DE102017203205A1 - CABLE BRIDGE MODULE FOR FLEXIBLE CONNECTION OF CONNECTING TERMINALS - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention discloses a cable bridge module (100, 200) for electrically bridging two electrical connection terminals (20), each having a bus bar and a bridge shaft (23), via which the bus bar is electrically contactable, comprising an electrically insulating housing (110 , 210), - a conductor receptacle (121, 211) for receiving an electrical conductor (10), - an electrical contact (130, 230) with a from the housing (110, 210) protruding first contact region (131, 231) for electrical Contacting a bus bar of a connecting terminal (20) and with a in the housing (110, 210) arranged second contact region (132, 232) for electrically contacting the electrical conductor (10); and - an actuator (120, 220) movable relative to the housing (110, 210) between a receiving position in which the electrical conductor (10) is insertable into the conductor receptacle (121, 211) and a contact position in which the in the conductor receiving (121, 211) located electrical conductor (10) with the second contact region (132, 232) of the electrical contact (130, 230) is electrically connected, is adjustable.

Description

The present invention relates to a cable bridge module for the electrical bridging of two electrical connection terminals.

Electrical connection terminals are known from the prior art and often formed as terminal blocks, which are used in the wiring of electrical equipment and devices. Terminal blocks are usually snapped onto mounting rails, which in turn are often arranged in a plurality in a control cabinet. As conductor connection elements screw terminals or tension spring terminals are usually used in terminal blocks. In addition, however, cutting terminals or leg spring terminals can be used.

A connection terminal has at least two conductor connection elements which are electrically connected to one another via an electrically conductive connection rail, the busbar. In addition to this basic type, which is often referred to as the feed-through terminal, there are a variety of different types of terminal block, which are specially adapted to the particular application. As an example, protective conductor terminals, disconnect terminals and test terminals may be mentioned here.

It is often necessary that a plurality of, for example, arranged in a cabinet or built connection terminals have the same electrical potential. For this purpose, it is known from the prior art that connection terminals have a bridge shaft, via which the busbars of the respective connection terminals are electrically contacted. For bridging two or more connection terminals, wherein the bridging the electrical potentials of the connection terminals are electrically connected to each other, jumpers are known from the prior art, which are inserted into the respective bridge shafts of the connection terminals. Such in the DE 20 2014 100 897 U1 described jumpers have an electrically insulating housing in which a plurality of electrically interconnected pins are arranged. By inserting such a jumper in bridge shafts of connection terminals, the busbars of these connection terminals are electrically connected to one another by means of the jumper, so that the connection terminals thus bridged have the same electrical potential.

In the case of geometrically complex arrangements of connecting terminals to be bridged, which are latched on different mounting rails, for example, the geometric configuration of the jumpers for bridging these connecting terminals is consequently also complex. Furthermore, to bridge the connection terminals specially geometrically shaped jumpers must be used with arranged at predetermined positions pins.

The present invention has for its object to provide a cable bridge module for bridging connection terminals, can be bridged by means of the connection terminals simplified.

The object underlying the present invention is achieved by a cable bridge module having the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the cable bridge module are described in the dependent of claim 1 claims.

More specifically, the object underlying the present invention is achieved by a cable bridge module for the electrical bridging of two electrical connection terminals, wherein the connection terminals each have a busbar and a bridge shaft via which the busbar is electrically contacted, wherein the cable bridge module an electrically insulating housing, a conductor receiving for receiving an electrical conductor, an electrical contact with a protruding from the housing first contact area for electrically contacting a busbar of a connection terminal and arranged in the housing second contact area for electrical contacting of the electrical conductor, and an actuating element, with respect to the housing between a Receiving position in which the electrical conductor is inserted into the conductor receiving, and a contact position in which the electrical conductor located in the conductor receiving with the second contact region of the electrical contact is galvanically connected, is adjustable.

