BE1025088B1 - Compact conductor connection terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention discloses a conductor terminal with a housing having a ladder receiving space accessible via a conductor insertion opening for receiving an electrical conductor, having a current bar arranged in the conductor receiving space with a clamping spring arranged in the housing with a contact leg and a clamping leg connected thereto via a bending joint, wherein the clamping spring between a release position, and a clamping position is actuated, and with an actuating element having a handling portion and a clamping leg engageable with the pressure portion, wherein the actuating element parallel to the Leiterereinsteckrichtung between a clamping position and a release position is displaceable, and wherein by transferring the actuating element of the Clamping position in the release position of the clamping legs by means of the pressure section subjected to force and the clamping spring of the clamping position in the release test is transferred, wherein the conductor terminal is characterized in that the actuating element has a receiving pocket for receiving the clamping spring.

Description

(30) Priority information:

(73) Owner:

PHOENIX CONTACT GmbH & Co. KG

32825, BLOMBERG

Germany (72) inventor:

VOLKER Jarmuth

32805 HORN-BAD MEINBERG

Germany (54) Compact conductor terminal (57) The present invention discloses a conductor terminal with a housing with a conductor receiving space accessible via a conductor insertion opening for receiving an electrical conductor, with a current bar arranged in the conductor receiving space with a clamping spring arranged in the housing with a contact leg and with the latter Clamping leg connected via a flexible joint, the clamping spring being operable between a release position and a clamping position, and with an actuating element with a handling section and a pressure section which can be brought into contact with the clamping leg, the actuating element being displaceable parallel to the conductor insertion direction between a clamping position and a release position , and wherein by moving the actuating element from its clamping position into its release position, the clamping leg is acted upon by means of the pressure section and the K Lemmfeder is transferred from their clamping position to their release position, the conductor terminal is characterized in that the actuating element has a receiving pocket for receiving the clamping spring.

Fig. 1

BE2017 / 5209

Compact conductor terminal

The present invention relates to a conductor terminal.

Conductor connection terminals are known from the prior art, by means of which an electrical conductor can be reversibly electrically connected to an electrical contact.

For example, DE 10 2008 062 137 A1 describes a conductor connection terminal with an insulating material housing and with at least one clamping point for electrical conductors, each having a conductor insertion opening in the insulating material housing and a clamping spring projecting into the conductor insertion opening with a clamping leg for clamping an electrical conductor guided into the conductor insertion opening, wherein for actuating the at least one clamping spring an actuating pushbutton is provided, which is slidably mounted in an actuating opening arranged adjacent to the conductor insertion opening and a spring contact section which is in contact with the clamping spring when actuating in the direction of the clamping spring and a spring contact section opposite the spring contact section and accessible from the outside of the insulating material housing Has actuating section.

The conductor connection terminal described in DE 10 2008 062 137 A1 has relatively large external dimensions. Depending on the area of application of a conductor terminal, there is only a very limited space, so that in DE 10 2008 062 137 A1

BE2017 / 5209 described conductor connection terminal too large for various purposes or areas of application.

The present invention has for its object to provide a compact conductor terminal with small external dimensions. This object on which the present invention is based is achieved by a conductor connecting terminal having the features of claim 1. Advantageous configurations of the conductor connection terminal are described in the dependent claims.

In more detail, the object on which the present invention is based is achieved by a conductor connecting terminal with a housing having a conductor receiving space accessible via a conductor insertion opening for receiving an electrical conductor, the conductor being insertable into the conductor receiving space in a conductor insertion direction. The conductor terminal also has a current bar arranged in the conductor receiving space for contacting an electrical conductor inserted into the conductor receiving space via the conductor insertion opening. Furthermore, the conductor connection terminal has a clamping spring arranged in the housing with a contact leg and a clamping leg connected to the latter via a flexible joint, the clamping spring between a release position in which an electrical conductor can be inserted and / or carried out in the conductor receiving space and a clamping position in which the clamping leg is acted upon by force in the direction of the current bar, an electrical conductor introduced in the conductor receiving space. Furthermore, the conductor terminal has an actuating element with a handling section and a pressure section which can be brought into contact with the clamping leg, the actuating element being displaceable parallel to the conductor insertion direction between a clamping position and a release position, and by transferring the actuating element from its clamping position to the latter

BE2017 / 5209

Release position of the clamping legs by means of the pressure section and the clamping spring is transferred from its clamping position to its release position. The conductor terminal according to the invention is characterized in that the actuating element has a receiving pocket for receiving the clamping spring.

