CN113346258A

CN113346258A - Connecting device and electronic equipment

Info

Publication number: CN113346258A
Application number: CN202110190086.9A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 马丁·格布哈特
Original assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2020-02-18
Filing date: 2021-02-18
Publication date: 2021-09-03
Anticipated expiration: 2041-02-18
Also published as: CN113346258B; DE102020104140B4; DE102020104140A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a connecting device for connecting electrical conductors, comprising: a housing; a current bar; a clamping spring having clamping legs which are displaceable into a clamping position and a release position; an actuating element by means of which a pressure is exerted on the clamping legs in order to transfer the clamping legs from the clamping position into the release position, the actuating element having a display element for displaying the connection state of the electrical conductors; a conductor connection chamber formed between a section of the current bar and the clamping leg; a movably arranged guide element, which is operatively connected to the clamping leg, the clamping leg being held in the release position by means of the guide element; and a triggering element which is engaged with the guide element in the release position of the clamping leg, wherein the triggering element can be operated by the conductor when the conductor to be connected is introduced into the conductor connection chamber, so that the triggering element is disengaged from the guide element and the guide element can be moved by the spring force of the clamping leg, so that the clamping leg is transferred into the clamping position for clamping the conductor to the current bar.

Description

Connecting device and electronic equipment

Technical Field

The invention relates to a connecting device for connecting electrical conductors. The invention also relates to an electronic device.

Background

Such connecting devices usually have a clamping spring in the form of a spring leg with a holding leg and a clamping leg, wherein the conductor introduced into the connecting device can be clamped to the current bar by means of the clamping leg of the clamping spring. In particular, if a flexible conductor is clamped, the clamping spring must be moved into the release position by means of an actuating element before the conductor is introduced, and is actuated thereby, in order to deflect the clamping spring or the clamping leg away from the current bar, so that the conductor can be introduced into the intermediate space between the current bar and the clamping spring. Only with a rigid and therefore stable conductor can the conductor exert sufficient force on the clamping spring or the clamping leg of the clamping spring to be able to deflect the clamping leg away from the current bar without the actuating element having to be actuated by the user for this purpose. In the case of a flexible conductor, the user must first deflect the clamping spring away from the current rod by actuating the actuating element, as a result of which the flexible conductor can be introduced. In order to clamp the introduced conductor, the actuating element must again be manually actuated by the user in order to transfer the clamping spring from the release position into the clamping position. The actuation of the actuating element by the user makes it difficult for the user to install or connect the conductors, since the operation is complicated and therefore also increases the time consumption.

Disclosure of Invention

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a connection device and an electronic device, in which the connection of particularly flexible conductors can be simplified.

According to the invention, this object is solved by the features of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments and advantageous refinements of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

The connecting device according to the invention has a housing, a current bar, a clamping spring having a clamping leg which can be moved into a clamping position and into a release position, an actuating element by means of which a pressure force can be applied to the clamping leg for moving the clamping leg from the clamping position into the release position, a conductor connection chamber which is formed between a section of the current bar and the clamping leg of the clamping spring, a guide element which is arranged movably and is in operative connection with the clamping leg of the clamping spring, and a triggering element, wherein the actuating element has a display element for displaying the connection state of the electrical conductor, wherein the clamping leg can be held in the release position by means of the guide element, and wherein the triggering element engages the guide element in the release position of the clamping spring. When the conductor to be connected is introduced into the conductor connection chamber, the trigger element can be actuated by the conductor in such a way that the trigger element is disengaged from the guide element, and the guide element can be moved by the spring force of the clamping leg in such a way that the clamping leg is moved into the clamping position in order to clamp the conductor to the current bar.

