Electrical device for rail mounting
The present invention relates to an electrical device for rail mounting. Such electrical devices are mounted in use in a side-by-side relationship on a carrier rail. An electrical device for rail mounting comprises a housing having a rail receiving recess therein, at least one edge of said recess being defined by an end region of a latch member that is movable relative to the housing in a direction transverse to the recess, and resilient means biasing the latch member to move in a direction to reduce the width of said recess. Said resilient means comprise a torsion spring having a first leg and a second leg deflectable around a hinge region, said first leg resting against a protrusion of the housing, and said second leg resting against the latch member.
1. An electrical device for rail mounting, said electrical device comprising:
a housing having a rail receiving recess therein, at least one edge of said recess being defined by an end region of a latch member that is movable relative to the housing in a direction transverse to the recess, and
resilient means biasing the latch member to move in a direction to reduce the width of said recess,
wherein said resilient means comprise a torsion spring having a first leg and a second leg deflectable around a hinge region, said first leg resting against a protrusion of the housing, and said second leg resting against the latch member, and
wherein the housing includes a retention pin that compresses the torsion spring in an open position of the latch member.
2. The electrical device according to claim 1 , wherein said second leg of said torsion spring is at least partly received in a groove provided at the latch member.
3. The electrical device according to claim 1 , wherein in an unloaded state an angle between the legs of the torsion spring is in a range between 20° and 40°.
4. The electrical device according to claim 1 , wherein said torsion spring is a flat spring.
5. The electrical device according to claim 4 , wherein said torsion spring is arranged in a recess of the latch member that follows the outer contour of the torsion spring in the unloaded state.
6. The electrical device according to claim 4 , wherein the flat torsion spring has a V-shaped form.
7. The electrical device according to claim 1 , wherein said first leg has a shorter length than said second leg extending from said hinge region.
8. The electrical device according to claim 1 , wherein said latch member further comprises a detent lug that engages with a first detent recess at the housing for securing the latch member in a closed position.
9. The electrical device according to claim 8 , wherein said detent lug is accessible from the outside of the housing for disengaging the detent lug from the housing.
10. The electrical device according to claim 9 , wherein said housing comprises an opening for inserting a tool for disengaging the detent lug from the housing.
11. The electrical device according to claim 8 , wherein said housing further comprises a second detent recess for securing the latch member in an open position.
12. The electrical device according to claim 1 , wherein said housing comprises a bottom shell and a cover, and wherein said latch member is arranged at said bottom shell.
13. The electrical device according to claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises an integrally formed fixed rail gripping hook which is arranged opposite to said latch member for gripping the rail.
14. The electrical device according to claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises two opposing latch members for gripping the rail.