CN213242829U

CN213242829U - Novel direct-insertion type wiring terminal

Info

Publication number: CN213242829U
Application number: CN202022362732.9U
Authority: CN
Inventors: 王峰
Original assignee: Phoenix Contact Asia Pacific Nanjing Co Ltd
Current assignee: Phoenix Contact Asia Pacific Nanjing Co Ltd
Priority date: 2020-10-21
Filing date: 2020-10-21
Publication date: 2021-05-18
Anticipated expiration: 2030-10-21
Also published as: WO2022083607A1; DE112021005540T5

Abstract

The application discloses binding post, it includes: a housing defining an inner space of the terminal, and defining a wiring passage and an operation passage communicating with the inner space; a wire clamping spring structure located in the interior space of the housing, the wire clamping spring structure including a curved portion, a retaining portion located at one end of the curved portion for positioning the wire clamping spring structure within the housing, and a clamping arm located at the other end of the curved portion, the clamping arm being pivotable within the interior space of the housing; and a slider and a compression spring in the housing, wherein the slider is capable of being positioned at a locking position for restricting the pivoting of the clamp arm by being guided by the compression spring, and the slider is capable of moving away from the locking position when a wire is inserted into the housing through the wiring passage and pushed, thereby releasing the restriction of the pivoting of the clamp arm.

Description

Novel direct-insertion type wiring terminal

Technical Field

The application relates to a wiring terminal, in particular to a direct-insert wiring terminal with a novel construction mode, which belongs to the technical field of electric connection.

Background

A terminal is a common electrical connection device that can be used to make an electrical connection between two electrical devices (e.g., a control device and an action device, a signal output device and a signal input device), or for signal relaying, etc.

The wire clamping mode of the wiring terminal can be divided into a direct insertion type, a spring pull-back type, a screw fastening type and the like. In-line terminals are commonly used to describe terminals that allow an operator to clamp a wire directly into the terminal housing without the aid of tools. An in-line terminal has been used in the prior art and includes a terminal housing, a wire clamping spring structure mounted within the terminal housing, and a retention mechanism mounted within the terminal housing. When no wire is accessed, the end of the pivotable clamping arm of the wire clamping spring structure is in contact with the retaining mechanism and is restrained by the locking portion thereof, so that the clamping arm is in a locked state. After the wire is inserted, the wire pushes the retaining mechanism to enable the retaining mechanism to generate mechanical deformation, the mechanical deformation enables the locking portion of the retaining mechanism to no longer limit the tail end of the clamping arm of the wire clamping spring structure, therefore, the clamping arm can pivot under the action of self elastic restoring force and is contacted with the inserted wire and exerts clamping force on the wire, and wiring is achieved.

When the inserted lead is a flexible wire with a larger wire diameter, a larger external force is needed to force the retaining structure to generate mechanical deformation, which brings certain difficulty to the operation of a user and also brings uncertainty to the quality of wiring.

Accordingly, there is a need to seek to improve the construction of in-line terminals to overcome the above-mentioned deficiencies.

Disclosure of Invention

This application aims at improving prior art, provides the formula binding post that cut straightly with novel configuration mode, and this kind of binding post has reduced the required insertion force of inlet wire operation.

A terminal according to the present application, comprising: a housing defining an inner space of the terminal, and defining a wiring passage and an operation passage communicating with the inner space; a wire clamping spring structure located in the interior space of the housing, the wire clamping spring structure including a curved portion, a retaining portion located at one end of the curved portion for positioning the wire clamping spring structure within the housing, and a clamping arm located at the other end of the curved portion, the clamping arm being pivotable within the interior space of the housing; and a slider and a compression spring in the housing, wherein the slider is capable of being positioned at a locking position for restricting the pivoting of the clamp arm by being guided by the compression spring, and the slider is capable of moving away from the locking position when a wire is inserted into the housing through the wiring passage and pushed, thereby releasing the restriction of the pivoting of the clamp arm.

The electrical terminal as described above, wherein a slider travel of the slider within the housing is at least partially defined by the housing, a first end of the slider travel corresponding to a locked position that limits pivoting of the clamping arm.