By means of the connecting device according to the invention, it is now also possible to connect and clamp the flexible conductor directly by plugging onto the current bar. The clamping spring is preferably designed as a spring leg with a retaining leg and a clamping leg designed to be able to pivot relative to the retaining leg. By means of a pivoting movement of the clamping leg, the clamping leg can be moved into a release position, in which the clamping leg is arranged at a distance from the current bar and the conductor to be connected can be introduced into the thus configured conductor connection chamber between the current bar and the clamping leg or can be led out of it, and into a clamping position, in which the clamping leg can be brought into contact with the current bar or with the connected conductor in order to clamp the conductor to the current bar. The connecting device has a guide element which is mounted in a horizontally displaceable manner and which is operatively connected to the clamping spring, in particular in the release position of the clamping leg of the clamping spring, which means that the clamping leg follows the displacement movement and thus the position of the guide element by being operatively connected to the guide element. By pressing the guide element against the clamping leg, the guide element holds the clamping leg against its spring force in the release position. In order to be able to hold the guide element in this position, the guide element engages with the trigger element in the release position of the clamping leg of the clamping spring. If the triggering element engages with the guide element, the displacement movement of the guide element is not possible or is stopped. By means of the operative connection or coupling (Kopplung) of the triggering element with the guide element and of the guide element with the clamping leg of the clamping spring in the release position of the clamping leg, the clamping leg can be held in this release position without additional manual actuation, so that in particular a flexible conductor can be introduced into the conductor connection chamber between the current rod and the clamping spring which is thus free. The trigger element can have a pressure surface pointing in the direction of the conductor connection chamber, which pressure surface is arranged in alignment with a conductor insertion opening for inserting the conductor into the connection device or in alignment with the conductor connection chamber, so that the conductor, when inserted into the connection device, strikes against the pressure surface of the trigger element, whereby a pressure can be exerted on the trigger element from the conductor. By applying a pressure to the pressure surface and thus to the trigger element by means of the conductor, the trigger element can be set in a deflecting or tilting movement, for example, in the direction of the insertion direction of the conductor, so that the trigger element can be deflected or tilted away from the guide element in the insertion direction of the conductor. The guide element can be moved freely again by the deflecting movement of the trigger element, so that the guide element can be moved freely again and thus the guide element can be moved without manual assistance only by the spring force of the clamping leg in such a way that the clamping leg can be transferred from the release position into the clamping position. By means of this special mechanism, the connection of the flexible conductor can be carried out particularly simply by a lead-in movement of the conductor without the user having to actuate a further element, for example an actuating element, in order to release the clamping spring and transfer it from the release position into the clamping position. This makes the handling of the connecting device easy and saves time when connecting the conductors. The triggering element is preferably an element or component which is constructed separately from the clamping spring, the current bar and the guide element. The trigger element preferably extends over the region of the current bar between the section of the current bar, which can be clamped against the conductor, and the clamping spring, so that the trigger element can delimit the conductor connection chamber to one side. The guide element may be configured as a sliding element. The transfer of the clamping leg of the clamping spring from the clamping position into the release position is effected by means of an actuating element in such a way that a pressure force can be applied to the clamping leg by means of the actuating element, as a result of which the clamping leg can be deflected away from the current bar. For actuating the clamping spring, the actuating element thus acts directly on the clamping leg of the clamping spring. However, the actuating element is preferably used only for transferring the clamping leg from the clamping position into the release position and not for transferring the clamping leg from the release position into the clamping position. In order to make it possible for the user to visually see the connection state of the electrical conductor at the connection device, the actuating element has a display element for displaying the connection state of the electrical conductor. The user can visually recognize, via the display element, whether the electrical conductor introduced into the connecting device has been clamped to the current bar by means of the clamping spring or whether the conductor, although it has been introduced into the housing of the connecting device, has not yet been triggered and therefore the clamping spring has not yet reached the clamping position. The display element formed at the actuating element makes it possible to continuously visually feedback about the connection state of the conductor to be connected, irrespective of the size of the diameter of the electrical conductor.

The display element is preferably configured at the end section of the actuating element, so that the display element is visible from outside the housing via the opening of the housing in the connected state of the conductors. This allows a clear visual feedback to the user, in order to be able to indicate to the user that the conductor is clamped and is therefore connected between the clamping spring and the current bar. If the conductor is not yet clamped and therefore not connected, the end section of the actuating element and therefore the display element are preferably also located within the housing and cannot be seen from the outside through the opening of the housing. Thereby, the connection state of the electrical conductor can be visually displayed to the user simply by the position of the display element.

The display element can be designed, for example, in the form of a web-like extension at the end section or on the upper side of the actuating element. The tab-like extension projects, in the connected state of the conductors, at least into the opening of the housing in a visually well-visible manner, so that it is visible from outside the housing. The lug-like extension preferably has a smaller width and/or a smaller thickness than the rest of the actuating element.

For actuating the actuating element, the actuating element can have a tool receiving region, wherein the display element is then preferably arranged adjacent to the tool receiving region. The tool receiving region can be formed, for example, in the form of a slot, in order to be able to receive a tool, such as a screwdriver. By arranging the display element adjacent to the tool receiving region, the display element can at the same time form a guide aid for the tool during its movement toward the tool receiving region. Furthermore, the display element can be designed as an abutment edge for a tool introduced into the tool receiving region when the actuating element is actuated by means of the tool.

The actuating element can preferably act together with a spring element. The spring element can be used to bias the actuating element by the spring, in particular in the release position of the clamping leg of the clamping spring. In the release position of the clamping leg, the actuating element can be held in its position at the guide element in such a way that the actuating element can be pressed against the guide element by the pressure exerted by the spring element on the actuating element. For this purpose, the guide element can have an undercut which, in the release position of the clamping leg of the clamping spring, can interact with an undercut formed on the actuating element in such a way that the two undercuts can engage one another. In this way, in the release position of the clamping leg, a movement of the actuating element against the actuating direction can be prevented, so that in the release position the actuating element remains immersed in the housing and thus the display element arranged on the actuating element is not visible to the user. If the display element is not visible to the user, the user knows that the clamping leg is in the release position and that the conductor can be introduced into the conductor connection chamber. The spring element is preferably constructed in the form of a helical spring. The spring element can be arranged between a wall of the housing and the actuating element and be tensioned. This wall of the housing preferably extends into the interior of the housing in such a way that it is arranged transversely to the rear wall of the housing.

