BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

The disclosure relates to contact rails, and more particularly to an adapter for a contact rail, an arrangement in connection with a contact rail, and a method for connecting a device to a contact rail.

Contact rails are used for providing electric current for electrical devices for instance in lighting track systems, whereby they may also track rails or lighting rails. In contact rails conductor(s) are provided in the contact rail structure to extend along the length of the contact rail. Thereby, a contact rail enables moving lights or other electrical devices connected to it along the contact rail. Thus, the position of the devices can be adjusted as needed.

A three-phase contact rail enables connecting electrical devices connected to the same contact rail to different phases. This way the load on the electric circuit can be balanced and/or electrical devices, such as lights or other electronic devices, can be switched on and off in sets of devices connected, in each case, to the same phase. For this purpose, an adapter may be used to select and change the phase the device in question is connected to.

Known adapters are often large, difficult to manufacture and have a rotary switch for selecting the phase, which may be difficult to use accurately.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a new adapter for a contact rail, a new arrangement for connecting a device to a contact rail and a new method for connecting a device to a contact rail.

The object of the disclosure is achieved by an adapter, an arrangement and a method, which are characterized by what is stated in the independent claims. Some embodiments of the disclosure are disclosed in the dependent claims.

The disclosure is based on the idea of providing an adapter that enables connecting a device to a contact rail and a selected phase by a two-step linear switch.

An advantage of the adapter, method and arrangement of the disclosure is that it provides an easy, visual, and exact control for connecting the device to the contact rail and the selected phase. The adapter of the disclosure is also easy to manufacture. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following the disclosure will be described in greater detail by means of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

Figure 1 shows an adapter according to an embodiment schematically in a retracted position of the contact tongues seen partly open and in perspective;

Figure 2 shows an adapter according to an embodiment schematically in a contact position of the contact tongues seen partly open and in perspective;

Figure 3 shows an adapter according to an embodiment schematically in a contact position of the contact tongues from a side in cross section;

Figure 4 shows an adapter according to an embodiment schematically in a retracted position of the contact tongues seen from a side in cross section;

Figure 5 shows an adapter according to an embodiment schematically in a retracted position of the contact tongues seen from the top in a partial cross section along a first plane;

Figure 6 shows an adapter according to an embodiment schematically in a contact position of the contact tongues seen from the top in a partial cross section along a first plane;

Figure 7 shows an adapter according to an embodiment schematically in a contact position of the contact tongues seen from the top in a partial cross section along a second plane;

Figure 8 shows an adapter according to an embodiment schematically in a contact position of the contact tongues seen from the top in a cross section along a third plane;

Figure 9 shows an adapter according to an embodiment schematically in a retracted position of the contact tongues seen from the top in a cross section along a third plane;

Figure 10 shows an adapter according to an embodiment schematically in a contact position of the contact tongues seen from the top in a cross section along a fourth plane;

Figure 11 shows an adapter according to an embodiment schematically in a retracted position of the contact tongues seen from the top in a cross section along a fourth plane;

Figure 12 shows an arrangement according to an embodiment schematically in a first perspective;

Figure 13 shows an arrangement according to an embodiment schematically in a second perspective;

Figure 14 shows an arrangement according to an embodiment schematically seen from an end;

Figure 15 illustrates schematically an arrangement according to an embodiment;

Figure 16 illustrates schematically a method for connecting a device to a contact rail; and Figure 17 illustrates schematically some parts of an adapter as a partly exploded image.

The figures are provided to schematically illustrate some features of the disclosure. The figures are not shown to scale. Not all of the similar features are provided with reference signs for the sake of clarity. Same, similar or corresponding features are shown with same reference numbers. For the sake of clarity, some features are provided with reference signs only in some of the figures even if they would be visible in some other figures as well.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

An adapter 1 , such as an adapter of at least one of Figures 1-11 and Figure 17, may comprise an adapter 1 for a contact rail 20. In other words, the adapter 1 may be configured to connect an electrical device 48, also called device 48 in this description and accompanying claims and drawings, to a contact rail 20. More particularly, the adapter 1 may be configured to connect an electrical device 48 to a contact rail 20 mechanically and electrically.