The conductor terminal according to the invention has the advantage that, due to the inclusion of the clamping spring in the receiving pocket of the actuating element, the clamping spring can be positioned relative to the actuating element in such a way that the actuating element and the clamping spring share a space within the housing, as a result of which the housing of the conductor terminal and thus builds the conductor terminal smaller / more compact.

The housing is preferably formed from an electrically insulating material. The housing can also be referred to as an insulating material housing.

The electrical conductor can be inserted / inserted in the conductor insertion opening into the conductor receiving space in a conductor insertion direction.

The current bar has electrically conductive areas at least in one contact area. The current bar is preferably formed from an electrically conductive material, for example a metal. The current bar is also electrically / galvanically connected to a further electrical contact device, for example an electrical contact pin and / or an electrical contact socket.

The handling section of the actuating element can also be referred to as an operating section. The printing section can also be referred to as a pusher section.

BE2017 / 5209

The pressure section of the actuating element is preferably always in contact with the clamping leg of the clamping spring. Consequently, the pressure section of the actuating element is then in contact with the clamping leg of the clamping spring both in the release position and in the clamping position of the clamping spring.

In the clamping position of the actuating element, it preferably protrudes from an end face of the housing. In the release position of the actuating element, it preferably does not protrude from an end face of the housing.

The bending joint of the clamping spring is preferably deformed by transferring its clamping position into its release position such that the contact leg and the clamping leg of the clamping spring form a smaller angle with one another in their release position than in the clamping position of the clamping spring.

The receiving pocket of the actuating element can also be referred to as a clamping spring receiving pocket. The receiving pocket defines a clamping spring receiving space within the actuating element.

The receiving pocket of the actuating element is preferably formed by two side walls, a rear wall arranged between the two side walls and a top wall of the actuating element.

The conductor terminal is preferably designed such that the clamping spring is at least partially arranged in the receiving pocket at least in the release position of the actuating element.

BE2017 / 5209

Preferably in the release position of the actuating element is a large part, preferably more than 50%, more preferably more than 60%, more preferably more than 70%, more preferably more than 80%, more preferably more than 90%, and further preferably the whole clamping spring arranged in the receiving pocket of the actuating element.

The conductor connecting terminal is further preferably designed such that in the clamping position of the actuating element at least the flexure of the clamping spring is arranged in the receiving pocket of the actuating element.

With a corresponding design of the conductor terminal, it is particularly compact.

More preferably, the conductor connection terminal is designed in such a way that the handling section of the actuating element and the bending joint of the clamping spring are arranged with respect to one another such that a connecting line from the handling section to the bending joint runs parallel to the conductor insertion direction.

By appropriately designing the conductor terminal, the installation space inside the housing of the conductor terminal is used particularly advantageously, so that the correspondingly formed conductor terminal is particularly compact.

The conductor connecting terminal is preferably designed in such a way that the actuating element has at least one slide rail which bears against a sliding edge of the current bar and / or the housing, the sliding rail sliding along the sliding edge when the actuating element is displaced between its clamping position and its release position.

BE2017 / 5209

Appropriate design of the conductor connecting terminal results in guidance of the actuating element during the movement between its clamping position and its release position, so that reliable functionality of the conductor connecting terminal is ensured.

Further preferably, the conductor connection terminal is designed such that the current bar is U-shaped and has a rear wall and two side walls connected to the rear wall, end edges of the side walls being designed as sliding edges, with two slide rails of the actuating element abutting the sliding edges.

The correspondingly designed conductor connection terminal is particularly compact since the functionality of the sliding edges is taken over by the current bar. Furthermore, due to the U-shaped configuration of the current bar, even more reliable contacting of an electrical conductor inserted into the conductor connection terminal is achieved.

The rear wall can also be referred to as a contact wall and / or as a contact plate. The side walls can also be referred to as side plates. The end edges of the side walls are preferably parallel to one another.

The conductor connecting terminal is preferably designed in such a way that the actuating element has a trough oriented towards the conductor receiving space.