The actuating element is preferably integrated into the housing. The actuating element can then be supported in the housing and can be guided linearly in a guide opening formed in the housing in order to deflect the clamping leg from the clamping position into the release position.

The actuating element can be designed such that it encloses the clamping spring in a U-shaped manner. In particular, the actuating element can surround or overlap the clamping spring in the region of the arc-shaped section of the clamping spring. The actuating element can thus surround the clamping spring in the form of a hood.

The actuating element may have a first actuating finger and a second actuating finger opposite the first actuating finger, wherein a side wall of the actuating element may extend between the first actuating finger and the second actuating finger, which side wall may at least partially laterally cover the clamping spring. If the housing is open on one side, the clamping spring can be held in its position on the bearing point via the actuating element or a side wall of the actuating element, so that the clamping spring can be prevented from slipping out of the housing. The first actuating finger is preferably used to actuate the clamping leg of the clamping spring. The second actuating finger preferably covers a partial section of the retaining leg of the clamping spring. When the clamping spring is actuated by means of the actuating element, the actuating element can exert a force on the clamping leg via its first actuating finger and the second actuating finger can be simultaneously guided along the holding leg.

However, the actuating element can also have only one actuating finger, wherein this actuating finger is used to actuate the clamping leg. The actuating element then preferably has an L-shape, viewed in cross section.

In order to be able to form a functional connection between the guide element and the clamping leg of the clamping spring, it can be provided that the guide element has at least one spring contact edge, against which the clamping leg can be brought into contact. The spring contact edge can be designed such that the clamping leg or at least a part of the clamping leg can contact the spring contact edge, in particular in the release position. The spring contact edge preferably extends in the direction of insertion of the conductor into the connecting device. The spring contact edge therefore preferably extends transversely to the direction of movement of the guide element. Depending on the size of the diameter of the conductor to be inserted and clamped, at least a part of the clamping leg can also abut against the spring abutment edge in the clamping position.

In order to be able to achieve a uniform guidance of the guide element and of the clamping legs of the clamping spring, two such spring contact edges can be formed at the guide element, so that the clamping legs can be guided at the guide element via the two such spring contact edges. The two spring contact edges preferably extend parallel to one another at the guide element.

In this embodiment, it is possible for the clamping leg to have two sliding sections which are each arranged laterally to the main section with the clamping edge, and for the guide element to have two spring contact edges which are arranged at a distance from one another, wherein the first sliding section can be brought into contact with the first spring contact edge and the second sliding section can be brought into contact with the second spring contact edge. The two sliding sections preferably each have a shorter length than the main section of the clamping leg. The main section and the two sliding sections preferably extend parallel to each other. The two sliding sections are preferably each formed in a curved manner, so that they each form a sliding plate (Gleitkufe), which can each slide along the spring contact edge. Instead, the primary section is preferably straight.

If, in order to transfer the clamping leg from the clamping position into the release position, a pressure force is exerted on the clamping leg by means of the actuating element, this pressure force is preferably transmitted from the clamping leg of the clamping spring to the guide element, so that the guide element is also moved by a pivoting movement of the clamping leg away from the current rod until the guide element can be brought into engagement with the trigger element. For this purpose, the guide element can have a mating abutment edge, on which the clamping legs can exert a force on the guide element when being transferred from the clamping position into the release position. The clamping leg can therefore be pressed onto the mating abutment edge when being transferred from the clamping position into the release position in order to move the guide element. The guide element can thus follow the movement of the clamping leg when the clamping leg is transferred from the clamping position into the release position. The clamping leg can preferably exert a force on the guide element via its sliding section.

Preferably, the guide element has two mating abutment edges arranged spaced apart from one another and the clamping leg also preferably has two sliding sections, so that the two sliding sections of the clamping leg can be pressed simultaneously against the two mating abutment edges of the guide element to move the guide element when the clamping leg is moved from the clamping position into the release position.

Preferably, the at least one mating abutment edge is arranged opposite the at least one spring abutment edge. The clamping leg or the sliding section of the clamping leg can thus be alternately placed against the spring contact edge and the counter contact edge of the guide element as a function of the movement of the clamping leg.

The at least one guide element may have a slot-like recess, wherein the at least one spring contact edge and the at least one mating contact edge may be formed in the region of the at least one slot-like recess. The slot-like recess preferably extends into the guide element. A part of the clamping leg, in particular a sliding section of the clamping leg, can be inserted and guided in the interior of the slot-like recess. Preferably, the guide element has two slot-like recesses arranged opposite one another, at which a spring contact edge and a mating contact edge are formed in each case, so that the two sliding sections of the clamping leg can be engaged with the guide element symmetrically to one another via the two slot-like recesses. Both the spring contact edge and the mating contact edge can each form a partial section of the delimiting wall of the slot-like recess.

The guide element is preferably movable in such a way that the movement of the guide element can be performed transversely to the introduction direction of the conductor to be connected into the conductor connection chamber. In this way, a particularly compact design can be achieved, whereby the connecting device can be characterized by a reduced installation space.

