CN115939791A

CN115939791A - Connecting device for connecting electrical conductors

Info

Publication number: CN115939791A
Application number: CN202211230602.7A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 维克托·布勃; 拉尔夫·霍普曼; 米夏埃尔·雷纳克; 凯文·贝格哈恩
Original assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2021-10-06
Filing date: 2022-10-08
Publication date: 2023-04-07
Also published as: DE102021125900A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a connecting device (1) for connecting electrical conductors (2), comprising a housing (10), a current bar (11), a clamping element (12) having a clamping section (120) which can be transferred from a clamping position, in which the electrical conductor (2) can be clamped against the current bar (11), to a release position, and a slider (13) which is slidably supported on the housing (10) for transferring the clamping section (120) from the clamping position to the release position. A lever (14) which is mounted so as to be pivotable about a rotational axis (D) at a bearing point (106) fixed to the housing is provided, by means of which lever the slider (13) can be moved relative to the housing (10).

Description

Connecting device for connecting electrical conductors

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a connecting device for connecting electrical conductors according to the preamble of claim 1.

Background

Electrical connection devices of different design are known from practice. In the screw terminal, for example, an electric wire is inserted into the insertion opening with the conductor end portion thereof being deinsulated, and then is fixed in a clamping manner in the screw terminal by screwing. In the spring terminal, the electrical conductor is inserted into the insertion opening opposite thereto and is in contact with the arm of the spring, wherein the spring acts on the electrical conductor such that the electrical conductor is mechanically locked and is also in electrical contact, for example, with a current bar.

In such a connection device, it is desirable to be able to easily connect electrical conductors. It is advantageous here that the connecting device is automatically closed when the electrical conductor is inserted, for example, the clamping element is automatically transferred from the release position into the clamping position in order to make safe and reliable contact with the electrical conductor inserted into the insertion opening of the housing. The contacting, in particular the automatic triggering, should generally be possible not only for relatively rigid electrical conductors, for example core wire terminal sleeves or wires arranged on the electrical conductors, but also for electrical conductors which are inserted with relatively low insertion forces into the insertion opening of the housing, for example in the form of litz wires.

DE 10 2019 141 A1 describes a connecting device of the type mentioned at the outset.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the invention is to provide a connection device for connecting electrical conductors which is as easy to handle as possible.

This object is solved by the subject matter having the features of claim 1.

Accordingly, a connecting device for connecting electrical conductors is provided, comprising a housing, a current bar, a clamping element having a clamping section which can be transferred from a clamping position, in which an electrical conductor can be clamped against the current bar, to a release position, and a slide which is slidably supported on the housing for transferring the clamping section from the clamping position to the release position. A lever is provided which is mounted so as to be pivotable about a rotational axis relative to the housing at a mounting point fixed to the housing, by means of which lever the slider can be moved relative to the housing.

This allows a well-defined pivoting movement of the lever, wherein the tendency of parts to jam is particularly low, and the connecting device is therefore particularly easy to handle.

The housing may comprise a slide groove, by means of which the slide is movably supported. This allows a particularly well-defined movement of the slide. For example, the slider contacts the clamping section. The slide is arranged, for example, in such a way that a displacement of the slide relative to the housing forces the clamping section out of the clamping position into the release position. The clamping section is resiliently pretensioned into the clamping position, for example by a spring.

In one embodiment, the slot is widened at a certain point. For example, the runner includes, along its course, a first section and a second section, the second section being wider in a direction perpendicular to its course than the first section. For example, a wider second section is formed at one end of the chute. The wider second section allows the slide to move along the slide slot perpendicular to the direction of displacement.

Optionally, the slide has a pin which engages with the slide groove, in particular a pin which is guided in the slide groove. In this way, the sliding path of the slider can be accurately preset.

Optionally, the housing comprises a further slide groove, for example, by means of which the slide is supported in a movable manner relative to the housing. In this case, it can be provided that the two sliding grooves have different shapes and/or orientations. This achieves a combined translational and rotational movement. For example, one of the runners is at least partially linear and/or one of the runners is at least partially curved.

The slider can have a latching edge which can latch with a housing edge, for example. For example, the catch can be released by moving the pin of the slide in a widened section of the slide groove in a direction different from the main direction of extension of the slide groove.

The slider optionally has a trigger surface that can be contacted by an electrical conductor inserted through the insertion opening of the housing. Since the slider itself provides the triggering surface, the connecting device can be constructed with particularly few components and therefore with particularly simple construction.

