CN221057694U

CN221057694U - Terminal for connecting electrical conductors

Info

Publication number: CN221057694U
Application number: CN202321866893.9U
Authority: CN
Inventors: 丹尼斯·吉斯勒
Original assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2022-07-21
Filing date: 2023-07-17
Publication date: 2024-05-31
Anticipated expiration: 2033-07-17
Also published as: DE102022118233A1

Abstract

The utility model relates to a terminal for connecting electrical conductors, comprising a housing having a receptacle into which an electrical conductor can be inserted for connection to the terminal. A contact element for electrical contact with the electrical conductor and a spring element having a clamping leg for acting on the electrical conductor for contacting the electrical conductor with the contact element are arranged on the housing. The actuating element is adjustable to adjust the clamping leg from the unactuated position to the actuated position. The terminal has a trigger element mounted on the housing in a linearly movable manner, the trigger element having a trigger body and an actuating section. The actuating element is locked in the actuated position relative to the housing. The trigger element is movable relative to the housing by the interaction of the trigger leg and the electrical conductor upon insertion into the receptacle.

Description

Terminal for connecting electrical conductors

Technical Field

The present utility model relates to a terminal for connecting electrical conductors.

Background

Such terminals include a housing having a receptacle into which an electrical conductor may be inserted for connection to the terminal. Contact elements are arranged on the housing for electrical contact with the electrical conductors. Furthermore, a spring element is arranged on the housing, which spring element has a clamping leg which is designed to act on the electrical conductor when the electrical conductor is inserted into the insertion opening, in order to bring the electrical conductor into contact with the contact element. The actuating element can be actuated by a user in order to adjust the clamping leg. For this purpose, the actuating element can be moved from the unactuated position into the actuated position, for example, using a tool, in order to adjust the clamping leg in the actuated position, for example, in order to easily insert or remove the electrical line into or from the insertion opening.

Such a connection terminal is spring-force-connected by using a spring element, wherein the electrical conductor is clamped to the contact element and is thus electrically connected to the contact element in the connected position under the elastic spring action of the spring element.

In the connection terminals known from DE 10 2019 127 464 B3, spring elements are provided in the form of tension springs which, by means of an elastic spring action, pull the connected electrical conductor against the corresponding contact element and thus establish a clamping connection between the electrical conductor and the contact element. For this purpose, the electrical conductor is moved through the opening in the clamping leg during placement and is clamped between the clamping leg and the contact element in the connecting position.

In the connection terminal of DE 10 2019 127 464 B3, a locking device is provided, by means of which the clamping leg latches in the release position relative to the housing. When the electrical conductor is inserted, the locking device is activated and the latch is thus released, so that the clamping leg is displaced from the release position and thereby clamps the electrical conductor with the contact element. In order to transfer the clamping leg into the release position, in particular in order to be able to place the electrical conductor or to release the connected electrical conductor from the connection terminal, a tool, for example a screwdriver, can be placed on the connection terminal and a force can be applied to the clamping leg thereby.

In DE 10 2019 127 464 B3, the clamping legs are adjusted directly by means of a tool, whereas in the terminals known from DE 10 2019 135 203 A1 and DE 10 2020 104 140 A1, in each case an actuating element in the form of a so-called push button (Pusher) is provided, which can be pressed into the housing of the terminal in order to act on the clamping legs in this way and to shift the clamping legs into their release position. The actuating elements are each preloaded against the housing spring of the connection terminal via a tensioning spring in the form of a compression spring. In the connection terminal known from DE 10 2019 135 203 A1, an actuating projection is provided on the actuating element, which actuating projection hooks onto a fastening section of the holding element in the actuating position of the actuating element.

Disclosure of utility model

The object of the utility model is to provide a connection terminal which enables the clamping leg of a spring element to be held in a release position in a simple manner and to be transferred into a clamping position when an electrical conductor is inserted.

This object is achieved by a terminal for connecting an electrical conductor, having a housing with a receptacle into which the electrical conductor can be inserted for connection to the terminal, having a contact element arranged on the housing for electrical contact with the electrical conductor, having a spring element arranged on the housing, having a clamping leg for acting on the electrical conductor for contacting the electrical conductor with the contact element, and having an actuating element arranged adjustably on the housing, which can be adjusted for adjusting the clamping leg from an unactuated position into an actuated position.

The connection terminal therefore has a trigger element mounted on the housing in a linearly movable manner, which trigger element has a trigger body and an actuating section, wherein the actuating element latches in the actuated position relative to the housing, so that the actuating element remains in position relative to the housing in the actuated position. The trigger element is movable relative to the housing by the interaction of the trigger body with the electrical leads when inserted into the receptacle. The actuating section is configured to act on the actuating element when the trigger element is moved in order to release the actuating element from the actuated position.

In the connection terminal, the electrical conductor is in electrical contact with the electrical contact element in that, when the electrical conductor is inserted into the receptacle, the clamping leg acts on the electrical conductor and the spring elastically loads the electrical conductor in the direction of contact with the contact element. In order to facilitate the insertion of the electrical conductors, the clamping legs of the spring element can be elastically deflected by actuation of the actuating element in order in this way to shift the clamping legs into a release position in which the space inside the housing is released in the region of the insertion opening and thus the electrical conductors can be inserted into the insertion opening in a substantially weak manner or (alternatively) the connected electrical conductors can be removed from the connection terminal in a simple manner. The actuating element can be embodied, for example, in the form of a push button and can be pressed into the housing by a user actuating it in order to act on the clamping leg in this way and displace the clamping leg in the direction of the release position.