In order to be able to release the triggering element from the guide element and thus disengage it from the guide element by means of a conductor introduced into the conductor connection chamber, the triggering element can be mounted so as to be tiltable relative to the guide element. The trigger element can thus be designed to pivot. If the conductor to be connected is pressed against the triggering element, the triggering element can be tilted in the introduction direction of the conductor to disengage the guide element, thereby releasing the guide element so that the guide element can move freely again.

In order to be able to configure the engagement of the trigger element with the guide element in the release position of the clamping leg of the clamping spring, the trigger element can have at least one undercut which can be latched with at least one latching nose of the guide element in the release position of the clamping leg of the clamping spring. In this way, a latching connection can be formed between the guide element and the triggering element when the clamping leg of the clamping spring is in the release position. Preferably, the trigger element has two undercuts and the guide element preferably has two latching noses, so that a dual-action latch can be formed between the guide element and the trigger element. If two undercuts are provided, they are preferably formed on two sides of the triggering element which extend parallel to one another. The trigger element may have a T-shape in the area of the two undercuts.

Preferably, it can be provided that the guide element has two longitudinal side walls arranged parallel to one another, which define a conductor connection chamber at a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The guide element can thus also form a guide for the conductor to be connected when this conductor is introduced into the conductor connection chamber. The two longitudinal side walls can prevent the conductors from being inserted wrongly. The conductor connection chamber can therefore be bounded on both sides by the guide element and on the other two sides by the current bar and by the clamping legs of the clamping spring. The spring contact edge and/or the mating contact edge can be formed on both longitudinal side walls.

The connection device can be, for example, a connection terminal, a terminal block (Reihenklemme) or a part of a plug connector. A plurality of connection points can also be provided in the housing of the connection device, wherein each connection point has a respective current rod, a respective clamping spring, a respective actuating element, a respective guide element and a respective trigger element, so that the connection points arranged in the housing are preferably all of identical design.

It is also possible to provide a connecting terminal arrangement which can have a plurality of connecting terminals arranged in a row with one another, which can each have at least one connecting device of the aforementioned, constructed and improved design.

The solution according to the object of the invention can furthermore be achieved by means of an electronic device which can have at least one connecting device as described above, constructed and improved.

Drawings

The invention is explained in detail below with the aid of preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings.

Showing:

fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a connecting device according to the invention, with the clamping legs of the clamping spring in the clamping position,

fig. 2 shows a schematic view of the connection device shown in fig. 1, wherein the clamping legs of the clamping spring are in the release position,

figure 3 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the connecting device shown in figure 3,

fig. 4 shows a schematic view of another connecting device according to the invention, wherein the clamping legs of the clamping spring are in the clamping position,

FIG. 5 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the connecting device shown in FIG. 4, and

fig. 6 shows a schematic view of the connection device shown in fig. 4, with the clamping leg of the clamping spring in the release position.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 to 6 show two different connection devices 100. Both connection devices 100 have a housing 140, which may be constructed of an insulating material. The two connecting devices shown in fig. 1 to 6 are constructed identically, except for the actuating element 129.

In the housing 140, a current bar 110 and a clamping spring 111 in the form of a spring leg (schenkelfoder) are arranged. The clamping spring 111 has a holding leg 112 and a clamping leg 113. The holding leg 112 is connected to the clamping leg 113 via an arc-shaped section 141. The retaining leg 112 is held in a fixed position, while the clamping leg 113 can be deflected relative to the retaining leg 112. By means of a pivoting movement of the clamping leg 113, it can be moved into the clamping position shown in fig. 1, 4 and 5 and into the release position shown in fig. 2, 3 and 6.

In the clamping position, the clamping leg 113 presses against the section 114 of the current bar 110 or against a conductor introduced into the connecting device 100 in order to clamp and connect the conductor relative to the section 114 of the current bar 110. In the release position, the clamping leg 113 is positioned at a distance from the section 114 of the current bar 110, so that a conductor can be introduced into the free space formed thereby, which forms a conductor connection chamber 124 between the section 114 of the current bar 110 and the clamping leg 113.

Furthermore, the connecting device 100 has a guide element 115. The guide element 115 is in particular mounted so as to be movable relative to the current bar 110, so that the guide element 115 can execute a horizontal displacement movement V.

The clamping leg 113 of the clamping spring 111 can be held in the release position by means of the guide element 115. For this purpose, the guide element 115 is operatively connected to the clamping leg 113 of the clamping spring 111.

In the embodiment shown here, the guide element 115 has two

spring contact edges

116a, 116b arranged parallel to one another, along which the clamping leg 113 can be guided.

The clamping leg 113 has a main section 117, at the free end of which a clamping edge 118 is formed, as can be seen in the sectional views of fig. 3 and 5. Two sliding

sections

119a, 119b are formed on the side of the main section 117, so that the main section 117 is arranged between the two sliding

sections

119a, 119 b. The two sliding

sections

119a, 119b bear against the two

spring contact edges

116a, 116b of the guide element 115 at least in the release position and when the guide element is transferred from the release position into the clamping position, the sliding section 119a bearing against the spring contact edge 116a and the sliding section 119b bearing against the spring contact edge 116 b.

