Abstract:
The invention relates to a distributor system including a support device and a plurality of contact supports which are arranged in the support device, the support device having at least one holding device in which at least one of the contact supports is held by a holding section fitting into the holding device. The invention also relates to a method for the production of a distributor system including a support device and a plurality of contact supports which are arranged in the support device, including the following steps: provision of a support device having at least one holding device, provision of at least one contact support having a holding section fitting into the holding device, and insertion of the contact support into the holding device.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a national stage filing under section 371 of International Application No. PCT/EP2007/002692, filed on Mar. 27, 2007, and published in German on Oct. 18, 2007, as WO 2007/115682 A1, and which claims priority of German application No. 10 2006 015 718.4, filed on Apr. 4, 2006, the entire disclosure of these applications being hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The invention relates to a distributor system comprising a support device and a plurality of contact supports arranged in the support device. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Such distributor systems have a one-piece distributor housing. A plurality of contact supports which have a fixed coding with regard to both the type and the orientation are formed in a plate. The plate is produced by means of an injection mould which establishes the type and orientation of the coding of the contact supports. 
     These known distributor systems have the disadvantage that a new injection mould has to be produced each time if another type or orientation of at least one contact support integrated in the plate is desired. This is associated with considerable costs. Moreover, a lead time is always required for producing the changed distributor system because a new injection mould is required. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a distributor system which can be produced rapidly and economically in various configurations, and to provide a method for the production of distributor systems which can be configured in various ways. 
     An object of the invention is achieved by a distributor system according to features of the claims presented herein. Advantageous developments of the invention are stated in the dependent claims. 
     According to one embodiment of the invention, a distributor system has a support device and a plurality of contact supports which are arranged in the support device. The support device having at least one holding device in which at least one of the contact supports is held by a holding section fitting into the holding device. 
     This gives rise to the advantage that different contact supports can be used in order to produce differently configured distributor systems. The costs for the corresponding injection moulds are lower. Moreover, with an appropriate design (e.g. rotational symmetry), there is no need for new injection moulds because different orientations of the coding can be created with the same components. This makes it possible to cut considerable costs. 
     According to the invention, the support device may have a plurality of holding devices, in each of which one of the contact supports is held by a holding section fitting into the holding device. This gives rise to the advantage of greater freedom of design and the associated considerable cost cuts. 
     According to the invention, the at least one contact support or the contact supports may have a holding section which is held in each case in a holding device of the support device, which holding device corresponds to the holding section. 
     Advantageously, the holding devices may be identically formed. This has the advantage that the holding sections of different contact supports can be identically formed, which is associated with lower construction and mould costs. 
     Alternatively, the holding devices may also be partly differently formed, for example if certain contact support types are provided in certain positions of the support device and errors in production are to be reliably avoided. 
     According to the invention, the cross-section of the at least one holding device or of some or preferably all holding devices may be rotationally symmetrical. This has the advantage that the coding of the contact supports can be arranged in different orientations. 
     According to the invention, the at least one holding device may have a cross-section of a regular polygon, preferably of an octagon, heptagon, hexagon, pentagon, tetragon or triangle. Other shapes obvious to the person skilled in the art are conceivable. 
     According to the invention, the holding section arranged in the holding device may have a shape which is formed in such a way that the holding section can be arranged in different orientations. This has the advantage that the coding of the contact supports can be arranged in different orientations. It is clear that the holding device need not be rotationally symmetrical for this purpose. 
     According to the invention, the holding section may have a cross-section which substantially corresponds to the cross-section of the holding device coordinated with it. 
     According to the invention, the cross-section of the at least one holding device may be asymmetrical. 
     According to the invention, the cross-section of the at least one holding device can be substantially circular, and the holding device may have recesses which are distributed over the circumference and which receive preferably at least one projection or a plurality of projections of the holding section of the contact support. According to the invention, the holding section may have for this purpose at least one projection which fits into the recesses of the holding device. One projection may be sufficient because a large load is usually not exerted in the circumferential direction. In embodiments for applications with the possibility of larger loads in the circumferential direction, it is also possible to provide a plurality of projections which fit into the recesses of the holding device. For example, the number of projections may correspond to the number of recesses, the projections and recesses being arranged over the circumference, preferably with a uniform distribution. 
     According to the invention, the number of projections may also be smaller than the number of recesses. The recesses may then also be asymmetrically distributed over the circumference in such a way that the projection or the projections can be arranged in different orientations in the recesses. 
     According to the invention, the cross-section of the at least one holding device may be substantially circular, and the holding device may have at least one projection. The holding section may then have a plurality of recesses distributed over the circumference for receiving the at least one projection. Furthermore, the holding device may also have at least a plurality of projections which fit into the recesses of the holding section. The number of projections may correspond to the number of recesses, and the projections and recesses may be arranged over the circumference with a uniform distribution. 