By means of the cable bridge module according to the invention, it is possible to bridge two connection terminals with each other particularly easily, independently of their positioning, so that both connection terminals, in particular the respective busbars of the connection terminals, have the same electrical potential. A bridge of a first connection terminal with a second connection terminal is by inserting a first cable bridge module in the bridge shaft of a first Connecting terminal such that the first contact area of the electrical contact of the first cable bridge module is electrically connected to the busbar of the first connection terminal, and by inserting a second cable bridge module in the bridge shaft of a second connection terminal such that the first contact area of the electrical contact of the second cable bridge module with the busbar the second connection terminal is electrically connected, and achieved by subsequent or previous insertion and bring into electrical contact of an electrical conductor with the respective second contact areas of the first cable bridge module and the second cable bridge module. Therefore, even distant and arbitrarily arranged connection terminals can be easily bridged.

The cable bridge module is designed for insertion / insertion into a bridge shaft of a busbar having a connection terminal, so that the first contact region of the electrical contact is in electrical contact with the busbar of the connection terminal. An electrical contact of a busbar of a connection terminal is thus carried out by inserting / inserting the cable bridge module in the bridge shaft of the connection terminal.

The electrical connection terminal is preferably in the form of a terminal block, which in turn is preferably designed as a feed-through terminal, protective conductor terminal, disconnect terminal or test terminal.

An electrical bridging of two connection terminals is to be understood in the sense of the invention an electrical connection of the busbars of the connection terminals.

The first contact region of the electrical contact is preferably designed as a contact pin.

The actuating element is preferably adjustable in the housing between the receiving position and the contact position.

The electrical conductor is preferably formed as a cable, more preferably as a cable formed with an insulating layer.

Preferably, the cable bridge module is designed such that the actuating element is designed as a pivoting element and is rotatably mounted in the housing between the receiving position and the contact position.

A suitably trained cable bridge module has a simple structure and also has the advantage that the actuating element is stored captively in the housing. Also, the operation of the correspondingly designed cable bridge module is particularly simple, since a desired number of cable bridge modules are used in bridge shafts of interconnecting connection terminals, whereupon electrical conductors are inserted into the conductor receivers of the cable bridge modules and brought into electrical contact with the respective electrical contacts of the cable bridge modules. Furthermore, the operation of a correspondingly formed cable bridge module is particularly simple, since the electrical conductor to be inserted into the receiving space of the cable bridge module can be held and positioned with one hand, wherein by means of another hand of the operator, the pivoting element is rotated or pivoted from the receiving position to the contact position can to make the electrical contact of the second contact region of the electrical contact with the electrical conductor.

The pivoting element can also be referred to as a rotary element and / or as a pivoting lever and / or as a rotary lever. Furthermore, a rotation of the actuating element formed as a pivoting element can also be referred to as pivoting.

Preferably, the cable bridge module is designed such that the actuating element is designed as a pressing element and is translationally displaceable with respect to the housing between the receiving position and the contact position.

Also, a suitably trained cable bridge module has a simple structure. The pressing element can either be releasably formed by the housing or be mounted captively on the housing so as to be translationally displaceable. Also, the operation of the correspondingly designed cable bridge module is particularly simple, since a desired number of cable bridge modules are used in bridge shafts of interconnecting connection terminals, whereupon electrical conductors are inserted into the conductor receptacles of the cable bridge modules and brought into electrical contact with the respective electrical contacts of the cable bridge modules. Furthermore, the operation of a correspondingly formed cable bridge module is particularly simple, since the inserted into the receiving space of the cable bridge module electrical conductor can be held and positioned with one hand, by means of another hand of the operator, the pressing member can be moved from the receiving position to the contact position to to make the electrical contact of the second contact region of the electrical contact with the electrical conductor.

The pressing element can also be referred to as cover or cover element.

Preferably, the cable bridge module is designed such that the conductor receptacle is arranged in the actuating element.

The actuating element can be designed as a rotatable relative to the housing pivot member or as with respect to the housing translationally displaceable pressing member.

Preferably, the cable bridge module is designed such that the conductor receptacle is formed as a through hole through the actuating element.

An appropriately designed cable bridge module has a particularly simple handle. In particular, in one embodiment of the cable bridge module, in which the actuating element is designed as a pivoting element, the contacting of an electrical conductor used in the conductor receiving, for example, a cable, with the second contact region of the electrical contact is easily possible.