A corresponding design of the conductor connecting terminal makes it even more compact, since a distance between an electrical conductor inserted into the conductor receiving space and the actuating element can be reduced.

Furthermore, insertion of an electrical conductor into the conductor receiving space is made easier, since the electrical

BE2017 / 5209

Conductor also through that provided in the actuating element

Troughing is performed when it is introduced into the conductor receiving space.

Further preferably, the conductor connection terminal is designed such that the housing has at least one guide groove and the actuating element has at least one guide rib which is arranged in the guide groove, so that the actuating element can be displaced between its clamped position and its release position in a guided manner via the guide groove and the guide rib.

The guide groove consequently preferably has a longitudinal extension parallel to the direction of insertion of the conductor.

Appropriate design of the conductor connecting terminal results in guidance of the actuating element during the movement between its clamping position and its release position, so that reliable functionality of the conductor connecting terminal is ensured.

Further advantages, details and features of the invention result from the exemplary embodiments explained below. The following show in detail:

Figure 1: a spatial representation of a conductor terminal according to the invention with a partially cut-open housing, wherein an actuating element of the conductor terminal is in its clamping position;

Figure 2A: a spatial representation of an actuating element of the conductor terminal with a view of the front of the actuating element;

BE2017 / 5209

Figure 2B: the actuating element shown in Figure 2A in a spatial representation with a view of a back of the

Actuator;

Figure 2C is a front view of the actuator shown in Figures 2A and 2B;

Figure 2D: a side view of the actuating element shown in Figures 2A to 2C;

Figure 2E is a side sectional view of the actuator shown in Figure 2D;

Figure 2F: a plan view of an upper side in the figures

2A to 2E shown actuator;

FIG. 3A: a sectional side view of an actuating element shown in FIGS. 2A to 2F in its clamping position with a clamping spring partially accommodated in a receiving pocket of the actuating element and in its clamping position, the remaining components of the conductor terminal according to the invention not being shown;

FIG. 3B: the actuating element shown in FIG. 3A in its release position with the clamping spring located largely in the receiving pocket of the actuating element and in its release position; and

Figure 4 is a side sectional view of an electrical conductor inserted into the conductor terminal according to the invention, which actuates the clamping spring in the direction of its release position, the clamping spring largely in the receiving pocket of the

BE2017 / 5209

Release position located actuator is arranged, and wherein the other components of the conductor terminal are not shown.

In the following description, the same reference numerals designate the same components or the same features, so that a description of one component with respect to one figure also applies to the other figures, so that a repetitive description is avoided. Furthermore, individual features that have been described in connection with one embodiment can also be used separately in other embodiments.

FIG. 1 shows a spatial representation of a conductor terminal 1 according to the invention. The conductor terminal 1 has a housing 10 which is shown in FIG. 1 in a partially cut-open form. The housing 10, which is formed from an electrically insulating material or at least has an electrically insulating material, has a conductor insertion opening 11, via which a conductor receiving space 12 of the housing 10 is accessible. An electrical conductor L shown in FIG. 4 and not shown in the remaining figures can be inserted into the conductor receiving space 12 via the conductor insertion opening 11 by inserting or inserting the electrical conductor L into the conductor receiving space 12 in a conductor insertion direction R.

The conductor connection terminal 1 also has a current bar 20 which is arranged in the conductor receiving space 12 and is designed to make contact with an electrical conductor L inserted into the conductor receiving space 12 via the conductor insertion opening 11. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the current bar 20 is U-shaped and has a rear wall 21 and two side walls 22 connected to the rear wall 21. The current bar 20 is made of an electrically conductive

BE2017 / 5209

Material, for example made of sheet steel. The current bar 20 is also electrically connected to a further electrical contact device, for example an electrical contact pin and / or an electrical contact socket, the further electrical contact device not being shown in the figures.

A clamping spring 30 is also arranged in the housing 10. The clamping spring 30 is not visible in FIG. 1, but is shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B and 4 together with an actuating element 40 in a side sectional view. The clamping spring 30 has a contact leg 31 and a clamping leg 32, the contact leg 31 being connected to the clamping leg 32 via a flexible joint 33. The clamping spring 30 can be actuated between a release position shown in FIGS. 3B and 4 and a clamping position shown in FIG. 3A.