A contact rail 20 may comprise an elongated rail structure 21 comprising a U-shaped cross section with a pair of side walls 22 and a bottom wall 23 connected to each other and defining an inner space 24 inside the elongated rail structure 21 . The contact rail 20 may further comprise elongated phase conductors 25, 26, 27, 28 extending in the longitudinal direction 29 of the elongated rail structure 21 on the inner surface 30 of the side walls 22. According to an embodiment, a separate insulation structure 47 may be provided inside the inner space 24, and the elongated phase conductors 25, 26, 27, 28 may be provided in the separate insulation structure, such as can be seen for instance in Figures 13 and 14. Each one of the elongated phase conductors 25, 26, 27 , 28 may be connected to a different alternating current phase. More particularly, for instance a first elongated phase conductor 25 may be connected to zero current, a second elongated phase conductor 26 may be connected to a first phase of a three-phase current, a third elongated phase conductor 27 may be connected to a second phase of the three-phase current, and a fourth elongated phase conductor 28 may be connected to a third phase of the three-phase current. The elongated rail structure 21 is preferably made of a light material, such as aluminium or a polymeric material. The conductors 25, 26, 27, 28 preferably comprise a highly conductive material, such as copper, brass, copper alloy or brass alloy.

The adapter 1 for a contact rail 20, such as the housing of at least one of Figures 1 -14, comprises a housing 2. The housing 2 comprising an inner portion 3 configured to fit in the inner space 24. The inner portion 3 comprises a bottom 4 configured to be provided towards the bottom wall 23 of the contact rail 20. The housing 2 further comprises an outer portion 5 configured to extend outside the inner space 24, when the adapter is connected to the contact rail 20. The outer portion 4 is provided with a top 6 configured to be provided outwards from the contact rail 20, and a connecting member 7 for connecting an electrical device 48 to the adapter 1 . The connecting member 7 may be provided at a first end 38 of the housing 2. According to an embodiment, the connecting member 7 may comprise for instance a so-called nipple. The housing 2 is preferably made of a non-conductive material. According to an embodiment, the housing 2 may be formed of a polymeric material, such as a plastic or plastic-like material, for instance a polymer plastic.

The adapter 1 further comprises at least two contact tongues 8, 9, 10, 11 , preferably four contact tongues, having a retracted position, wherein the contact tongues 8, 9, 10, 11 are provided inside the inner portion 3, and a contact position, wherein a first contact end 12 of each of the contact tongues 8, 9, 10, 11 is configured to project from the inner portion 3. In other words, the contact tongues 8, 9, 10, 11 are provided inside the inner portion 3 and not projecting from the housing 2 in the retracted position. In the contact position, on the other hand, at least one contact tongue 8, 9, 10, 11 , and preferably all the contact tongues, project from the housing 2 towards the sides of the adapter 1 . Towards the sides means towards the side walls 22 of the contact rail 20, when the adapter 1 is connected to the contact rail 20. According to an embodiment, the adapter 1 may comprise exactly four contact tongues 8, 9, 10, 11. The contact tongues 8, 9, 10, 11 and other structural parts configured to conduct electricity in the adapter 1 , in other words the parts of the electric circuit(s) provided in the adapter 1 , are preferably made from a highly conductive material, such as copper, brass, copper alloy or brass alloy.

The adapter 1 further comprises a contact switch 13 mounted to the housing 2 in a movable manner and configured to move in a linear direction with respect to the housing 2. According to an embodiment, the contact switch 13 is configured to move in a direction extending from a first end 38 of the housing 2 towards the second end 40 of the housing. The contact switch 13 is mechanically coupled to the contact tongues 8, 9, 10, 11 in such a manner that the linear movement of the contact switch 13 with respect to the housing 2 causes the contact tongues 8, 9, 10, 11 to move between the retracted position and the contact position. The retracted position and the contact position of the contact tongues 8, 9, 10, 11 may, thus, also be considered the retracted position and the contact position of the contact switch 13.

According to an embodiment, such as the embodiments of Figure 1-14, the adapter 1 may further comprise at least two rotating parts 14. The rotating part 14 may also be called a switch latch. Each rotating part 14 may be coupled to the housing 2 rotatably about an axis 15 extending from the bottom 4 towards the top 6. According to an embodiment, each contact tongue 8, 9, 10, 11 may be in each case connected to one of the rotating parts 14 in such a manner that rotating the rotating part 14 moves the contact tongue 8, 9, 10, 11 between the retracted position and the contact position. According to an embodiment, the adapter may also comprise at least one guiding part 16, 17, 18 mechanically connecting the rotating parts 14 to the contact switch 13 in such a manner that the linear movement of the contact switch causes the rotating movement of the rotating parts 14.