Preferably, the cable bridge module is designed such that the conductor receptacle is arranged in the housing.

Preferably, the cable bridge module is designed such that the conductor receptacle is formed as a bearing shell.

Preferably, the cable bridge module is formed such that the second contact region of the electrical contact is formed as a cutting insert, wherein by transferring the actuating element from the receiving position to the contact position of the electrical conductor located in the conductor receiving means of the cutting insert is electrically contacted.

Preferably, the electrical conductor is electrically contacted by means of the cutting insert in that the cutting insert partially cuts through the electrical conductor, at least one insulating layer of the electrical conductor.

A suitably designed cable bridge module has the advantage that electrical conductors encased in an insulating layer can be connected directly to the second contact region of the electrical contact of the cable bridge module without the insulating layer of the electrical conductor, for example a cable, having to be removed beforehand. Consequently, the appropriately designed cable bridge module has a further improved user-friendliness.

The second contact region of the electrical contact is preferably designed as a screw connection or as a spring connection or as a bolt connection or as a plug connection.

• 1A: eine perspektivische Darstellung eines erfindungsgemäßen Kabelbrückenmoduls gemäß einer ersten Ausführungsform, wobei sich ein Betätigungselement des Kabelbrückenmoduls in dessen Aufnahmestellung befindet;
• 1B: eine Querschnittsdarstellung des in 1A gezeigten Kabelbrückenmoduls mit einem sich in dessen Leiteraufnahme befindlichen elektrischen Leiter;
• 1C: das in 1B gezeigte Kabelbrückenmodul samt sich in dessen Leiteraufnahme befindlichem elektrischen Leiter, wobei sich das Betätigungselement des Kabelbrückenmoduls in dessen Kontaktstellung befindet;
• 2A: eine perspektivische Darstellung einer Reihenklemmanordnung mit zwei Kabelbrückenmodulen gemäß der ersten Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung, wobei sich die Betätigungselemente der Kabelbrückenmodule jeweils in deren Aufnahmestellung befinden;
• 2B: die in 2A gezeigte Reihenklemmanordnung in Seitenansicht, wobei die zwei Kabelbrückenmodule mittels eines elektrischen Leiters miteinander verbunden sind und sich die Betätigungselemente der jeweiligen Kabelbrückenmodule in deren Kontaktstellung befinden;
• 3A: eine perspektivische Darstellung eines erfindungsgemäßen Kabelbrückenmoduls gemäß einer zweiten Ausführungsform, wobei sich ein Betätigungselement des Kabelbrückenmoduls in dessen Kontaktstellung befindet;
• 3B: eine Querschnittsdarstellung des in 3A gezeigten Kabelbrückenmoduls mit einem sich in dessen Leiteraufnahme befindlichen elektrischen Leiter, wobei sich das Betätigungselement des Kabelbrückenmoduls in dessen Aufnahmestellung befindet;
• 3C: eine Querschnittsdarstellung des in 3A gezeigten Kabelbrückenmoduls samt sich in dessen Leiteraufnahme befindlichem elektrischen Leiter, bei dem sich das Betätigungselement des Kabelbrückenmoduls in dessen Kontaktstellung befindet;
• 4: eine perspektivische Darstellung einer Reihenklemmanordnung mit drei Kabelbrückenmodulen gemäß der zweiten Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung, wobei sich die Betätigungselemente der Kabelbrückenmodule jeweils in deren Kontaktstellung befinden.

Further advantages, details and features of the invention will become apparent from the illustrated embodiments. In detail:

• 1A a perspective view of a cable bridge module according to the invention according to a first embodiment, wherein an actuating element of the cable bridge module is in its receiving position;
• 1B : a cross-sectional view of the in 1A shown cable bridge module with an electrical conductor located in the conductor receiving it;
• 1C : this in 1B shown cable bridge module together in the conductor receiving befindlichem electrical conductor, wherein the actuating element of the cable bridge module is in its contact position;
• 2A a perspective view of a terminal block assembly with two cable bridge modules according to the first embodiment of the present invention, wherein the actuators of the cable bridge modules are each in their receiving position;
• 2 B : in the 2A shown Reihenklemmanordnung shown in side view, wherein the two cable bridge modules are connected to each other by means of an electrical conductor and the actuators of the respective cable bridge modules are in their contact position;
• 3A a perspective view of a cable bridge module according to the invention according to a second embodiment, wherein an actuating element of the cable bridge module is in its contact position;
• 3B : a cross-sectional view of the in 3A shown cable bridge module with an electrical conductor located in the conductor receiving it, wherein the actuating element of the cable bridge module is in its receiving position;
• 3C : a cross-sectional view of the in 3A shown cable bridge module including located in the conductor receiving electrical conductor, in which the actuating element of the cable bridge module is in its contact position;
• 4 : A perspective view of a terminal block assembly with three cable bridge modules according to the second embodiment of the present invention, wherein the actuators of the cable bridge modules are each in their contact position.

In the following description, like reference numerals designate like components and like features, so that a description made with respect to a figure with respect to a component also applies to the other figures, so that a repetitive description is avoided. Furthermore, individual features described in connection with one embodiment may also be used separately in other embodiments.

1A shows in perspective a cable bridge module 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The cable bridge module 100 is for the electrical bridging of two electrical connection terminals 20 (please refer 2A and 2 B ), wherein the connection terminals 20 one bridge shaft each 23 have, via the respective one busbar of the respective connection terminals 20 is contactable.

The cable bridge module 100 has an electrically insulating housing 110 in which an electrical contact 130 is arranged. The electrical contact 130 has a first contact area 131 and a second contact area 132 on, with the first contact area 131 with the second contact area 132 electrically and / or galvanically connected. The first contact area 131 is formed in the embodiments as a contact pin 131 protrudes from the housing 110 and is for electrical contact with a busbar of a connection terminal 20 educated. The second contact area 132 is in the embodiments of the present invention as a cutting insert 132 formed and within the housing 110 arranged.

The cable bridge module 100 According to the first embodiment of the present invention further comprises an actuator 120 on, as a pivoting element 120 is trained. The pivoting element 120 is inside the case 110 rotatably or pivotally mounted and about a rotation axis 123 rotatable or pivotable. In the pivoting element 120 is a ladder pickup 121 for receiving an electrical conductor 10 For example, a cable 10 educated. The ladder pickup 121 is at the cable bridge module 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention as a through hole 121 through the pivoting element 120 educated.

The as a cable 10 trained electrical conductors 10 in the illustrated embodiments with an insulating jacket 11 is enclosed over a ladder insertion opening 122 in the ladder reception room 121 insertable. So the cable 10 over the conductor insertion opening 122 in the conductor recording 121 of the pivoting element 120 can be introduced simplified, is the pivoting element 120 between a receiving position, in the 1A and 1B is shown, and a contact position, in 1C is shown around the axis of rotation 123 rotatable. In the receiving position of the pivoting element 120 is the cable 10 simplified in the through hole 121 of the pivoting element 120 insertable. By pivoting the swivel element 120 around the axis of rotation 123 , what in the representations of 1A to 1C by a rotation of the pivoting element 120 counterclockwise takes place, the electrical conductor 10 with the as a cutting insert 132 trained second contact area 132 of the electrical conductor 130 brought into contact.

By transferring the swivel element 120 from the admission position to the in 1C shown contact position is the electrical conductor 10 as well as the insulating jacket 11 of the electrical conductor 10 by means of the cutting insert 132 severed, leaving the electrical conductor 10 is in electrical contact with the cutting insert 132. Consequently, the electrical conductor stands 10 over the cutting insert 132 also with the contact pin 131 in electrical contact.

2A shows a perspective view of a connection terminal assembly, which can also be referred to as a terminal block assembly. The terminal block arrangement comprises two connection terminal modules, which can also be referred to as terminal modules, wherein each connection terminal module by five connection terminals 20 is formed. The connection terminals 20 are each on a mounting rail 30 snapped.