In a further development, the slider can be moved relative to the housing by pressure exerted on the trigger surface by an electrical conductor inserted into the insertion opening, in particular such that a latching edge of the slider is disengaged from and released from an edge of the housing. This enables intuitive operation with a simple structure.

For example, the lever has a lever arm with an actuating region which interacts with a surface, for example a concave surface, of the slide. This makes it possible, by means of a pivoting movement of the lever about a bearing point fixed to the housing, to displace the slider relative to the housing and at the same time to exert a lateral pressure on the rear region of the slider. Whereby the slide is easily and securely snapped into snap engagement with the edge of the housing.

The lever may also have a lever arm that can be manipulated by a user, for example, manually and/or by a tool. This enables a simple and intuitive operation.

The lever can be designed such that the axis of rotation is arranged between the two lever arms. For example, both lever arms emanate from the axis of rotation. The lever arms may be arranged on opposite sides of the rotation axis. This allows a compact outer shape and good ergonomics.

The slide is arranged, for example, between the lever and the clamping element, at least as a major part of the slide. This achieves an efficient force transmission. When actuated, the lever exerts pressure on the slide, for example, and/or the slide exerts pressure on the clamping section.

The support point may be in the form of a (physical) axis. For example, the lever has a receptacle in which the shaft is received. This enables a simple assembly and a firm support of the lever.

Alternatively, the clamping element is designed in the form of a spring, in particular in the form of a leg spring having two legs which can be elastically deflected relative to one another. The clamping section can be elastically pretensioned into the clamping position. In this case, it can be provided that the clamping section is formed by one leg and/or that the holding section, which is supported in a positionally fixed manner relative to the housing, is formed by (another) leg. This enables the clamping section to be automatically pushed to a predetermined position, for example a clamping position.

In the release position, the clamping section can be elastically tensioned relative to the holding section. This allows the clamping section to be resiliently pressed into the clamping position.

Drawings

The idea on which the invention is based will be explained in more detail below with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawings. In the figure:

fig. 1 shows a view of a connecting device for connecting electrical conductors, with a housing, a current bar, a clamping element, a slide and a lever;

FIGS. 2A-2C illustrate cross-sectional views of the coupling device showing the clamping member, slider and lever in various positions;

FIG. 3 shows a view of the slider;

FIG. 4 shows a view of a lever;

FIG. 5 shows a view of the housing; and

fig. 6 shows a view of the connection device with inserted electrical conductors.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1-6 show a connection device 1 capable of connecting electrical conductors 2.

The connecting device 1 comprises a housing 10, on which an insertion opening 104 is formed, into which an electrical conductor 2 can be inserted in an insertion direction E. The housing 10 delimits an interior space 100 (in the form of a chamber) into which an electrical conductor 2 can be introduced with a (de-insulated) conductor end by inserting the insertion opening 104 in order to make electrical contact in the interior space 100 with a current bar 11 arranged in the housing 10. Optionally, the housing 10 is closed by a cover, not shown in the figures. The housing 10 is made of an insulating material, such as plastic.

The current bar 11 has a bar section 110 which extends linearly along a wall section of the housing 10, in the present case in the interior 100. In the example shown, the current bar has a connection section which leads out of the housing 10 and is used to establish an electrical connection with further components. The electrical conductor 2 inserted into the inner space 100 may be electrically connected to another component through the current bar 11. A stop 111, here in the form of a protruding edge, is also formed on the current bar 11. A stop 111 is formed on a portion of the strip section 110 which extends parallel to the insertion direction E. Furthermore, the current bar 11 also has an abutment section 112 which in the present case projects from the bar section 110. The abutment section 112 is arranged on one side of the interior space 100 and the stop 111 is arranged on the opposite side thereof.

In order to reliably bring the inserted electrical conductor 2 into electrical contact with the current bar 11, the connecting device 1 comprises a clamping element 12 with a clamping section 120 which can be transferred from a clamping position, in which the electrical conductor 2 can be clamped against the current bar 11 by means of the clamping section 120, into a release position. The clamped position is shown in fig. 1, 2A and 6 and the released position is shown in fig. 2B and 2C.