In the release position of the clamping spring 30, an electrical conductor L can be inserted and / or executed in the conductor receiving space 12. In the clamping position of the clamping spring 30, the clamping leg 20 acts upon an electrical conductor L inserted into the conductor receiving space 12 in the direction of the current bar 20, more precisely in the direction of the rear wall 21 of the current bar 20. The clamping leg 32 projects further in the direction of the rear wall in the clamping position of the clamping spring 21 of the current bar 20 as in its release position.

It can be seen from FIGS. 3A and 3B that the bending joint 33 of the clamping spring 30 is deformed by moving its clamping position shown in FIG. 3A into the release position shown in FIG. 3B in such a way that the contact leg and the clamping leg 32 of the clamping spring 30 unite in their release position Include smaller angles with each other than in the clamping position of the clamping spring 30.

BE2017 / 5209

The conductor connection terminal 1 also has an actuating element 40 which has a handling section 41 and a pressure section 42. As can be seen from FIGS. 3A, 3B and 4, the pressure section 42 is in contact with the clamping leg 32. The actuating element 40, which can also be referred to as pusher element 40 or as pusher 40, is arranged displaceably in the housing 10. The displacement of the actuating element 40 takes place parallel to the conductor insertion direction R between a clamping position of the actuating element 40 and a release position of the actuating element 40. By moving the actuating element 40 from its clamping position shown in FIG. 3A to the release position shown in FIG. 3B, the clamping leg 32 of the clamping spring 30 by means of the pressure section 42 in such a way that the clamping spring 30 is transferred from its clamping position to its release position.

It can be seen from FIG. 1 that in the clamping position of the actuating element 40, it protrudes from an end face of the housing 10. In the release position of the actuating element 40, this preferably does not protrude from the end face of the housing 10.

It can be seen from FIGS. 3A, 3B and 4 that the handling section 41 of the actuating element 40 and the flexible joint 33 of the clamping spring 30 are arranged with respect to one another such that a connecting line from the handling section 41 to the flexible joint 43 runs parallel to the conductor insertion direction R. Consequently, the actuating element 40 is displaced parallel to the inserted direction R.

The actuating element 40 has a receiving pocket 43 for receiving the clamping spring 30. The receiving pocket 43, which can also be referred to as a clamping spring receiving pocket 43, defines a clamping spring receiving space 43 within which the clamping spring 30

BE2017 / 5209 is at least partially recordable. It can be seen in particular from FIG. 2B that in the exemplary embodiment shown, the receiving pocket 43 is formed by two side walls, a rear wall arranged between the side walls and a top wall of the actuating element 40.

As can be seen from FIG. 3A, in the clamping position of the actuating element 40 and consequently in the clamping position of the clamping spring 30, the flexible joint 33 of the clamping spring 30 is received or arranged in the receiving pocket 43. By moving or pushing down the actuating element 40 into the release position shown in FIG. 3B, the clamping spring 30 is further accommodated in the receiving pocket 43, so that in the released position of the actuating element 40 and consequently in the release position of the clamping spring 30 associated therewith, the latter is largely in the receiving pocket 43 is received or arranged.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the actuating element 40 has two slide rails 44, each of which abuts a sliding edge 23 of the current bar 20. End edges 23 of the side walls 22 of the current bar 20 are designed as sliding edges 23. When the actuating element 40 is displaced between its clamping position and its release position, the slide rails 44 slide along the sliding edges 23, so that the actuating element 40 is guided by the current bar 20.

The housing 10 also has two guide grooves 13, in each of which a guide rib 46 of the actuating element 40 is slidably arranged. Consequently, the actuating element 40 is guided over the guide grooves 13 and the guide ribs 46 between its clamping position and its release position.

BE2017 / 5209

Furthermore, the actuating element 40 has two holding surfaces 47 which prevent the actuating element 40 from falling out of the housing 10. For this purpose, an end cover, not shown in the figures, is preferably placed on the housing 10, which prevents the actuating element 40 from falling out by the holding surfaces 47 resting on a holding device arranged in the end cover (for example in the form of further holding surfaces or holding projections) as soon as the actuating element 40 threatens to slip out of the housing 10.