Out 2A it can be seen that in a bridge shaft 23 a connection terminal 20 a cable bridge module 100 is inserted so that the in 2A not visible contact pin 131 with a likewise not visible in the figures busbar of the connection terminal 20 connected is.

In the in 2A On the right, the connection terminal module, which also consists of five mutually adjacent connection terminals 20 is formed, is also in the bridge shaft 23 a connection terminal 20 a cable bridge module 100 inserted so that the contact pin 131 , which is not apparent in the figures, with a likewise not shown in the figures busbar of the connection terminal 20 in electrical contact.

From Figure 2B, which is a side view of the in 2A It can be seen that the two mounting rails 30 and thus the connection terminal modules are arranged at different levels. Two Cable bridge modules 100 into the respective bridge shafts 23 each of a connection terminal 20 are used are by means of a cable 10 connected with each other. In the presentation according to 2A are the respective pivoting elements of 120 of the cable bridge modules 100 in their receiving position, whereas in the representation according to 2 B the pivoting elements 120 are shown in their contact position. Consequently, the two electrical connection terminals 20 by means of a cable bridge arrangement, the two cable bridge modules 100 and an electrical conductor 10 have, in a particularly simple manner and regardless of the geometry of the terminal clamping arrangement bridged together.

3A shows in perspective a cable bridge module 200 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The cable bridge module 200 is for the electrical bridging of two electrical connection terminals 20 (please refer 4 ), wherein the connection terminals 20 one bridge shaft each 23 have, via the respective one busbar of the respective connection terminals 20 is contactable.

The cable bridge module 200 has an electrically insulating housing 210 in which an electrical contact 230 is arranged. The electrical contact 230 has a first contact area 231 and a second contact area 232 on, with the first contact area 231 with the second contact area 232 electrically and / or galvanically connected. The first contact area 231 is formed in the embodiments as a contact pin 231 protrudes from the housing 231 and is for electrical contact with a busbar of a connection terminal 20 educated. The second contact area 232 is in the embodiments of the present invention as a cutting insert 232 formed and within the housing 210 arranged.

The cable bridge module 200 According to the second embodiment of the present invention further comprises an actuator 220 on, as a pushing element 220 or as a lid 220 or as a cover element 220 is trained. The pressing element 220 is with respect to the housing 210 translationally displaceable. In the case 210 is a ladder pickup 211 for receiving an electrical conductor 10 For example, a cable 10 educated. The ladder pickup 211 is at the cable bridge module 200 according to the second embodiment of the present invention as a bearing shell 211 educated.

The as a cable 10 trained electrical conductors 10 in the illustrated embodiments with an insulating jacket 11 is enclosed over a ladder insertion opening 212 in the ladder reception room 211 insertable. The cable 10 can when the cable bridge module is open 200 placed on top of the bearing shell 211 or positioned. So the cable 10 over the conductor insertion opening 212 in the conductor recording 211 can be introduced simplified, is the pressing element 220 between a receiving position, the in 3B is shown, and a contact position, in the 3A and 3C is shown, translationally displaceable. In the receiving position of the pressing element 220 is the cable 10 simplified in the conductor receptacle 211 of the housing 210 insertable. By moving the pressing element 220 becomes the electrical conductor 10 with the as a cutting insert 232 trained second contact area 232 of the electrical conductor 230 brought into contact.

By transferring the pressing element 220 from the in 3B shown recording position in the in 3C shown contact position is the electrical conductor 10 as well as the insulating jacket 11 of the electrical conductor 10 by means of the cutting insert 232 severed so that the electrical conductor 10 with the cutting insert 232 in electrical contact. Consequently, the electrical conductor stands 10 via the cutting insert 232 also with the contact pin 231 in electrical contact. So that the pressing element 220 despite cutting insert 232 can be easily brought into its contact position, the pressing member 220 has a recess 223 in which a part of the cutting insert 232 in the contact position of the pressing member 220 is included.

4 shows a perspective view of another terminal clamping arrangement. The terminal block assembly comprises three connection terminal modules, wherein each connection terminal module by five connection terminals 20 is formed. The connection terminals 20 are each on a mounting rail 30 snapped.