The clamping element 12 is designed in the form of a curved spring element, here in the form of a leg spring. In the present case, the clamping element 12 is formed in one piece, for example by stamping and bending a piece of spring steel. The clamping section 120 is formed by one leg of a leg spring. The holding section 122 of the clamping element 12 is formed by the other leg. The holding section 122 and the clamping section 120 are connected to one another by a bend 121. The holding section 122 rests in the housing 10 against the resting section 112 of the current bar 11.

The clamping section 120 can be displaced relative to the holding section 122, wherein in particular the bending section 121 is elastically bent (its curvature changes). The bent portion 121 extends around the bracket 101 of the housing 10 in the housing 10. The holding portion 122 bears against the bearing portion 112 of the current bar 11, in this case with the free end of the holding portion 122. This may prevent the holding section 122 from being moved out of its holding position when the clamping section 120 is displaced relative to the housing 10.

In the clamped position, the clamping section 120 bears against the current bar 11 or against the electrical conductor 2 arranged between the current bar 11 and the clamping section 120. In particular, the clamping section 120 has a clamping edge 123 which stops at the stop 111 in the clamping position when the inner space 100 is free and which presses against the electrical conductor 2 when the electrical conductor 2 is arranged in the inner space 100. The stopper 111 limits the moving range of the clamping section 120.

If the electrical conductor 2 is inserted into the insertion opening 104, the legs of the clamping element 12, which serve as clamping sections 120, act on the electrical conductor 2, so that the electrical conductor 2 is mechanically locked and also makes electrical contact with the current bar 11.

In the release position, the clamping section 120 is disposed at a position closer to the holding section 122 than the clamping position. In the release position, the electrical conductor 2 arranged in the inner space 100 may be removed.

The clamping section 120 is pretensioned into the clamping position. In order to transfer the clamping section 120 from the clamping position to the release position, the connecting device 1 comprises a slide 13 and a lever 14.

The slider 13 is slidably supported in the housing 10. For this purpose, the housing 10 comprises at least one sliding

slot

102, 103, by means of which the slide 13 is slidably supported. In particular, two

slide grooves

102, 103 are formed in the housing 10 for guiding the slide 13, see in particular fig. 5. The slide 13 has pins 132, 133 (see, e.g., fig. 1 and 5) which are received in the

runners

102, 103. In general, the slider 13 may have at least one

132, 133 that engages the at least one

runner

102, 103.

As can be seen in particular from fig. 5, the

runners

102, 103 each form an elongated guide rail. The

slide grooves

102, 103 are arranged offset from each other in the sliding direction of the slider 13. Further, the

chutes

102, 103 are different in shape. While one runner 103 defines a linear guide, the other runner 102 defines a curved guide. The straight sliding groove 103 extends perpendicularly to the insertion direction E. Furthermore, the

runners

102, 103 are inclined to each other. Thereby, the slider 13 performs translation and rotation while moving along the

slide grooves

102, 103.

The slide 13 is movable along the

slide grooves

102, 103 between a holding position, in which the slide 13 holds the clamping section 120 in the release position, and a connecting position, in which the electrical conductor 2 can be clamped against the current bar 11 by means of the clamping element 12.

The

runners

102, 103 are formed or introduced, for example, in the form of grooves in the housing 10 (and correspondingly in the cover). One of the

runners

102, 103, here the straight runner 103, has a widened section. The chute 103 is thus widened at a certain position. The widened section allows the pin 132 accommodated in the gate 103 to be displaced in a direction at an angle to the course of the guide track of the gate.

Figure 3 shows the slide 13 in detail. The slider 13 has a trigger surface 135 which can be contacted by an electrical conductor 2 inserted through the insertion opening 104 of the housing 10.

In the example shown, the slider 13 comprises two side walls 136 spaced apart from each other, on which two

pins

132, 133 are respectively formed. The side walls 136 with the

pins

132, 133 are formed as mirror images of each other. The sidewalls 136 are interconnected by sections of material forming the trigger surface 135. The protruding foot 137 abuts the trigger surface 135. Furthermore, the side walls 136 are connected to one another by a rear wall, on which the latching edge 131 is formed. In the present case, the latching edge 131 projects relative to the side wall 136.

In the assembled state, the bar section 110 of the current bar 11 extends between the side walls 136 of the slider 13 and between the material section forming the trigger surface 135 and the rear wall.