According to an embodiment, each rotating part 14 may comprise a guiding portion 19 parallel to the axis 15 and spaced from the axis 15, and the adapter 1 may comprise at least two guiding parts 16, 17, 18. According to an embodiment, the first guiding part 16 may comprise a lever. A first end 32 of the lever may be provided in a groove 33 formed in the contact switch 13. More particularly, the first end 32 of the lever may be retained in the groove 33 in such a manner that rotation of the first end 32, which is preferably formed to have a round shape against the groove 33, with respect to the groove 33 is enabled, but a linear movement of the first end 32 with respect to the contact switch 13 is limited. A second end 34 of the lever, on the other hand, may be connected to the housing 2 in an articulated manner at a pivot point 35.

According to an embodiment, the second guiding part 17, 18 forms an elongated and curved slot 36 extending in a plane transverse to the direction of the axis 15. In other words, the elongated and curved slot 36 may extend in a curved, preferably in an S-like curved manner, in a direction extending from the first end 38 of the housing towards the second end of the housing 40, wherein the first end 38 is the end provided with the connecting member 7, and the second end 40 is the end opposite to the first end 38.

According to an embodiment, the guiding portions 19 of the rotating parts 14 may be configured to extend through the elongated and curved slot 36. Thereby, the linear movement of the contact switch 13 may be configured to cause the first guiding part 16 to rotate about the pivot point 35, which may be configured to cause the second guiding part 17, 18, and the elongated and curved slot 36 may be formed in the second guiding part 17, 18 to move in a linear direction parallel to the movement of the contact switch 13, which may further cause the guiding portions 19 to rotate respective rotating parts 14 about the respective axis 15. In this manner, the contact switch 13 may be configured to switch the contact tongues 8, 9, 10, 11 between retracted position and contact position. More particularly, rotating the rotating parts 14 may cause the contact tongues 8, 9, 10, 11 connected to them rotate about the axis 15 between the retracted position, in which the contact tongues are provided inside the housing 2, and the contact position, in which the contact tongues project outwards from the housing 2.

According to an embodiment, the second guiding part 17, 18 may be formed of two structural parts fitted against each other in such a manner that the elongated and curved slot 36 is formed between the parts forming the second guiding part 17, 18. This may be particularly beneficial from manufacturing point of view, as this may enable easier and more automated assembly of the adapter 1 . Similarly, the housing 2 may be formed of two halves to enable easy assembly of the adapter 1 .

According to an embodiment, each rotating part 14 may comprise a protruding member 37 formed in the rotating part 14 and configured to project from the inner portion 3 of the housing 2 for locking the adapter 1 to the contact rail 20 when the contact tongues 8, 9, 10, 11 are provided in the contact position. This may enable secure locking of the adapter 1 to the contact rail 20 despite the position of the contact rail 20. This may be particularly beneficial in embodiments, where the contact rail 20 is provided in a vertical position, in other words the longitudinal direction 29 of the contact rail 20 extending in a vertical position, or the U-shaped contact rail structure 21 opening to a side, in other words with the bottom wall 23 extending in a horizontal direction, for instance against a wall of a room (not shown).

According to an embodiment, the adapter 1 may further comprise an elongated zero contact 39 extending from a first end 38 of the housing 2 towards the second end 40 of the housing opposite to the first end 38. A first contact finger 41 may, then, be connected to the contact switch 13 to move with the contact switch in such a manner that in one of extreme positions of the contact switch 13, which is the extreme position in which the contact tongues 8, 9, 10, 11 are provided in the contact position, the first contact finger 41 connects the zero contact 39 to a second contact end 42 of a first one 8 of the contact tongues 8, 9, 10, 11. According to an embodiment, the contact tongue 8, which can be called the first contact tongue, is configured to be connected in a contact rail to a first elongated phase conductor 25, which further may be connected to zero current. This may enable quick connection of the electric circuit, which may be particularly beneficial in some applications. According to an embodiment, the zero contact 39 may, more particularly, extend from a vicinity of the connecting member 7, such as from an area between the connecting member 7 and the bottom 4, to the first contact finger 41 .