The electrical connection terminal as described above, wherein a portion of the slider interferes with the pivotal movement of the distal end of the clamping arm when the slider is positioned in the locked position.

The electrical connection terminal as described above, wherein the slider includes a blocking structure formed on a side surface of the slider that interferes with the pivotal movement of the distal end of the clamping arm when the slider is positioned in the locked position.

The connecting terminal is characterized in that a limiting protrusion is arranged in the shell, and when the compression spring applies pushing force to the sliding block, the limiting protrusion limits the sliding block at the first end of the sliding block stroke.

The wiring terminal is characterized in that the sliding block is provided with a limiting concave structure corresponding to the limiting protrusion.

The terminal block as described above, wherein the stopper projection further defines a depth of insertion of the wire from the wire passage.

The electrical terminal as set forth above, wherein the slider travel has a second end opposite the first end, the slider no longer interfering with the pivotal movement of the distal end of the clamping arm when the slider is moved to, or before, the second end of the slider travel.

The terminal block as described above, wherein a shaft for mounting the compression spring is formed on the housing, and the second end of the stroke of the slider corresponds to a position where the slider contacts the shaft.

The terminal as described above, wherein the second end of the slider stroke corresponds to a deepest position that the wire can push the slider to.

The connection terminal as described above, wherein the slider includes a slide slope at a side surface, and the housing includes a support slope corresponding to the guide slope, and the slide slope of the slider slides on the support slope when the slider moves based on the guide of the compression spring or the inserted wire.

The terminal block as described above, wherein a stopper protrusion is provided in the housing, the stopper protrusion being configured to always abut the slide slope of the slider against the support slope.

The terminal block as described above, wherein a slide groove connection structure is formed between the housing and the slider.

At least some implementations of the present application have the following beneficial effects: the pushing force of the wire is converted into the movement of the slider, and the locking of the clamp arm of the wire clamp spring structure is released by the movement of the slider, which reduces the required operating force for inserting the wire to achieve the wire connection.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is an exploded view of a wire terminal according to an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 2A-2D are cross-sectional views of a wire insertion operation and a wire withdrawal operation of a wire connecting terminal according to an embodiment of the present application.

Some of the reference numbers:

110 a housing; 111 a spring holding portion; 112 a first slider support portion; 113 a second slider support portion; 114 a limiting bulge; 115 a wiring channel; 116 operating the channel; 117 spring mounting shafts; 120 wire clamping springs; 121 clamping arms; 122a retaining structure; 122A first section; 122B second section; 123 a bending part; 124 snap tabs; 130 a flow guide structure; 131 card interface; 140 a conductive line; line 141 end; 150 sliding blocks; 151 a slider body; 152 a barrier structure; 153 limiting concave structures; 160 compression springs; 200 operating tool

Detailed Description

In the following description, the present application is described with reference to various embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the embodiments may be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other alternative and/or additional methods, materials, or components. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of various embodiments of the application. Similarly, for purposes of explanation, specific numbers, materials, and configurations are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments of the application. However, the present application may be practiced without the specific details. Further, it should be understood that the embodiments shown in the figures are illustrative representations and are not necessarily drawn to scale.

The present application is further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is an exploded view of a wire terminal according to an embodiment of the present application. Fig. 2A-2D are cross-sectional views of a wire insertion operation and a wire withdrawal operation of a wire connecting terminal according to an embodiment of the present application.

Referring to fig. 1, and to fig. 2A-2C, a wire terminal 100 includes a housing 110, a wire trap spring 120 disposed within the housing, and a current-directing structure 130. Also formed within the housing 110 is a spring retention portion 111, which is generally integrally formed with the housing 110. A trapping spring structure, such as a trapping spring 120, is used to be installed in the housing 110 via the spring holding portion 111. Specifically, the wire clamping spring 120 includes a curved portion 123, one end of the curved portion 123 is connected to the clamping arm 121, and the other end is connected to the retaining structure 122. The retaining structure 122 may be divided into two sections, a first section 122A forming a U-shaped structure with the clamp arm 121, a second section 122B bent at a nearly right angle with respect to the first section 122A, and a window formed in the second section 122B. Into which the clamping arm 121 projects. The second section 122B may also be referred to as a snap arm. Snap tabs 124 are also formed at the end of the first section 122A of the retaining structure 122 where the bend occurs. The holding structure (or holder) 122 is used to position the wire clamping spring 120 within the housing 110, while the clamping arm 121 is pivotable within the interior space of the housing 110.