     According to the invention, the number of projections may also be smaller than the number of recesses. The recesses may then also be asymmetrically distributed over the circumference in such a way that the projection or the projections can be arranged in different orientations in the recesses. 
     According to the invention, the holding device may form a press fit with the holding section. This has the advantage that a sealing effect can be achieved at the same time. Alternatively or additionally, the holding device may be welded, or screwed to, inserted into, interlocked with or adhesively bonded to the holding section or connected to said holding section by another joining method. 
     According to the invention, it is possible to provide a joining element which is arranged around the circumference of the contact support. Preferably, the joining element can secure the contact support in the holding device. Alternatively or preferably additionally, the joining element can seal the contact support in the holding device. For example, the joining element can be welded, screwed, inserted, interlocked or adhesively bonded or fastened by another joining method. 
     According to the invention, the joining element may have a connecting section for connecting a plug which can be plugged onto the contact support. For example, the connecting section may be designed for a thread connection, a bayonet connection, a push/pull connection and/or a quick-release connection. It is also possible to choose a nondetachable connection. 
     According to the invention, the joining element may have a coding, preferably a colour coding. 
     According to the invention, the joining element may be formed from a plastic, composite material, a fibre material, a fibre composite material and/or preferably from metal. 
     According to the invention, the support device may be formed from metal, composite material, a fibre material, a composite fibre material and/or preferably from plastic. 
     According to the invention, the contact support or the contact supports may be formed from composite material, a fibre material, a fibre composite material and/or preferably from plastic. 
     According to the invention, the contact support may have a coding. For example, the contact support may have an A-coding, B-coding, D-coding, W-coding and/or colour coding or no coding. 
     According to the invention, the installation height can be adjustable by provision of different contact supports and/or joining elements. 
     According to the invention, the contact support may have a connecting element, a coupling element and/or an optical fibre connecting element. Combinations and/or alternatives known or obvious to the person skilled in the art are conceivable. 
     The invention also comprises a support device for a distributor system according to the invention, for example a support device having a holding device for a holding section of a contact support, the support device and the holding device(s) preferably being formed as stated above. 
     The invention also comprises a contact support or a support device for a distributor system according to the invention, for example a contact support having a holding section for holding in a holding device of a support device, the contact support and the holding section being formed as stated above. 
     According to one embodiment of the invention, a method for producing a distributor system comprising a support device and a plurality of contact supports which are arranged in the support device comprises the following steps:
         provision of a support device having at least one holding device,   provision of at least one contact support having a holding section fitting into the holding device, and   insertion of the contact support into the holding device.       

     According to the invention, the contact support can be inserted into the holding device with a joining element. The method can be designed in such a way that a distributor system according to the invention, as stated above, is provided. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention is described in more detail below with reference to the embodiments shown in the figures: 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective exploded partial view of a support device having a plurality of variants of contact supports which can be arranged therein for a distributor system according to the invention. 
         FIG. 2  shows a perspective exploded partial view corresponding to  FIG. 1 , from another angle. 
         FIG. 3  shows a perspective partial view of a distributor system according to the invention, in which some joining elements and contact supports are omitted from the diagram for clearly illustrating the design. 
         FIG. 4  shows a partial sectional view of a distributor system according to the invention. 
         FIGS. 5A ,  5 B and  5 C each show schematic diagrams of the inner contour of a holding device of a support device and matching outer contours of a holding section of a contact support for distributor systems according to the invention in two different exemplary orientations in each case. 
         FIGS. 6A ,  6 B,  6 C,  6 D,  6 E and  6 F each show a schematic diagram of a possible form of the inner contour of a holding device of a support device for distributor systems according to the invention. 
         FIG. 7A  shows a schematic diagram of an inner contour of a holding device of a support device and a matching outer contour of a holding section of a contact support for distributor systems according to the invention. 
         FIGS. 7B ,  7 C,  7 D and  7 E each show a possible variant of an outer contour matching the inner contour shown in  FIG. 7A . 
         FIG. 8A  shows a schematic diagram of an inner contour of a holding device of a support device and a matching outer contour of a holding section of a contact support for distributor systems according to the invention. 
         FIGS. 8B ,  8 C,  8 D and  8 E each show a possible variant of an inner contour matching the outer contour shown in  FIG. 8A . 
         FIGS. 9A ,  9 B,  10 A and  10 B each show a schematic diagram of an inner contour of a holding device of a support device and a matching outer contour of a holding section of a contact support for distributor systems according to the invention. 