The sliding

sections

119a, 119b have a shorter length than the main section 117. The sliding

sections

119a, 119b are designed to be curved, so that they form a sliding plate shape, by means of which the sliding

sections

119a, 119b can slide along on the

spring contact edges

116a, 116b when the clamping leg 113 is transferred into the clamping position (enthanglleiten).

The two

spring contact edges

116a, 116b are formed on

longitudinal side walls

120a, 120b of the guide element 115 which lie opposite one another. The two

longitudinal side walls

120a, 120b are arranged parallel to each other. The two

longitudinal side walls

120a, 120b have an

upper edge

121a, 121b and an opposite

lower edge

122a, 122b, respectively. The

spring abutment edges

116a, 116b extend substantially perpendicular to the

upper edges

121a, 121b, respectively. The

spring contact edges

116a, 116b extend from the horizontally extending

upper edges

121a, 121b in the direction of the horizontally extending

lower edges

122a, 122b of the guide element 115.

The current bar 110 and the clamping spring 111 are arranged between two

longitudinal side walls

120a, 120b of the guide element 115. The current bar 110 and the clamping spring 111 are surrounded by a guide element 115.

The guide element 115 also has two

end walls

123a, 123b, which are oriented parallel to one another. The two

end walls

123a, 123b are arranged transversely to the two

longitudinal side walls

120a, 120b of the guide element 115.

Between the section 114 of the current bar 110 and the clamping leg 113, a conductor connection chamber 124 is formed, into which a conductor to be connected can be introduced. The conductor connection chamber 124 is laterally covered or delimited by two

longitudinal side walls

120a, 120b of the guide element 115, so that the guide element 115 is also configured as a guide for the conductor to be connected.

The conductor connection chamber 124 is formed in alignment with a conductor insertion opening 143 formed in the housing 140, through which a conductor to be connected can be inserted into the housing 140 of the connection device 100 in an insertion direction E.

The connection device 100 also has a trigger element 125. The trigger element 125 is arranged in alignment with the conductor introduction opening 143 and the conductor connection chamber 124. The trigger element 125 downwardly defines a conductor connection chamber 124.

In the release position of the clamping leg 113 of the clamping spring 111, the triggering element 125 engages with the guide element 115, as can be seen in fig. 2, 3 and 6, as a result of which the guide element 115 is held in its position and thus also holds the clamping leg 113 in its position via the

spring contact edges

116a, 116b and the sliding

sections

119a, 119b, so that an undesired swinging back of the clamping leg 113 from the release position into the clamping position can be prevented.

The trigger element 125 has two laterally arranged undercuts (Hinterschnitte)126 which, in the release position of the clamping leg 113 of the clamping spring 111, engage in each case a catch nose (Rastnase)127a, 127b of the guide element 115 in order to form a catch between the guide element 115 and the trigger element 125. The detent nose 127a is configured at the lower edge 122a of the longitudinal side wall 120a, and the detent nose 127b is configured at the lower edge 122b of the longitudinal side wall 120 b.

In the clamped position, the trigger element 125 is disengaged from the guide element 115, as can be seen in fig. 1, 3 and 4, so that the guide element 115 can move freely.

The triggering element 125 is supported in an inclinable manner relative to the guide element 115.

When the conductor to be connected is introduced into the conductor connection chamber 124 along the introduction direction E via the conductor introduction opening 143, the conductor strikes the trigger element 125, whereby the trigger element 125 is tilted relative to the guide element 115 and thereby comes out of engagement with the guide element 115, so that the guide element 115 is again freely movable and whereby the guide element 115 can be moved without manual assistance solely by the spring force of the clamping leg 113 in such a way that the clamping leg 113 can be transferred from the release position into the clamping position.

The triggering element 125 has a pressure surface 128 pointing in the direction of the conductor connection chamber 124, which is arranged in alignment with the conductor insertion opening 143 or in alignment with the conductor connection chamber 124, so that the conductor, when being introduced into the connecting device 100 in the insertion direction E, strikes against the pressure surface 128 of the triggering element 125, whereby a pressure is exerted by the conductor on the triggering element 125. By applying a pressure force to the pressure surface 128 and thus to the trigger element 125 by means of the conductor, the trigger element 125 can be set into a deflecting or tilting motion in the direction of the introduction direction E of the conductor, so that the trigger element 125 can be deflected away (wegverschweiken) or tilted away (wegverkippen) from the guide element 115 in the introduction direction E of the conductor.

When the guide element 115 is disengaged from the triggering element 125, the displacement movement V of the guide element 115 takes place in a direction oriented transversely to the introduction direction E of the conductor to be connected into the conductor connection chamber 124.