Furthermore, the side walls 136 each form an actuating region 130 which interacts with the clamping section 120 of the clamping element 12. The actuating regions 130 are each formed on an end side of a respective side wall 136. In the present case, the clamping element 12 comprises two actuating sections 124, between which the part of the clamping section 120 forming the clamping edge 123 projects at an angle to the actuating sections 124. In the example shown, the manipulation section 124 is flat. The actuating regions 130 of the slider are each formed convexly. If the slide 13 is slid in the housing 10, the actuating region 130 of the slide 13 slides on the actuating section 124 of the clamping element 12, so that the clamping section 120 is moved between the clamping position and the release position.

The housing 10 has an edge 105, with which edge 105 a latching edge 131 of the slider 13 can latch. When the slider 13 is in the retaining position, the catch edge 131 engages with the edge 105, thereby securing the slider 13 in this position on the housing 10.

The foot 137 of the slider 13 serves to release the inserted electrical conductor 2 more easily. The feet 137 make it easier for the slider 13 to be inserted under the electrical conductor 2. If the electrical conductor 2 is now inserted into the inner space 100, its end will hit the triggering surface 135. The slider 13 can be displaced relative to the housing 10 by the pressure exerted by the electrical conductor 2 on the triggering surface 135, so that the catch edge 131 of the slider 13 is disengaged from the edge 105 of the housing 10. Specifically, in this case, the slider 13 rotates on the housing 10. The pin 133 here gives a point of rotation. The widened portion of the chute 103 allows this rotation. As a result of the rotation of the slide 13, the catch edge 131 is disengaged from the edge 105 of the housing 10 and the slide 13 is guided by the spring force of the clamping element 12 through the

runners

102, 103 and is moved into the connecting position, see for example fig. 1, 2A and 6.

The lever 14 can be operated to move the slider 13 from the connecting position to the holding position. The lever 14 is mounted on the housing 10 so as to be pivotable about the axis of rotation D at a mounting point 106 fixed relative to the housing 10. The support points 106 are typically formed on or secured to the housing 10. The lever 14 is pivotable relative to the housing 10 between an initial position shown in fig. 1, 2A, 2C and 6 and an operating position shown in fig. 2B. The slider 13 can be moved relative to the housing 10 by means of a lever 14. In the present case, the bearing points 106 are formed by housing pins, usually by shafts (here in particular in the form of screw bosses) formed on the housing 10, see for example fig. 5. Alternatively, for example, a bearing receptacle or a component mounted on the housing is also conceivable.

The lever 14 shown separately in fig. 4 has a receptacle 140, which receptacle 140 is pushed onto the shaft of the housing 10 forming the bearing point 106. The lever 14 has

lever arms

142, 143 on both sides of the receptacle 140. Lever

arms

142, 143 extend in opposite directions from receptacle 140 (and correspondingly from support point 106). The axis of rotation D is arranged between the two

lever arms

142, 143.

One of the lever arms 142 has a handling region 144 on both sides, by means of which the lever arm 142 interacts with the slide 13. The other lever arm 143 may be manipulated by the user, such as manually or using a tool. The lever arm 142 with the actuating region 144 is shorter than the other lever arm 143.

If the lever 14 is actuated at the actuating lever arm 143 and is pivoted relative to the housing 10 about the axis of rotation D from the starting position into the actuating position, the actuating region 144 slides along the surface 134 of the slide 13. The faces 134 of the slider 13 are concavely formed. As the lever 14 pivots about the rotation axis D, the handling area 144 presses the slider 13 along the

runners

102, 103 and pushes the catch edge 131 into engagement with the edge 105 of the housing 10. This locks the clamping section 120 in the clamped position. The lever 14 can then return to the initial position. The connecting device 1 is opened and tensioned. The housing 10 has a stop against which the lever 14 abuts in the initial position and in the operating position, respectively.

If an electrical conductor 2 is inserted, the connection device 1 is automatically triggered and brings the electrical conductor 2 into contact with the current bar 11 in a clamping manner. To unlock the electrical conductor 2 again, the lever 14 is actuated again, so that the slider 13 tensions the clamping element 12 and opens the inner space 100 serving as a connection chamber. When the clamping section 120 is arranged In the clamping position, i.e. not tensioned In the release position, the rigid electrical conductor can also be connected using the Push-In principle (i.e. by simple insertion) regardless of the state of the connecting device 1.

The slide 13 is arranged between the lever 14 and the clamping element 12. When actuated, the lever 14 exerts a force on the slide 13 in one direction, so that the slide exerts a force on the clamping element 12, more precisely on the clamping section 120, in the same direction. The clamping section 120 is arranged between the slide 13 and the holding section 122 (in particular in each position of the slide 13).