Out 4 It can be seen that in each case a bridge shaft 23 of a respective connection terminal 20 a cable bridge module 200 is inserted, so that the respective contact pins 231 the cable bridge modules 200 each having a bus bar, not shown in the figures of the connecting terminals 20 are connected.

The connection terminals 20 in their bridge shafts 23 one cable bridge module each 200 is used are by means of cables 10 Bridgeable in a very simple manner, although these connection terminals 20 located on different mounting levels.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

electrical conductor / cable

11

Insulating jacket (of electrical conductor)

20

Connection terminal / terminal block

21

first conductor connection element (the connection terminal)

22

second conductor connection element (the connection terminal)

23

bridge shaft

30

rail

100

Cable bridge module

110

Housing (of the cable bridge module)

120

Actuator / Swivel Element (of the Cable Bridge Module)

121

Ladder reception / through-hole

122

Conductor insertion opening (the conductor receiving / through-hole)

123

Rotary axis (of the actuating element)

130

electrical contact (of the cable bridge module)

131

first contact area / contact pin (of the electrical contact)

132

second contact area / cutting insert (of the electrical contact)

200

Cable bridge module

210

Housing (of the cable bridge module)

211

Conductor receiver / bearing shell (of the cable bridge module)

212

Conductor insertion opening (the conductor receiving)

220

Actuator / push element (of the cable bridge module)

223

Recess (of the actuating element)

230

electrical contact (of the cable bridge module)

231

first contact area / contact pin (of the electrical contact)

232

second contact area / cutting insert (of the electrical contact)

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 202014100897 U1 [0004]

Claims (10)

Cable bridge module (100, 200) for the electrical bridging of at least two electrical connection terminals (20), each having a busbar and a bridge shaft (23) over which the busbar is electrically contacted, comprising - An electrically insulating housing (110, 210); - A conductor receptacle (121, 211) for receiving an electrical conductor (10); - An electrical contact (130, 230) with a from the housing (110, 210) projecting first contact region (131, 231) for electrically contacting a busbar of a connection terminal (20) and with a in the housing (110, 210) arranged second contact region (132, 232) for electrical contacting of the electrical conductor (10); and - An actuating element (120, 220), with respect to the housing (110, 210) between a receiving position in which the electrical conductor (10) in the conductor receptacle (121, 211) is insertable, and a contact position in which the Conductor receptacle (121, 211) located electrical conductor (10) with the second contact region (132, 232) of the electrical contact (130, 230) is electrically connected, is adjustable. Cable bridge module (100) after Claim 1 , characterized in that the actuating element (120) is designed as a pivoting element (120) and is rotatably mounted in the housing (110) between the receiving position and the contact position. Cable bridge module (200) after Claim 1 , characterized in that the actuating element (220) as a pressing element (220) is formed and with respect to the housing (210) between the receiving position and the contact position is translationally displaceable. Cable bridge module (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conductor receptacle (121) in the actuating element (120) is arranged. Cable bridge module (100, 200) after Claim 4 , characterized in that the conductor receptacle (121) as a through hole (121) by the actuating element (120) is formed. Cable bridge module (200) according to one of Claims 1 to 5 , characterized in that the conductor receptacle (211) in the housing (210) is arranged. Cable bridge module (200) according to Claim 6 , characterized in that the conductor receptacle (211) as a bearing shell (211) is formed. Cable bridge module (100, 200) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the following features: - the second contact region (132, 232) of the electrical contact (130, 230) is designed as a cutting insert (132, 232); and - by transferring the actuating element (120, 220) from the receiving position to the contact position of the in the conductor receiving (121, 211) located electrical conductor (10) by means of the cutting insert (132, 232) electrically contacted. Cable bridge module arrangement having at least two cable bridge modules (100, 200) according to any one of the preceding claims and having at least one electrical conductor (10) which is electrically connected / connected to the respective second contact regions (132, 232) of the cable bridge modules (100, 200). Terminal block assembly with at least two electrical connection terminals (20), each having a bridge shaft (23) via which a busbar of the respective connection terminal (20) is electrically contacted, and with at least one cable bridge module arrangement according to Claim 9 ,

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