided on the circuit board, which are attached to corresponding plug and socket connector sides on the plug and socket connectors (not shown). 
         [0081]    In place of a circuit board, or on a circuit board designed for this, it is also possible to provide actuatable electronics in the top part mount or directly in the base  31  (which then remains with no top part), having conductor tracks (of the same or different cross section) and switching elements such as relays or transistors, connecting or not connecting the tracks in a controlled manner according to the actuation, by which the connection between the input-side connectors  21  and the output-side connectors  22  or the connectors  11  at the output side A and  11  at the input side E is electronically realized. Functions such as voltage surge protection fuses or the like can also be provided.