# US 9,716,343 B2 · Arrangement with modular parts and an adjustable coding

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- Number: US 9,716,343 B2
- Document ID: US9716343B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/830,792
- Filed: 2015-08-20
- Published: 2016-03-03
- Granted: 2017-07-25
- Earliest claimed: 2014-08-27
- Assignees: Selectron Systems AG
- Applicants: Selectron Systems AG
- Inventors: Robert Wess; Werner Hunziker
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9716343B2

## CPC

- H01R 13/642: by position or shape of contact members
- H01R 13/645: by exchangeable elements on case or base
- H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS

## Abstract

The arrangement includes at least one modular part of a first type (60), at least one modular part of a second type (60′), an adjustable coding (10, 10′), which has coding settings, which allow or prevent a joining together of the modular parts, and a holding appliance (62-64, 62′-64′) for holding one modular part on the other modular part when these are joined together. Coding elements (10, 10′) are provided, which in each case are received in a receiving space (51, 51′) formed in the modular part of the first or second type (50, 50′, 60, 60′) and which in each case have a projection (31, 31′) projecting out of the receiving space. The respective coding element is disposed so as to be movable to and fro in order to assume at least two coding positions, which can be selected so that a) for joining together of the modular parts a respective projection of a coding element is disposed offset in the direction of movement with respect to the projection of an opposing coding element, and b) for prevention of a joining together of the modular parts at least one projection of a coding element abuts the projection of an opposing coding element.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An arrangement comprising:
at least one modular part of a first type,
at least one modular part of a second type,
an adjustable coding, which has coding settings, which allow or prevent a joining together of the modular parts of the first and second type, and
a holding appliance for holding one modular part on the other modular part when these are joined together,
wherein the coding comprises coding elements arranged on the modular parts of the first and second type, each coding element being movably arranged in a receiving space formed in the modular part of the first or second type and comprising a projection projecting out of the receiving space, wherein the respective coding element is disposed so as to be as a whole linearly movable to and fro in a direction of movement in order to assume at least two coding positions, which are selectable so that
a) for joining together of the modular parts of the first and second type, a respective projection of a coding element is disposed, offset, in the direction of movement with respect to the projection of an opposing coding element, and
b) for prevention of a joining together of the modular parts of the first and second type, at least one projection of a coding element abuts the projection of an opposing coding element.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising a locking mechanism for locking a coding element in the respective coding position.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the locking mechanism comprises straight locking ridges, which extend transversally to an extension direction of the projection and are formed on the coding elements.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the locking ridges are resiliently movable.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The arrangement according to claim 3, wherein each coding element comprises a wall, which includes weakened areas adjacent to the locking ridges.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the respective locking ridge comprises a round head when viewed in cross-section.

### Claim 7 (depends on 3)

The arrangement according to claims 3, wherein the receiving spaces comprise straight locking grooves in which the locking ridges are engageable.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein in the respective receiving space, a straight guide groove is formed, in which a guide part formed on the coding element engages.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The arrangement according to claim 8, wherein a guide element is disposed on a base of a respective receiving space in order to form the guide groove.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the guide element is designed as a ramp.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the respective receiving space is configured to be laterally open, so that for assembly a coding element is insertable into the receiving space transversally to an extension direction of the projection.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the coding elements or the modular part of the first type are disposed in a first row and the coding elements on the modular part of the second type are disposed in a second row.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The arrangement according to claim 12, wherein the first row and the second row extend in the direction of movement of the coding elements, the projections of the coding elements in the first row and the projections of the coding elements in the second row having the same orientation.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the modular parts of the first and second type are designed to produce an electrical connection therebetween when they are joined together.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the modular part of the first type comprises a recess for mounting on a rack.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the modular part of the first type comprises connecting elements for producing an electrical connection with a module mounted on a rack.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the modular part of the second type comprises connections to which wires leading outwards are connectable.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the modular part of the second type comprises a terminal block.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein N pairs of coding elements and at most 2N pairs of modular parts of the first and second type are provided.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the coding elements are configured to be manually movable to and fro in the direction of movement.