A particularly intuitive and comfortable operation can be achieved with the connecting device 1. Furthermore, this mechanism has a particularly low tendency to warp, and the connecting device 1 can also be realized with particularly few components. The connection device 1 allows the clamping element 12 to be triggered automatically and does not require, for example, manual movement of parts of the connection device other than the insertion of the electrical conductor 2. As described above, this is achieved in that the spring, the clamping element 12 are actuated by a catch element (slide 13) guided by the slide and a two-armed lever. The rotational movement of the lever 14 about the rotational axis D moves the catch element. The latching elements tension the spring and latch with the housing 10.

It is noted that the slider 13 is described as having two sidewalls 136 formed as mirror images with the

pins

132, 133. However, it is also contemplated that the slider could be formed with only one side wall 136 and/or that the

pins

132, 133 could be formed on only one side wall 136. Accordingly, the

slide grooves

102, 103 can be formed on only one side of the slide 13, and it can be provided that the clamping section 120 has only one actuating section 124. The same applies to the face 134 and the manipulation zone 144.

The components of the connection device 1 may be supported in a single-shell or double-shell housing.

Description of the reference numerals

1. Connecting device

10. Shell body

100. Inner space

101. Support frame

102. Sliding chute

103. Sliding chute

104. Insertion opening

105. Edge of a container

106. Bearing point

11. Current bar

110. Strip section

111. Stop part

112. Abutting section

12. Clamping element

120. Clamping section

121. Bending part

122. Holding section

123. Clamping edge

124. Operating section

13. Sliding member

130. Operating area

131. Latch edge

132. Pin

133. Pin

134. Flour

135. Trigger surface

136. Side wall

137. Foot part

14. Lever

140. Accommodating part

142. Lever arm

143. Lever arm

144. Operating area

2. Electrical conductor

D axis of rotation

E direction of insertion

Claims

1. Connecting device (1) for connecting electrical conductors (2), comprising

-a housing (10),

-a current bar (11),

-a clamping element (12) having a clamping section (120) which can be transferred from a clamping position, in which the electrical conductor (2) can be clamped against the current bar (11), to a release position, and

a slide (13) which is mounted on the housing (10) in a slidably movable manner for transferring the clamping section (120) from the clamping position into the release position,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

there is a lever (14) which is mounted so as to be pivotable about a rotational axis (D) at a bearing point (106) fixed to the housing and by means of which the slider (13) can be moved relative to the housing (10).

2. The connecting device (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the housing (10) comprises a sliding slot (103) by means of which a slide (13) is movably supported.

3. A connecting device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the runner (103) is widened at a certain position.

4. A connecting device (1) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the slide (13) has a pin (132) which engages with the runner (103).

5. Connecting device (1) according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the housing (10) comprises a further slide groove (102) by means of which the slide (13) is movably supported, wherein the two slide grooves (102, 103) are formed differently.

6. Connecting device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the slider (13) has a latching edge (131) which can latch with an edge (105) of the housing (10).

7. Connecting device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the slider (13) has a triggering surface (135) which can be contacted by an electrical conductor (2) inserted through the insertion opening (104) of the housing (10).

8. Connecting device (1) according to claims 6 and 7, characterized in that the slider (13) can be moved relative to the housing (10) by pressure exerted by the electrical conductor (2) on the triggering surface (135) so that the catch edge (131) of the slider (13) is disengaged from the edge (105) of the housing (10).

9. Connecting device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lever (14) has a lever arm (142) with an actuating region (144) which interacts with the concave surface (134) of the slider (13).

10. Connecting device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lever (14) has a lever arm (143) which can be manipulated by a user.

11. The connecting device (1) according to claims 9 and 10, characterized in that the axis of rotation (D) is arranged between the two lever arms (142, 143).

12. Connecting device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a slide (13) is arranged between the lever (14) and the clamping element (12).

13. Connecting device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bearing point (106) is in the form of a shaft, wherein the lever (14) has a receptacle (140) in which the shaft is received.

14. Connecting device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the clamping element (12) is designed in the form of a leg spring with two legs which can be elastically deflected relative to one another, wherein the clamping section (120) is formed by one leg and the retaining section (122) which is supported in a positionally fixed manner relative to the housing (10) is formed by the other leg.

15. Connecting device (1) according to claim 14, characterized in that in the release position the clamping section (120) is elastically tensioned against the holding section (122).