The flow directing structure 130 is a component made of metal or other conductive material. Fig. 2A shows the assembled state of the components of fig. 1, in which the air guide structure 130 is disposed in the middle space of the housing 110, and the snap interface 131 of the air guide structure 130 and the snap tab 124 of the holding structure 122 of the wire clamp spring 120 are engaged together by snapping.

The housing 110 also includes a wiring passage 115 for ingress and egress of the wire 140, and an operation passage 116 for ingress and egress of an operation tool 200 (e.g., a bit of a screwdriver) shown in fig. 2C.

Embodiments of the present application further include special locking and unlocking mechanisms for the clamp arm based on a slider and compression spring. Specifically, as shown in fig. 1, the terminal 100 includes a slider 150 and a compression spring 160 therein. By means of corresponding fitting features formed in the housing 110, the slider 150 can be positioned in a locked position to restrict pivoting of the clamp arm 121 by guidance of the compression spring 160, and when the wire 140 is inserted into the housing 110 through the wiring passage 115 and pushes the slider 150, the slider 150 can be moved out of the locked position to release the restriction of pivoting of the clamp arm.

Corresponding features in the housing 110 for assembly of the slider 150 include first and second

slider bearing portions

112 and 113, a limit tab 114, and a spring mounting shaft 117. These assembly features define the travel of the slider 150 within the housing 110. Wherein the first and second

slider supporting portions

112 and 113 define the position of the slider from both sides of the slider 150. The limit projection 114 defines the end of the movement of the slider 150 when pushed upward by the force exerted by the compression spring 160, i.e., defines one end of the slider's travel. The spring mounting shaft 117 is used to mount the compression spring 160 and defines the end of travel of the slider 150 as it moves downward against the spring force, i.e., defines the other end of the slider travel (i.e., the deepest position that the wire can push the slider 150 to).

When the slider 150 is in the position shown in fig. 2A, a portion of the slider 150 interferes with the pivoting movement of the distal end of the clamping arm 121, which position is referred to herein as the locked position.

In an embodiment, the slider 150 may include a slider body 151 and a blocking structure 152 formed at a side surface, and interference with the pivotal movement of the clamping arm 121 is achieved by the blocking structure 152. The slider body 151 and the blocking structure 152 define a stopper recess structure 153 for cooperating with the stopper protrusion 114.

As shown in fig. 2B, when the wire end 141 contacts the upper end of the stopper projection 114, the wire 140 cannot be inserted further, and therefore, in this case, the stopper projection 114 can define the depth of insertion of the wire 140 from the wiring channel 115.

The first slider support portion 112 shown in fig. 1 and 2A may have a trapezoidal configuration with the longer base of the trapezoid for contact with the slider 150. The trapezoidal structure is obliquely disposed within the housing 110 such that its bottom edge is used as a support ramp and the stop structure 152 of the slider 150 also provides a corresponding sliding ramp to mate. Therefore, when the slider 150 moves based on the guide of the compression spring or the inserted wire, the slide slope of the slider 150 slides on the aforementioned support slope.

As shown in fig. 2A, the stopper protrusion 114 and the stopper structure 152 of the slider 150 are configured such that the sliding slope of the side surface of the slider 150 always abuts against the supporting slope of the first slider supporting part 112 by the stopper action of the stopper protrusion 114.

Providing the contact surface between the slider 150 and the first slider support portion 112 as an inclined surface is advantageous for achieving locking and unlocking, since this contact surface is in contact with the end of the clamping arm 121, which clamping arm 121 is at an oblique angle in the locked state. However, it should be understood that it is also possible to provide the side surfaces of the slider 150 as vertical surfaces.