Furthermore,

mating abutment edges

142a, 142b are formed on both

longitudinal side walls

120a, 120b, respectively. When the clamping leg 113 is transferred from the clamping position into the release position, the clamping leg 113 with its two sliding

sections

119a, 119b is pressed against the two

mating abutment edges

142a, 142b, as can be seen in fig. 2, 3 and 6, whereby the guide element 115 follows the deflection movement of the clamping leg 113 and is moved by the displacement movement V so far that the guide element 115 with its latching

noses

127a, 127b engages with the trigger element 125 and hooks behind there.

The two

mating abutment edges

142a, 142b are arranged opposite the

spring abutment edges

116a, 116b at the respective

longitudinal side walls

120a, 120b of the guide element 115.

The

longitudinal side walls

120a, 120b each have a slot-

like recess

154a, 154b, into which the clamping leg 113 is inserted with its two sliding

sections

119a, 119 b. The

spring abutment edges

116a, 116b and the mating abutment edges 142, 142b of the

longitudinal side walls

120a, 120b respectively form part of the delimiting walls of the slit-

like recesses

154a, 154b of the respective

longitudinal side walls

120a, 120 b. The two slot-

like cutouts

154a, 154b are formed symmetrically or parallel to one another at the two

longitudinal side walls

120a, 120 b.

The clamping spring 111 is suspended via its curved section 141 at a bearing point 145. The bearing points 145 are designed in the form of pins (Zapfen) which project from the rear wall 146 of the housing 140.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in fig. 1 to 6, the transfer of the clamping leg 113 from the clamping position into the release position takes place by means of the actuating element 129. The connecting devices 100 shown in fig. 1 to 6 are identical to one another, except for the shaping of the actuating element 129.

In the embodiments shown in fig. 1 to 3, but also in fig. 4 to 6, the actuating element 129 is integrated into the housing 140, and the actuating element 129 is guided linearly in the actuating direction B in a guide opening 147 in the housing 140. The guide opening 147 extends parallel to the conductor insertion opening 143, so that the actuating direction B of the actuating element 129 is directed into the housing 140 parallel to the insertion direction E of the conductor.

A display element 156 is arranged on each of the actuating elements 129 of the two embodiments for displaying the connection state of the electrical conductors to be connected. The display element 156 is formed at the free end of the actuating element 129, wherein this free end is formed by the upper side 150 of the actuating element 129. The display element 156 extends from the upper side 150 of the actuating element 129, so that the display element 156 points away from the guide element 115 and the clamping spring 111.

As can be seen in fig. 2, 3 and 6, in the release position of the clamping spring 111, the actuating element 129 is recessed into the housing 140 in the actuating direction B to such an extent that the display element 156 is located inside the housing 140 and is therefore not visible to the user from the outside.

When the clamping spring 111 is transferred from the release position into the clamping position, the actuating element 129 is moved upward, wherein when the clamping position is reached the actuating element 129 is moved upward so far that the display element 156 is visible to the user through the opening 157 of the housing 140, as can be seen in particular in fig. 1, 4 and 5. This opening 157 opens into the guide opening 147. The user can perceive that the conductors are connected by the positioning of the display element 156 in the opening 157. The opening 157 is disposed on the same side of the housing 140 as the conductor introduction opening 143.

In the embodiment shown here, the display element 156 is formed in the form of a web-like extension at the end section or upper side 150 of the actuating element 129. In the clamped position of the clamping spring 111, the display element 156 projects with at least one partial section of the tab-like extension into the opening 157 of the housing 140, so that this part of the tab-like extension or of the display element 156 is visible to the user from outside the housing 140. The display element 156 has a smaller width and/or a smaller depth or thickness than the rest of the manipulating element 129.

At the end section or the top side 150, which is also configured with a display element 156, the actuating element 129 has a tool receiving region 158 into which a tool, such as a screwdriver, can be inserted for actuating the actuating element 129. The tool receiving region 158 is configured in the form of a groove or slot at the upper side 150. The display element 156 is disposed directly adjacent to the tool receiving area 158. A further opening 159 is formed in the housing 140, through which a tool can be guided into the tool receiving region 158. This opening 159 likewise opens into the guide opening 147. The opening 159 is disposed directly adjacent to the opening 157 or alongside the opening 157.

In both embodiments shown here, the actuating element 129 interacts with a spring element 160. When the clamping leg 113 is transferred from the clamping position into the release position, the spring element 160 is pressed together and thereby tensioned by the movement of the actuating element 129 in the actuating direction B.

In order to keep the actuating element 129 immersed in the housing 140 in the release position, the actuating element 129 is hooked onto the guide element 115 in the release position. For this purpose, the guide element 115 has an undercut 161 which can interact with an undercut 162 of the actuating element 129 in such a way that the two

undercuts

161, 162 can hook into one another in the release position, as can be seen, for example, in fig. 2 and 6. The two

undercuts

161, 162 have the shape of a latching nose or a hook or a curved section, respectively.

The undercut 161 of the guide element 115 is formed at both

longitudinal side walls

120a, 120b of the guide element 115. Therefore, the two undercuts 161 are formed symmetrically to one another on the guide element 115. The undercuts 161 are each formed at the transition of the

upper edge

121a, 121b of the respective

longitudinal side wall

120a, 120b of the guide element 115 to the

spring contact edge

116a, 116 b.