According to an embodiment, the adapter 1 may further comprise a phase switch 43 mounted to the housing 2 in a movable manner and configured to move in a linear direction parallel to the direction of movement of the contact switch 13 with respect to the housing 2. According to an embodiment, the adapter 1 may further comprise an elongated power contact 44 extending from a first end 38 of the housing 2 towards the second end 40 of the housing opposite to the first end 38. According to an embodiment, the adapter 1 may further comprise a second contact finger (not shown in the figures) connected to the phase switch 43. The second contact finger is not shown in the figures, since it is covered from sight by the housing 2 and other parts, but it may be similar to the first contact finger 41 , but connected to the phase switch 43 and extending to the area of the second contact ends 42 of contact tongues 9, 10, 11 instead of the second contact end 42 of contact tongue 8. According to an embodiment, the power contact 44 may, more particularly, extend from a vicinity of the connecting member 7, such as from an area between the connecting member 7 and the bottom 4, to the area of the phase switch 43 in such a manner that the connection between the power contact 44 and in each case one of the second ends 42 contact tongues 8, 9, 10, 11 can be formed by the linear movement of the phase switch 43.

The second contact finger may be configured to move with the phase switch 43 in such a manner that, when the contact switch 13 is simultaneously in one of the extreme positions of the contact switch 13, which is the extreme position in which the contact tongues 8, 9, 10, 11 are provided in the contact position, the second contact finger connects, depending on the position of the phase switch 43 with respect to the contact switch 13, the power contact 44 in each case to a second contact end 42 of one of the contact tongues 8, 9, 10, 11 . According to an embodiment, the second contact ends 42 of the contact tongues 8, 9, 10, 11 may be provided consecutively with respect to each other and spaced from each other along the direction extending from the first end 38 of the housing towards the second end 40 of the housing 2, in other words along a direction of the longitudinal direction of the adapter 1. According to an embodiment, the second contact ends 42 of the contact tongues 9, 10, 11 are aligned with each other, whereas the second contact end 42 of the contact tongue 8 is spaced from the other contact tongues 9, 10, 11 also in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the adapter 1 , as can be seen for instance in Figure 17. In such embodiments, the second contact finger may be connected to the second end 42 of the contact tongue 8 for instance via the first contact finger 41 , when the phase switch 43 is provided in a corresponding position and the contact switch 13 is provided in the contact position.

The movement of the phase switch 43 may be configured to be linear and preferably parallel to the movement of the contact switch 13. According to an embodiment, the movement of the phase switch 43 may consist of at least four steps. Thereby, the second contact finger may, at each stepwise position of the phase switch 43, be connected to one of the second contact ends 42 of the contact tongues 8, 9, 10, 11 , or disconnected from all the second contact ends 42. In other words, the phase switch 43 may be configured to connect the power contact 44, and thereby a possible electrical device 48 connected to the adapter, to a predetermined phase or current by selecting the phase or current by moving the phase switch 43 such that the second contact finger connects to the second end 42 of the contact tongue 8, 9, 10, 11 connected to the selected phase or current, after the contact switch 13 is moved to the contact position.

In Figure 17 that illustrates schematically some parts of an adapter 1 as a partly exploded image, both end of the contact tongues 8, 9, 10, 11 are provided with reference numbers, if visible in the figure, to illustrate how each contact tongue 8, 9, 10, 11 extends in a bent manner in a direction parallel to the direction of the axis 15.

According to an embodiment, the adapter 1 may further comprise a ground contact 46 configured to project from the inner portion 3 for connecting the adapter 1 to a ground conductor 31 or other part connecting the adapter to ground.

An arrangement 49 in connection with a contact rail 20, such as an arrangement according to at least one of Figures 12-15, may comprise a contact rail 20 and an adapter 1 .

The contact rail 20 may comprise an elongated rail structure 21 comprising a U-shaped cross section with a pair of side walls 22 and a bottom wall 23 connected to each other and defining an inner space 24 inside the elongated rail structure 21 . The U-shaped cross section refers to this structure comprising two opposing side walls 22 and a bottom wall 23 extending between the side walls 22 and connecting them to each other. It is clear for a person skilled in the art, and also shown in the Figures, that the U-shaped cross section doesn’t have to form a pure U-shape. For instance, the side walls may be bent and/or, depending on the embodiment, the side walls 22 may connect to the bottom wall 23 in a rounded or angled manner. The contact rail 20 may further comprise elongated phase conductors 25, 26, 27, 28 extending in the longitudinal direction 29 of the elongated rail structure 21 on the inner surface 30 of the side walls 22.

