# US 10,483,725 B2 · Carrier rail housing and electronic module with a carrier rail housing and control system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,483,725 B2 - Document ID: US10483725B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/164,437 - Filed: 2018-10-18 - Published: 2019-04-25 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2017-10-23 - Assignees: Pilz GmbH & Co. KG - Applicants: Pilz GmbH & Co. KG - Inventors: Lothar Merz - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10483725B2 ## CPC - H02B 1/0523: {locked into position by a sliding member} - H01R 9/2675: {Electrical interconnections between two blocks, e.g. by means of busbars} - H01R 25/162: {Electrical connections between or with rails or bus-bars (rails having primarily a non electrical function H01R4/64)} - H05K 7/1478: {including a segmented bus} - H01R 4/64: Connections between or with conductive parts having primarily a non-electric function, e.g. frame, casing, rail - H01R 9/26: Clip-on terminal blocks for side-by-side rail- or strip-mounting - H01R 9/2608: {Fastening means for mounting on support rail or strip (H01R9/2691 takes precedence; for switch or other electrical device H02B1/042)} - H01R 9/2691: {with ground wire connection to the rail} - H01R 25/14: Rails or bus-bars constructed so that the counterparts can be connected thereto at any point along their length (supporting elements for lighting devices, displaceable along guiding elements and making electrical contact with conductors running along the guiding elements F21V21/35) - H01R 25/142: {Their counterparts} - H01R 31/06: Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter (with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94) - H02B: BOARDS, SUBSTATIONS OR SWITCHING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE SUPPLY OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ## Abstract A carrier rail housing comprises: a carrier rail receiving opening into which the holding legs of a carrier rail are insertable; a locking mechanism to secure the holding legs in a desired mounting position and comprising locking slides to interlock with the carrier rail housing in a locking position; a plug-in contact element arranged inside the carrier rail housing to face the carrier rail receiving opening; and a bus connector into which plug-in contacts of the plug-in contact element are insertable, the bus connector being connectable to a plug-in contact element of at least one additional carrier rail housing, wherein each of the locking slides comprises a first end that comprises a holding section that extends in sections into the carrier rail receiving opening in the locking position, so that the bus connector is secured between the holding sections of the locking slides and the plug-in contact element. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A carrier rail housing suitable for attaching to a carrier rail including two holding legs that extend in the longitudinal direction and face outwards, the carrier rail housing comprising: a carrier rail receiving opening into which the holding legs of the carrier rail are insertable; a locking mechanism to secure the holding legs in a desired mounting position inside the carrier rail receiving opening, the locking mechanism comprising two locking slides arranged to be displaceable on a mounting side of the carrier rail housing and configured to be interlocked with the carrier rail housing in a locking position; at least one plug-in contact element arranged inside the carrier rail housing so as to face in the direction of the carrier rail receiving opening, the plug-in contact element including a plurality of plug-in contacts; and at least one bus connector into which at least some of the plug-in contacts of the plug-in contact element are insertable, the at least one bus connector being connectable to a plug-in contact element of at least one additional carrier rail housing, wherein the bus connector comprises a base body with two mutually opposite ends, on each of which an inclined surface is formed, wherein the inclined surfaces are configured to move the locking slides outwards when the bus connector is inserted into the carrier rail receiving opening of the carrier rail housing, wherein each of the locking slides comprises a first end that comprises a holding section that extends in sections into the carrier rail receiving opening in the locking position, so that the bus connector is secured between the holding sections of the locking slides and the plug-in contact element inside the carrier rail receiving opening. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The carrier rail housing of claim 1, wherein each of the locking slides comprises a locking element and the carrier rail housing further comprises two locking recesses, wherein in the locking position of the locking slides, one of the locking elements engages with each of the two locking recesses. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The carrier rail housing of claim 2, wherein each of the locking elements comprise: bending beams that extend from the holding section in the direction of a second end of an associated one of the locking slides; and a locking projection to engage with the locking recess associated with the locking slide in the locking position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The carrier rail housing of claim 3, wherein each of the bending beams is configured such that when the locking slide is displaced outwards away from the carrier rail receiving opening, the bending beam generates in interaction with the locking recess, with which the locking projection engages, a reset force that acts on the locking slide in the direction of the carrier rail receiving opening. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The carrier rail housing of claim 1, wherein in the desired mounting position of the carrier rail, the holding legs extend between the bus connector and the holding sections of the locking slides. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The carrier rail housing of claim 1, wherein each of the locking slides comprises a handling section on a second end that is opposite the first end. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) An electronic module, comprising: the carrier rail housing of claim 1. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A control system comprising: a plurality of electronic modules, wherein at least one of the electronic modules is according to the electronic module of claim 7 and is electrically and mechanically connected to an adjacent electronic module by the bus connector. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The control system of claim 8, wherein one of the electronic modules is a final module of the control system and comprises a termination plug.