The undercut 162 of the actuating element 129 extends over the entire width or depth of the actuating element 129, so that one undercut 162 of the actuating element 129 interacts with the two undercuts 161 of the guide element 115.

The spring element 160 is positioned in such a way that the pressure of the spring element 160 acts counter to the actuating direction B of the actuating element 129. The spring element 160 is arranged within the guide opening 147 between the body 163 of the actuating element 129 and the clamping spring 111. The main body 163 extends transversely to the actuating direction B of the actuating element 129. A display element 156 and a tool receiving region 158 are formed on the body 163.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 1 to 3, the first actuating finger 151 extends from the main body 163 in the direction of the clamping leg 113 of the clamping spring 111 in order to actuate the clamping leg 113. The manipulation finger 151 extends along a manipulation direction B. The actuating finger 151 is guided laterally past the spring element 160. An undercut 162 is formed on the first actuating finger 151, wherein the undercut 162 is formed on a free end of the actuating finger 151, via which free end the actuation of the clamping leg 113 is also carried out.

In contrast to the embodiment shown in fig. 1 to 3, the actuating element 129 shown in fig. 4 to 6 has a second actuating finger 152 in addition to the first actuating finger 151. The second actuating finger 152, like the first actuating finger 151, extends from the main body 163 of the actuating element 129 in the actuating direction B in the direction of the clamping spring 111. The second actuating finger 152 is therefore also guided laterally past the spring element 160. The first actuating finger 151 runs parallel to the second actuating finger 152. Here, an undercut 162 is also formed on the first actuating finger 151 for interacting with an undercut 161 of the guide element 115.

As can be seen in particular in the sectional view of fig. 5, in the embodiment shown in fig. 4 to 6, the actuating element 129 encompasses the clamping spring 111 in a U-shaped manner by means of the two actuating

fingers

151, 152. The actuating element 129 has a recess 148, and the clamping spring 111 is lowered into the recess 148, in particular in the region of its arc-shaped section 141, so that the actuating element 129 surrounds or overlaps the clamping spring 111. The actuating element 129 can therefore surround the clamping spring 111 in the form of a hood. The recess 148 is formed in the center of the actuating element 129. The recess 148 extends from a lower side 149 of the actuating element 129, which is oriented in the direction of the clamping spring 111, in the direction of an upper side 150 of the actuating element 129.

The recess 148 is delimited laterally by two actuating

fingers

151, 152. The clearance 148 is defined upwardly by the body 163.

Inside this recess 148, a spring element 160 is also arranged. The spring element 160 is arranged between the arc-shaped section 141 of the clamping spring 111 and the body 163 of the actuating element 129.

A side wall 152 of the actuating element 129 extends between the first actuating finger 151 and the second actuating finger 152, which side wall at least partially laterally covers the clamping spring 111, as can be seen in particular in fig. 4. In particular in the region of the arc-shaped section 141, the side wall 152 laterally covers the clamping spring 111. The housing 140 has only the rear wall 146 and no opposite front wall, and the housing 140 is therefore configured open on one side, so that the clamping spring 111 is held in its position at the bearing point 145 via the actuating element 129 or the side wall 152 of the actuating element 129, so that the clamping spring 111 can be prevented from sliding out of the housing 140 by the side wall 152 of the actuating element 129 in the region of the front side, in which the housing 140 has no walls.

The underside 149 of the actuating element 129 is formed by the two free ends of the actuating

fingers

151, 152.

The first actuating finger 151 serves to actuate the clamping leg 113 of the clamping spring 111 in such a way that the first actuating finger 151 bears directly against the clamping leg 113 and can slide along it. The second actuating finger 152 is guided substantially parallel to the retaining leg 112 of the clamping spring 111. The arc-shaped section 141 of the clamping spring 111 is arranged between the two actuating

fingers

151, 152.

In both embodiments shown in fig. 1 to 6, the spring element 160 is located on a wall 164 of the housing 140. The wall 164 extends transversely to the actuating direction B of the actuating element 129. The wall 164 is molded at the rear wall 146 of the housing 140. The wall 164 extends at right angles to the rear wall 146 of the housing 140. The spring element 160 is tensioned between this wall 164 and the body 163 of the actuating element 129. The wall 164 extends into the recess 148 of the actuating element 129, so that in the embodiment shown in fig. 4 to 6 the wall 164 is arranged between the two actuating

fingers

151, 152.