The adapter 1 may comprise an adapter 1 according to any one of the embodiments described in this description and accompanying claims and drawings, or combination thereof. The adapter 1 may be connected to the contact rail 20 in such a manner that the first contact end 12 of each contact tongue 8, 9, 10, 11 is arranged, in a contact position, in contact with a respective phase conductor 25, 26, 27, 28. According to an embodiment, the contact rail 20 may further comprise an elongated ground conductor 31 extending in the longitudinal direction of the elongated rail structure 21 and the adapter 1 comprises a ground contact 46, wherein the ground contact 46 is connected to the elongated ground conductor 31 , when the adapter 1 is connected to the contact rail 20. According to an embodiment, the ground contact 46 may also comprise a portion configured to extend to the outside of the inner portion 3 of the adapter at a point close to a distal end, namely the end adjacent to the open side of the U-shaped cross section, of one the side walls 22 of the elongated rail structure 21 to also connect the elongated rail structure 21 to the ground conductor 31 .

According to an embodiment, the adapter 1 comprises a protruding member 37 formed in each rotating part 14 and configured to project, in response to the contact switch 13 being brought into an extreme position, from the inner portion 3 of the housing 2, when the contact tongues 8, 9, 10, 11 are provided in the contact position, in such a manner that the adapter 1 is locked to the contact rail 20 by the protruding members 37.

According to an embodiment, the adapter 1 comprises contact switch 13 configured to switch the contact tongues 8, 9, 10, 11 , in an extreme position of the contact switch 13, to contact position, thereby connecting the first contact ends 12 to respective phase conductors 25, 26, 27, 28.

According to an embodiment, each of the contact tongues 8, 9, 10, 11 may be connected to one of the rotating members 12 and extend in a bent manner in a direction parallel to the direction of the axis 15 such that the first contact end 12 is configured to project from the housing in the contact position and be provided inside the housing 2 in the retracted position of the adapter and the contact tongues, and that the second contact end 42 is configured to extend to the path of the phase switch 43 along its linear movement in such a manner that it can be brought into contact with the second contact finger, when the phase switch 43 is provided in a corresponding position, in other words a position indicating connection to the corresponding conductor 25, 26, 27, 28. Thereby, the adapter 1 , and more particularly the phase switch 43, may be used to select and change the phase the device 48 in question is connected to. This can be used to balance the load on the electric circuit and/or electrical devices 48, such as lights or other electronic devices, can be switched on and off in sets of devices connected, in each case, to the same phase.

Figure 16 illustrates schematically a method for connecting a device 48 to a contact rail 20. The method may comprise connecting 162 the device 48 to the adapter 1 according to an embodiment described in this description and accompanying claims and drawings, or a combination of such embodiment, by the connecting member 7 provided at the first end 38 of the housing 2, and by connecting the electric circuit of the device 48 to the zero contact 39 and the power contact 44 of the adapter 1 .

The method may also comprise connecting 164 the adapter 1 to a contact rail 20. The contact rail 20 may comprise an elongated rail structure 21 comprising a U-shaped cross section with a pair of side walls 22 and a bottom wall 23 connected to each other and defining an inner space 24 inside the elongated rail structure, and elongated phase conductors 25, 26, 27, 28 extending in the longitudinal direction 29 of the elongated rail structure 21 on the inner surface 30 of the side walls 22.

The method may further comprise connecting the contact tongues 8, 9, 10, 11 of the adapter 1 to the phase conductors 25, 26, 27, 28 by bringing the contact tongues to contact position by bringing the contact switch 13 to one of its extreme positions.

According to an embodiment, the phase the device is connected to is selected by a phase switch 43 of the adapter 1 . This is explained in more detail in connection with the adapter and arrangement embodiments.

It is clear for a person skilled in the art that the disclosure is not restricted to the embodiments and combinations of embodiments disclosed in this description and accompanying drawings but may vary within the scope of the accompanying claims.