Fig. 2A-2D are cross-sectional views of a wire insertion operation and a wire withdrawal operation of the wire connection terminal 100 according to an embodiment of the present application, and a description of the relevant operations will help to better understand the construction features and the operating principle of the wire connection terminal 100. In fig. 2A, the slider 150 is in the locked position by the restoring force of the compression spring 160, and therefore the slider 150 contacts the distal end of the clamp arm 121, interfering with the counterclockwise pivoting of the clamp arm 121. This state may be referred to as a pre-line standby state. In fig. 2B, the wire end 141 of the wire 140 is inserted through the wire feeding channel 141, and the wire end 141 pushes the slider 150 to move downward against the spring force until the wire end 141 contacts the limiting protrusion 114. At this time, since the slider 150 is moved down, its interference with the clamp arm 121 is released, and the clamp arm 121 completes counterclockwise pivoting and is pressed against the wire end 141 of the incoming wire 140, which may be referred to as a wire connection state. In fig. 2C, the operating tool 200 enters the housing 110 through the operating channel 116 and pushes the clamping arm 121 to complete the clockwise pivoting, thereby releasing the wire end 141 of the accessed wire 140, which may be referred to as a wire-withdrawing state. In fig. 2D, the wire 140 and the tool 200 are removed, the clamping arm 121 is pivoted by its own elastic force and then blocked by the slider 150, and the terminal 100 returns to the state shown in fig. 2A.

Although the mating features in the housing 110 for providing positioning and defining travel for the slider 150 have been described with reference to fig. 1, 2A-2D, it will be appreciated that the slider 150 can take on a variety of configurations, as well as the mating features of the housing 110, so long as by such configuration, the slider 150 is guided by the compression spring to limit pivoting of the clamping arm 121 when positioned in the locked position, and the slider 150 is pushed away from the locked position by the wire to release the restriction of pivoting of the clamping arm 121. For example, mating structures on the slider and the housing may take the form of a slotted connection.

With the terminal block constructed as described above, the wiring operation can be realized as long as the insertion force of the wire can overcome the restoring force of the compression spring to move the slider. Thus, the insertion force required for the wire feeding operation is significantly reduced.

Although the specific configuration of the slider 150 is shown in the above embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various slider forms that are restored by a spring may be adopted as long as the slider constitutes interference with the pivoting of the clamp arm 121 in the restored state and is movable to release the restriction of the pivoting of the clamp arm 121 when pushed by a wire.

Although the above embodiment shows the tool 200 pushing the wire clamping spring 120, it is understood by those skilled in the art that a pushing block may be provided in the terminal, and the wire clamping spring 120 is pushed by the pushing block. Having thus described the basic concept, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the foregoing disclosure is by way of example only, and is not intended to limit the present application. Various modifications, improvements and adaptations to the present application may occur to those skilled in the art, although not explicitly described herein. Such modifications, improvements and adaptations are proposed in the present application and thus fall within the spirit and scope of the embodiments of the present application.

Embodiment 1. a connection terminal, comprising:

a housing defining an inner space of the terminal, and defining a wiring passage and an operation passage communicating with the inner space;

a wire clamping spring structure located in the interior space of the housing, the wire clamping spring structure including a curved portion, a retaining portion located at one end of the curved portion for positioning the wire clamping spring structure within the housing, and a clamping arm located at the other end of the curved portion, the clamping arm being pivotable within the interior space of the housing; and

a slider and a compression spring in the housing, wherein the slider can be positioned at a locking position for limiting the pivoting of the clamping arm by the guide of the compression spring, and when a wire is inserted into the housing through the wiring passage and pushed to move the slider, the slider can leave the locking position, thereby releasing the limitation of the pivoting of the clamping arm.

Embodiment 2. the electrical terminal of embodiment 1, wherein a slider travel of the slider within the housing is at least partially defined by the housing, a first end of the slider travel corresponding to a locked position that limits pivoting of the clamping arm.

