Connecting element for two items of installation equipment lined up beside each other with their broad sides against each other, and method of connecting the items of installation equipment

摘要

A connection for two items of installation equipment lined up beside each other with their end or broad sides against each other, in particular line-protection circuit breakers, residual current circuit breakers and the like, whose housings are each formed from two shell-shaped housing parts. The connecting element has an approximately cylindrical base body with a first outer diameter onto which, on both sides, two radially springy spreading arms projecting axially in opposite directions are integrally molded. The outside diameter of the spreading arms is smaller than the outside diameter of the base body and free ends of the spreading arms have radially protruding lugs which, when assembled, latch in behind protrusions on the housings of the items of installation equipment located beside each other and to be connected by the connecting element.