In both embodiments shown in fig. 1 to 6, a test opening 155 is also formed at the housing 140, via which a test plug can be inserted into the connecting device 100. The test opening 155 is arranged directly beside the conductor lead-in opening 143.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

100 connecting device

110 current bar

111 clamping spring

112 holding leg

113 clamping leg

114 section of current bar

115 guide element

116a, 116b spring against the edge

117 main section

118 clamping edge

119a, 119b sliding section

120a, 120a longitudinal side walls

121a, 121b upper edge

122a, 122b lower edge

123a, 123b end wall

124 conductor connection chamber

125 trigger element

126 undercut

127a, 127b latch nose

128 pressure surface

129 operating element

140 casing

141 arc segment

142a, 142b fit against the edge

143 conductor lead-in opening

145 support part

146 rear wall

147 guide opening

148 space

149 lower side

150 upper side

151 first manipulation finger

152 second manipulating finger

153 side wall

154a, 154b gap-like hollow portions

155 test opening

156 display element

157 opening

158 tool receiving area

159 opening of the container

160 spring element

161 side recess

162 undercut

163 main body

164 wall

V movement

E direction of introduction

B manipulating the direction.

Claims

1. A connecting device (100) for connecting electrical conductors has

-a housing (140),

-a current bar (110),

a clamping spring (111) having a clamping leg (113) which can be transferred into a clamping position and a release position,

an actuating element (129) by means of which a pressure can be applied to the clamping leg (113) in order to transfer the clamping leg (113) from the clamping position into the release position, wherein the actuating element (129) has a display element (156) for displaying the connection state of the electrical conductor,

a conductor connection chamber (124) formed between a section (114) of the current bar (110) and the clamping leg (113) of the clamping spring (111),

-a movably arranged guide element (115) which is operatively connected to the clamping leg (113) of the clamping spring (111), wherein the clamping leg (113) can be held in a release position by means of the guide element (115), and

-a trigger element (125) which, in the release position of the clamping leg (113) of the clamping spring (111), engages with the guide element (115), wherein, when a conductor to be connected is introduced into the conductor connection chamber (124), the trigger element (125) can be actuated by the conductor in such a way that the trigger element (125) is brought out of engagement with the guide element (115), and the guide element (115) can be moved by the spring force of the clamping leg (113) in such a way that the clamping leg (113) is transferred into the clamping position in order to clamp the conductor to the current bar (110).

2. Connection device (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the display element (156) is configured at an end section of the operating element (129), wherein, in the connected state of the conductors, the display element (156) is visible from outside the housing (140) via an opening (157) of the housing (140).

3. The connecting device (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the display element (156) is configured in the form of a tab-like extension at the end section of the operating element (129).

4. The connecting device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the actuating element (129) has a tool receiving region (158), wherein the display element (156) is arranged adjacent to the tool receiving region (158).

5. Connection device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the operating element (129) acts together with a spring element (160).

6. The connecting device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the actuating element (129) is supported in the housing (140) and can be guided linearly in a guide opening (147) formed in the housing (140).

7. Connecting device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the actuating element (129) encloses the clamping spring (111) in a U-shaped manner.

8. Connecting device (100) according to claim 7, characterized in that the actuating element (129) has a first actuating finger (151) and a second actuating finger (152) opposite the first actuating finger (151), wherein a side wall (153) of the actuating element (129) extends between the first actuating finger (151) and the second actuating finger (152), which side wall at least partially laterally covers the clamping spring (111).

9. The connecting device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the guide element (115) has at least one spring contact edge (116a, 116b) at which the clamping leg (113) contacts.

10. The connecting device (100) according to claim 9, characterised in that the clamping leg (113) has two sliding sections (119a, 119b) which are each arranged laterally to the main section (117) with the clamping edge (118), and the guide element (115) has two spring contact edges (116a, 116b) which are arranged at a distance from one another, wherein a first sliding section (119a, 119b) bears against a first spring contact edge (116a, 116b) and a second sliding section (119a, 119b) bears against a second spring contact edge (116a, 116 b).

11. The connecting device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the guide element (115) has at least one mating abutment edge (142a, 142b) at which the clamping leg (113) exerts a force on the guide element (115) when being transferred from the clamping position into the release position.

12. The connection device (100) according to claim 11, wherein the at least one mating abutment edge (142a, 142b) is arranged opposite the at least one spring abutment edge (116a, 116 b).

13. The connecting device (100) according to claim 11 or 12, characterised in that the at least one guide element (115) has a slot-like recess (154a, 154b), wherein the at least one spring contact edge (116a, 116b) and the at least one mating contact edge (142a, 142b) are formed in the region of the at least one slot-like recess (154a, 154 b).

14. Connecting device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterised in that the guide element (115) is displaceable in such a way that a displacement movement (B) of the guide element (115) takes place transversely to an introduction direction (E) of a conductor to be connected into the conductor connection chamber (124).

15. The connecting device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterised in that the triggering element (125) is supported in an inclinable manner with respect to the guide element (115).

16. The connecting device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterised in that the triggering element (125) has at least one undercut (126) which latches with at least one latching nose (127a, 127b) of the guide element (115) in the release position of the clamping leg (113) of the clamping spring (111).

17. Connecting device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the guide element (115) has two longitudinal side walls (120a, 120b) arranged parallel to one another, which define the conductor connection chamber (124) at a first side and a second side opposite the first side.

18. An electronic device having at least one connecting device (100) constructed according to any one of claims 1 to 17.