Embodiment 3. the electrical connection terminal of embodiment 2, wherein a portion of the slider interferes with the pivotal movement of the distal end of the clamping arm when the slider is positioned in the locked position.

Embodiment 4. the electrical connection terminal of embodiment 2, wherein the slider includes a blocking feature formed on a side of the slider that interferes with the pivotal movement of the distal end of the clamping arm when the slider is positioned in the locked position.

Embodiment 5. the connection terminal according to embodiment 2, wherein a stopper protrusion is provided in the housing, and the stopper protrusion stops the slider at the first end of the slider stroke when the compression spring applies the pushing force to the slider.

Embodiment 6. the connection terminal according to embodiment 5, wherein a limiting concave structure corresponding to the limiting protrusion is provided on the slider.

Embodiment 7. the wire connecting terminal of embodiment 5, wherein the retention bumps further define the depth of insertion of the wire from the wire passage.

Embodiment 8 the wire terminal of any of embodiments 2-6, wherein the slider stroke has a second end opposite the first end, and the slider no longer interferes with the pivotal movement of the distal end of the clamping arm when the slider is moved to or before the slider is moved to the second end of the slider stroke.

Embodiment 9. the connection terminal according to embodiment 8, wherein a shaft for mounting the compression spring is formed on the housing, and the second end of the stroke of the slider corresponds to a position where the slider contacts the shaft.

Embodiment 10. the electrical connection terminal of embodiment 8, wherein the second end of the travel of the slider corresponds to the deepest position that the wire can push the slider to.

Embodiment 11. the connection terminal according to embodiment 1, wherein the slider includes a sliding slope at a side surface, and the housing includes a supporting slope corresponding to the guide slope, and the sliding slope of the slider slides on the supporting slope when the slider moves based on the guide of the compression spring or the insertion wire.

Embodiment 12. the connection terminal according to embodiment 11, wherein a stopper protrusion is provided in the housing, the stopper protrusion being configured such that the slide slope of the slider always abuts on the support slope.

Embodiment 13. the electrical connection terminal of any one of embodiments 1 to 7, wherein a runner connection structure is formed between the housing and the slider.

Claims

1. A wire terminal, comprising:

2. The electrical connection terminal of claim 1, wherein a slider travel of the slider within the housing is at least partially defined by the housing, the first end of the slider travel corresponding to a locked position that limits pivoting of the clamping arm.

3. The wire connecting terminal of claim 2, wherein a portion of the slider interferes with the pivotal movement of the distal end of the clamping arm when the slider is positioned in the locked position.

4. The wire connecting terminal of claim 2, wherein the slider includes a blocking structure formed on a side of the slider that interferes with the pivotal movement of the distal end of the clamping arm when the slider is positioned in the locked position.

5. The terminal according to claim 2, wherein a restraining projection is provided in the housing to restrain the slider at the first end of travel of the slider when the compression spring applies a pushing force to the slider.

6. The connecting terminal according to claim 5, wherein the slider is provided with a limiting concave structure corresponding to the limiting protrusion.

7. The wire connecting terminal of claim 5, wherein the retention bump further defines a depth of insertion of the wire from the wire passage.

8. The wire connecting terminal according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the slider travel has a second end opposite the first end, and wherein the slider no longer interferes with the pivotal movement of the distal end of the clamping arm when or before the slider moves to the second end of the slider travel.

9. The electrical connection terminal of claim 8, wherein the housing has a shaft formed thereon for mounting the compression spring, and wherein the second end of travel of the slider corresponds to a location where the slider contacts the shaft.

10. The wire connecting terminal of claim 8, wherein the second end of travel of the slider corresponds to a deepest position that the wire can push the slider to.

11. The connection terminal according to claim 1, wherein the slider includes a slide slope at a side surface, and the housing includes a support slope corresponding to the guide slope, and the slide slope of the slider slides on the support slope when the slider moves based on the guide of the compression spring or the inserted wire.

12. The connection terminal according to claim 11, wherein a stopper protrusion is provided in the housing, the stopper protrusion being configured such that the slide slope of the slider always abuts against the support slope.

13. A terminal block according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a runner connection is formed between the housing and the slider.