As can be seen from the figures, the actuating element 40 also has a conductor receiving trough 45 oriented towards the conductor receiving space 12. Due to the provision of the conductor receiving trough 45, the entire conductor connecting terminal 1 is more compact, since a distance between an electrical conductor L inserted into the conductor receiving space 12 and the actuating element 40 can be reduced. Furthermore, an insertion of an electrical conductor L into the conductor receiving space 12 is facilitated, since the electrical conductor L is also guided through the conductor receiving trough 45 provided in the actuating element 40 during insertion into the conductor receiving space 12.

BE2017 / 5209

Reference symbol list:

I wire terminal

Housing (the conductor connection terminal)

II conductor insertion opening (of the housing)

Conductor receiving space (of the housing)

Guide groove (of the housing)

Current bar

Rear wall (of the current bar)

Sidewall (of the current bar)

Sliding edge (of the current bar) / end edge (of the side wall)

Clamping spring

Contact leg (of the clamping spring)

Clamping leg (of the clamping spring)

Flexible joint (the clamping spring)

Actuator

Handling section (of the actuator)

Pressure section (of the actuating element)

Receiving pocket / clamping spring receiving pocket / clamping spring receiving space (of the actuating element)

Slide rail (of the actuating element)

Ladder trough / trough (of the actuating element)

Guide rib (of the actuating element)

Holding surface (of the actuating element)

L electrical conductor

R wire insertion direction

BE2017 / 5209

Claims (10)

Claims 1. Conductor terminal (1), with - A housing (10) with a conductor receiving space (12) accessible via a conductor insertion opening (11) for receiving an electrical conductor (L), the conductor (L) being insertable into the conductor receiving space (12) in a conductor insertion direction (R); - A current bar (20) arranged in the conductor receiving space (12) for contacting an electrical conductor (L) inserted into the conductor receiving space (12) via the conductor insertion opening (11); - A clamping spring (30) arranged in the housing (10) with a contact leg (31) and a clamping leg (32) connected to the latter via a flexible joint (33), the clamping spring (30) between a release position in which an electrical conductor ( L) can be inserted and / or executed in the conductor receiving space (12), and a clamping position in which the clamping leg (32) can be actuated in the direction of the current bar (20) by an electrical conductor (L) inserted in the conductor receiving space (12) ; and - An actuating element (40) with a handling section (41) and a pressure section (42) which can be brought into contact with the clamping leg (32), the actuating element (40) being displaceable parallel to the conductor insertion direction (R) between a clamping position and a release position, and whereby by moving the actuating element (40) from its clamping position into its release position, the clamping leg (32) is acted upon by means of the pressure section (42) and the clamping spring (30) is transferred from its clamping position to its release position, the conductor connecting terminal (1) being characterized thereby that the actuating element (40) has a receiving pocket (43) for receiving the clamping spring (30). BE2017 / 5209 2. conductor terminal (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the clamping spring (30) is at least partially arranged in the receiving pocket (43) at least in the release position of the actuating element (40). 3. conductor terminal (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the clamping position of the actuating element (40) at least the flexure (33) of the clamping spring (30) is arranged in the receiving pocket (43) of the actuating element (40). 4. Conductor connection terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the handling section (41) of the actuating element (40) and the bending joint (33) of the clamping spring (30) are arranged with respect to one another such that a connecting line from the handling section (41 ) to the flexible joint (33) runs parallel to the direction of insertion of the conductor (R). 5. conductor connecting terminal (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuating element (40) has at least one slide rail (44) which bears on a sliding edge (23) of the current bar (20) and / or the housing (10) , the sliding rail (44) sliding along the sliding edge (23) when the actuating element (40) is displaced between its clamping position and its release position. 6. conductor connecting terminal (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the current bar (20) is U-shaped and has a rear wall (21) and two with the rear wall (21) connected side walls (22), end edges (23) the side walls (22) are designed as sliding edges (23), wherein BE2017 / 5209 two slide rails (44) of the actuating element (40) on the Sliding edges (23) rest. 7. Conductor terminal (1) according to one of the previous ones 5 claims, characterized in that the actuating element (40) has a conductor receiving trough (45) oriented towards the conductor receiving space (12). 8. Conductor terminal (1) according to one of the previous ones 10 claims, characterized in that the housing (10) at least one guide groove (13) and the actuating element (40) has at least one guide rib (46) which is arranged in the guide groove (13), so that the actuating element (40) over the guide groove (13) and the guide rib (46) 15 guided between its clamping position and its release position is displaceable. BE2017 / 5209