Abstract:
A distributor is provided for selectively connecting with a voltage source a plurality of electrical load devices, such as the sensors or actuators of an electrical and mechanical installation, characterized by the provision of an illuminating field that illuminates the addressing switches and/or the changeover switches of the distributor.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This is a companion application to the Reker application Ser. No. ______ filed Oct. ______, 2004 (Attorney&#39;s Docket No. 19623).  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     A distributor is provided for selectively connecting with at least one voltage source a plurality of electrical devices, such as the sensors and actuators of an electromechanical installation, characterized by the provision of means for illuminating and/or magnifying the images of the various addressing switches and changeover switches of the distributor.  
         [0004]     2. Brief Description of the Related Prior Art  
         [0005]     Various voltage distribution systems have been proposed in the prior art for supplying power to various types of electrical loads for the replacement of the relatively expensive prior solutions, particularly in the field of automation technology.  
         [0006]     There is a need for optimization here, especially with regard to the voltage supply of the distributors and the electrical appliances to be connected to them. According to the present invention, a distributor including a housing is provided for the connection of electrical appliances such as actuators, sensors or the like with a voltage source. The distributor includes first connections for the connection of electrical appliances, at least one second connection for connection of a higher-ranking bus voltage supply system, a plurality of addressing and/or changeover switches. Distributors of this kind in the passive or active mode are becoming increasingly popular in the field of automation technology and replace previously proposed solutions there that were more expensive.  
         [0007]     It is important to note that the distributors facilitate not only a simple and fast connection of all necessary cables, but also a simple and fast setting of all necessary parameters, especially addresses. This adjusting function generally takes place with jumpers or the like.  
         [0008]     The present invention was developed to facilitate the operation of these addressing and/or changeover switches when compared to the state of the art, use being made of illuminating means for illuminating the addressing and changeover switches.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a distributor arrangement that is operable to supply power from a first voltage source to a plurality of electrical loads, such as appliances, via addressing and/or jumper switches, characterized in that the switches are illuminated or arranged within an illuminated field for the improved operability thereof.  
         [0010]     The illumination of at least either the switches or a field surrounding them, on the one hand, makes it easier to find the corresponding switches and, on the other hand, also facilitates their operation and in this case especially the lugging of jumpers or the like into a different socket. One must also emphasized the increased safety because erroneous settings are avoided in the simplest way by means of the illumination.  
         [0011]     Optionally, the switch operability is improved by the simple implementation of a clear view cap that extends over the switches that can also act as a magnifying glass.  
         [0012]     According to a more specific object of the invention, a housing carries first and second supply voltage connectors having first pins that are continuously connected together, a first pin of the first connector being connected with the distributor internal electronics circuitry, and the first pin of the second connector being connected with a first voltage source. A second pin of the first voltage supply connector is connected with the first group electrical load devices, and the second pin of the second voltage supply connector is connected with a second voltage source, these second pins being connected via a selectively operable jumper or changeover switch. A second group of electrical load devices is connected with the second pin of the second supply voltage connector.  
         [0013]     As a result of this measure, it is possible to supply groups of distributors separately and preferably also to switch and/or—when the group formation is not needed—to connect the voltage from a voltage supply connection to a next distributor in order when there is a small power output requirement to supply one group of several distributors only once with the voltage. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]     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 drawings, in which:  
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating the voltage distribution system of the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is a sectional view taken along line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 ; and  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is a sectional view of a modification of the invention taken along the line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0018]     Referring first more particularly to  FIG. 1 , the distributor means  1  of the present invention includes a housing  2  that contains the internal electronics circuitry  4 . Mounted on the housing are a plurality of electrical device connections E/A 1  to E/A 8  connected with the electrical loads  6 ,  8 ,  10 ,  12 ,  14 ,  16 , and  18 , respectively. Also mounted on the housing are a pair of bus connectors BUS 1  and BUS 2  that are connected with the high-voltage bus supplies  22  and  24 , respectively.  
         [0019]     Finally, a pair of supply voltage connectors PS 1  and PS 2  are mounted on the housing for connection with the supply voltage lines U 1 , and U 2 . More particularly, the first supply voltage connector PS 1  includes a first pin that is connected with the distributor internal electronics circuitry by the line U 1  and a plurality of second pins that are selectively connected with a first group of electrical load devices  6 ,  8 ,  10 ,  12  as controlled by an addressing switch S 1 . Similarly, the second supply voltage connector PS 2  includes a first pin connected with the first voltage source U 1 , and a plurality of second pins that are connected with the second voltage source U 2  to supply power to a second group of electrical load devices  14 ,  16 ,  18 , and  20  as controlled by the second addressing switch S 2 .  
         [0020]     The first pins of the first and second supply voltage connectors PS 1  and PS 2  are continuously connected by the line L, whereby power is continuously supplied from voltage source U 1  to the internal electronics circuitry  4 . The second pins of the supply voltage connectors PS 1  and PS 2  are connected via the contacts of a changeover or jumper switch J 1 .  
         [0021]     Using the addressing switches S 1  and S 2 , addresses can be assigned to the first connections E/A 1 , . . . whereas the changeover switch (Jumper J 1 ), for example, serves for the connection and separation of the supply line connections PS 1  and PS 2  (for example, in the “M8 Standard” or the like).  
         [0022]     The voltage supply connections PS 1  and PS 2  each have several connecting pins that are partly used for signal transmission and partly for voltage supply.  
         [0023]     In operation, by using Jumper J 1 , one can either connect both groups of the electrical load devices to the voltage source U 2 , or only the second group E/A 5  to E/A 8 . Supply of voltage to the individual loads of this group is controlled by the addressing switch S 2 .  
         [0024]     According to a characterizing feature of the present invention, the addressing switches and the changeover switches S 1 , S 2 , J 1  in this case are arranged in an illumination field F made of a transparent material, which, for instance, is illuminated by means of light diodes or the like directly or via inserted light conductors to make it easier to find, thereby assisting in the setting, adjustment and the handling of switches S 1 , S 2  and J 1 .  
         [0025]     According to a first embodiment, the means for producing the illuminated field is inserted in a corresponding cutout or opening formed in the housing, and it can also be extended over larger areas of the housing and can be used also to illuminate the electrical connections or the like. As for handling, it must be emphasized as particularly advantageous that all connections and switches are arranged on a common side of housing  1 —specifically on the top. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the illuminated field F is produced by directing light from a suitable light source—such as a light emitting diode  30  or from a light conducting rod  32 —into a clear transparent plate  34  that is embedding in a recess contained in the upper surface of the distributor housing  2 . The illumination field may be extended over larger areas of the housing, and can also be used to illuminate the electrical connections.  
         [0026]     In the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , the illuminated field F is produced by introducing light from a suitable light source  36  into a layer of transparent material M arranged above the switch J 1 ′. In this case, the layer M may constitute a magnifying glass for magnifying the image of the switch operating knob  38 .  
         [0027]     As an alternative, it would also be possible to make switches S 1 , S 2 , J 1  themselves in an illuminated fashion. More particularly, the switch operating knob itself may constitute the transport member that is illuminated by the light source  36 .  
         [0028]     While in accordance with the provisions of the Patent Statutes the preferred forms and embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without deviating from the inventive concepts set forth above.