     
    
    
     The following reference numerals are used in the description of the embodiments:
           10  Support device     11 ,  11 A Holding device (octagonal)     11 B Holding device (heptagonal)     11 C Holding device (hexagonal)     11 D Holding device (pentagonal)     11 E Holding device (tetragonal)     11 F Holding device (triangular)     11 G Holding device (round, eight recesses)     11 HA Holding device (round, eight projections)     11 HB Holding device (round, one projection)     11 HC Holding device (round, two projections)     11 HD Holding device (round, four projections)     11 HE Holding device (round, six projections)     11 IA Holding device (round, eight recesses, asymmetrically distributed)     11 IB Holding device (round, eight recesses, symmetrical in pairs, asymmetrically distributed)     11 JA Holding device (round, one projection)     11 JB Holding device (round, two projections)     13 G Recess (holding device)     13 HA,  13 HB,     13 HC,  13 HD,     13 HE Projection (holding device)     13 IA,  13 IB Recess (holding device)     13 JA,  13 JB Projection (holding device)     14  Cylinder wall     15  Projection (support device)     16  Step     20  Cover plate     30  Joining element     31  Bead     32  Groove     33  Cylinder wall     34  Offset     35  Cylinder section     36  Spacer     37  Cylinder section     40  Contact support     40 ′ Contact support     40 ″ Contact support     40 ′″ Contact support     41 ,  41 A,  41 ′,     41 ″,  41 ′″ Holding section (octagonal)     41 B Holding section (triangular)     41 C Holding section (rectangular)     41 GA Holding section (round, eight projections)     41 GB Holding section (round, one projection)     41 GC Holding section (round, two projections)     41 GD Holding section (round, four projections)     41 GE Holding section (round, six projections)     41 H Holding section (round, eight recesses)     41 IA Holding section (round, one projection)     41 IB Holding section (round, two projections)     41 JA Holding section (round, eight recesses, asymmetrically distributed)     41 JB Holding section (round, eight recesses, symmetrical in pairs, asymmetrically distributed)     42 A,  42 GA,     42 H Marking     43 GA,  43 GB Projection (holding section)     43 GC,  43 JD Projection (holding section)     43 GE Projection (holding section)     43 H Recess (holding section)     43 IA,  43 IB Projection (holding section)     43 JA,  43 JB Recess (holding section)     44  Connecting section     45  Pin receptacle     46  Coding groove       

     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  show perspective exploded partial views of a support device  10  having a plurality of variants of contact supports  40 ,  40 ′,  40 ″,  40 ′″ which can be arranged therein for a distributor system according to the invention. The support device  10  has a plurality of identically formed holding devices  11  having an octagonal cross-section or an octagonal inner contour. In each case a cylinder wall  14  of the holding device  11  projects upwards above the support device  10 . A projection  15  ( FIG. 2 ) projects downwards.  FIG. 1  shows a step  16  which serves as a stop during the mounting of the contact supports  40 ,  40 ′,  40 ″,  40 ′″. 
     The contact supports  40 ,  40 ′,  40 ″,  40 ′″ each have a holding section  41 ,  41 ′,  41 ″,  41 ′″ with which they can be arranged in the holding device  11 . 
     The contact supports  40 ,  40 ′,  40 ″,  40 ′″ shown relate to different embodiments of contact supports which are known to the person skilled in the art and can be used, for example, according to the invention. For a more detailed description, reference is made to the knowledge of the person skilled in the art. It is possible to arrange identical or different contact supports in a distributor system of the invention. 
       FIG. 3  shows a perspective partial view of a distributor system according to the invention, in which some joining elements  30  and contact supports  40  are omitted from the diagram for clearly illustrating the design.  FIG. 4  shows an exemplary schematical partial sectional view of a distributor system according to the invention, which distributor system substantially corresponds to the diagram in  FIG. 3 . 
     In addition to the diagrams of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a cover plate  20  which closes the distributor system on top is shown. Joining elements  30  are provided around the contact supports  40 . The joining elements  30  each have, as a termination of a cylinder wall, a bead  31  and a groove  32  which serve in a known manner for connection of a quick-release connection. An offset  34  which rests on the top of the holding device  11 , as can be seen in  FIG. 4 , is provided on the inside of the cylinder wall  33 . A cylinder section  35  is provided in the direction of the projection  15 . A spacer  36  which defines the distance of the cover plate  20  from the support device  10  (the support element) extends laterally from the cylinder section  35 . A further cylinder section  37  extends from the spacer  36  into the projection  15 , the cylinder section  37  engaging a recess which surrounds the holding device  11 . 
     The contact supports are designed in a known manner above the holding section and have a connecting section  44 , a plurality of pin receptacles  45  and a coding groove  46 . Of course, other contact support arrangements known to the person skilled in the art may be used, for example those shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
       FIGS. 5A ,  5 B and  5 C each show schematic diagrams of the inner contour of a holding device of a support device and matching outer contours of a holding section of a contact support for distributor systems according to the invention in two different exemplary orientations in each case. Here, the inner contour of the holding device  11  is, for example, octagonal.  FIG. 5B  shows two possible orientations of a holding section  41 B having a triangular outer contour. There are likewise eight possible orientations. The holding section  41 C shown in  FIG. 5C  has a rectangular outer contour. There are likewise eight possible orientations. 
       FIGS. 6A ,  6 B,  6 C,  6 D,  6 E and  6 F each show a schematic diagram of a possible form of the inner contour of a holding device  11 A (octagonal),  11 B (heptagonal),  11 C (hexagonal),  11 D (pentagonal),  11 E (tetragonal) and  11 F (triangular), respectively, of a support device  10  for distributor systems according to the invention. 
       FIG. 7A  shows a schematic diagram of an inner contour of a holding device  11 G of a support device  10  and of a matching outer contour of a holding section  41 GA of a contact support  40  for distributor systems according to the invention. The inner contour is substantially circular and the holding device  11 G has eight recesses  13 G. The outer contour is likewise substantially circular and has eight projections  43 GA corresponding to the recesses. The marking  42 GA indicates the orientation. There are eight possible orientations. 
       FIGS. 7B  (holding section  41 GB having one projection  43 GB),  7 C (holding section  41 GC having two projections  43 GC),  7 D (holding section  41 GD having four projections  43 GD) and  7 E (holding section  41 GE having six projections  43 GE) each show a possible variant of an outer contour matching the inner contour shown in  FIG. 7A . There are in each case eight possible orientations. Variants (shape, size or number of projections or recesses, etc) are of course conceivable. 
       FIG. 8A  shows a schematic diagram of an inner contour of a holding device  11 HA of a support device  10  and of a matching outer contour of a holding section  41 H of a contact support  40  for distributor systems according to the invention. The inner contour is substantially circular and the holding device  11 HA has eight projections  13 HA. The outer contour is likewise substantially circular and has eight recesses  43 H corresponding to the projections. The marking  42 H indicates the orientation. There are eight possible orientations. 
       FIGS. 8B  (holding device  11 HB having one projection  13 HB),  8 C (holding device  11 HC having two projections  13 HC),  8 D (holding device  11 HD having four projections  13 HD) and  8 E (holding device  11 HE having six projections  13 HE) each show a possible variant of an inner contour matching the outer contour shown in  FIG. 8A . There are in each case eight possible orientations. Variants (shape, size or number of projections or recesses, etc) are of course conceivable. 
       FIGS. 9A ,  9 B,  10 A and  10 B each show a schematic diagram of an inner contour of a holding device  11 IA,  11 IB,  11 JA and  11 JB, respectively, of a support device and of a matching outer contour of a holding section  41 IA,  41 IB,  41 JA and  41 JB, respectively, of a contact support for distributor systems according to the invention. Variants (shape, size or number of projections or recesses, etc) are of course conceivable. 
     In  FIG. 9A , the holding device  11 IA has eight recesses  13 IA distributed asymmetrically on a substantially circular inner contour. The corresponding outer contour of the holding section  41 IA has a projection  43 IA which can be arranged in eight possible orientations. 
     In  FIG. 9B , the holding device  11 IB has eight recesses  13 IB which in each case can be combined in pairs (symmetrical or asymmetrical groups of more than two recesses are conceivable) in an arrangement offset 180° (other arbitrary angles are conceivable) relative to one another and are distributed asymmetrically on a substantially circular inner contour. The corresponding outer contour of the holding section  41 IB has two corresponding projections  43 IB. There are eight possible orientations. 
     In  FIG. 10A , the holding section  41 JA has eight recesses  43 JA distributed asymmetrically on a substantially circular outer contour. The corresponding inner contour of the holding device  11 JA has a projection  13 JA which can be arranged in eight possible orientations. 
     In  FIG. 10B , the holding section  41 JB has eight recesses  43 JB which in each case can be combined in pairs (symmetrical or asymmetrical groups of more than two recesses are conceivable) in an arrangement offset 180° (other arbitrary angles are conceivable) relative to one another and are distributed asymmetrically on a substantially circular outer contour. The corresponding inner contour of the holding device  11 JB has two corresponding projections  13 JB. There are eight possible orientations. 
     It is clear that alternatives obvious to the person skilled in the art on studying the documents and equivalent solutions should also be within the scope of protection of the present application.