The actuating element, which is arranged adjustably on the housing, latches in an actuated position relative to the housing. In the actuated position, the actuating element is thus held in position relative to the housing, so that the clamping leg of the spring element is also held in its release position, in which the electrical line can be simply attached to the connection terminal or the connected line can be removed from the connection terminal in a substantially weak manner.

The actuating element can thus be actuated to adjust the clamping leg relative to the housing and to displace it into the release position, so that in particular the electrical conductor can be simply inserted into the receptacle of the housing to connect the conductor to the connection terminal. The triggering element, which is mounted on the housing in a movable manner, is used to trigger the actuating element from the actuating position in order to automatically release the actuating element from the actuating position when the electrical conductor is inserted into the receptacle, and thus to shift the clamping leg into the clamping position in which the electrical conductor inserted into the receptacle is in electrical contact with the contact element of the connection terminal. For this purpose, the triggering element has a triggering body which is designed to interact with the electrical line when inserted into the insertion opening. By the interaction of the electrical lines with the trigger body, the trigger element is moved relative to the housing, so that the trigger element acts on the actuating element via the action section, so that the locking of the actuating element is released and the actuating element is released from the actuated position.

After unlocking, the actuating element can be moved back, in particular automatically, preferably under spring pretension, in the direction of the unactuated position. For example, a spring pretension of the actuating element can be brought about by the clamping leg, which is elastically deflected in the actuated position and, after the actuating element is released, acts mechanically on the actuating element in order to move the actuating element from the actuated position toward the non-actuated position. However, the pretension can also be provided by an additional pretension element, for example an additional spring.

By displacing the triggering element relative to the housing during insertion of the electrical conductor and thereby acting on the actuating element in order to release the latter from the locking in the actuated position, the connection terminal automatically closes during insertion of the electrical conductor. A simple connection process is achieved at the same time as the electrical conductors are reliably brought into contact with the contact elements by the clamping action of the clamping legs.

In one embodiment, the housing defines a receiving space into which the electrical conductors can be introduced by insertion into the insertion openings. The triggering body is arranged in the receiving space for interaction with the electrical line. In particular, the electrical line can be inserted into the insertion opening in the insertion direction, wherein the triggering element is guided in the receiving space in a displaceable manner in the insertion direction and can therefore be displaced in the receiving space together with the electrical line when the electrical line is inserted in the insertion direction. The trigger element is guided on the housing by the trigger body in a displaceable manner, so that the trigger body is moved out of the initial position when interacting with the electrical line and the trigger element is thereby adjusted to act on the actuating element.

In one embodiment, the triggering element has a first guide. The housing has a second guide. The first guide means and the second guide means cooperate to movably guide the trigger element on the housing. One of the guide devices may be formed, for example, by a guide slot which is directed linearly in the plugging direction, while the other guide device is formed, for example, by a guide pin which engages into the guide slot, so that a linear guidance of the triggering element at the housing is thereby provided.

In one advantageous embodiment, the first guide means are formed on two mutually facing sides of the housing wall parts of the triggering element facing away from each other. The second guide means are formed complementarily to the first guide means on the side walls of the housing opposite to each other, the first guide means being guided on the second guide means. The triggering element is thus guided on the housing by both sides.

If the connection terminals are designed alongside the further connection terminals, the second guide means can also be formed on a side wall of the housing and the further second guide means can be arranged on a rear wall of an adjacent connection terminal parallel to the side wall of the housing.

In one embodiment, the spring element is configured as a tension spring. In this case, the clamping leg of the spring element is designed to pull the electrical conductor against the contact element by means of a spring force. For example, openings can be formed in the clamping legs, through which the electrical conductors can be passed when they are inserted into the insertion openings of the housing, in order to pull the electrical conductors into clamping contact with the contact elements after the clamping legs are triggered from the release position.

Alternatively, the spring element may be configured as a compression spring. In this case, the clamping leg is designed to press the electrical line against the contact element by means of a spring force. Upon insertion into the receptacle, the electrical conductor reaches into the space between the clamping leg and the contact element, wherein, after the clamping leg is triggered from the release position, the clamping leg acts on the electrical conductor and presses the electrical conductor against the contact element.

In one embodiment, the clamping leg can be elastically adjusted relative to the housing by actuation of the actuating element into a release position and in the release position is held relative to the housing by the actuating element being latched in the actuated position. The clamping leg is thus locked in the release position relative to the housing, so that the clamping leg remains in the release position after the actuating element has been actuated.

The spring element can, for example, have a support leg by means of which the spring element is supported on the housing and held in position on the housing. The clamping leg can be elastically deflected relative to the support leg, wherein in the release position the clamping leg is deflected such that the spring element is elastically tensioned and the clamping leg is moved out of the release position after being released from the release position in an elastically pretensioned manner.

In one embodiment, the actuating element has a through-opening through which the spring element engages. The spring element can be formed, for example, by a bent leaf spring, wherein the clamping leg can be offset relative to the support leg along the adjustment plane. The spring element extends through the through-opening of the actuating element, for example, around a housing section of the housing, so that the spring element is supported on the housing on a first side of the actuating element via the support leg and the clamping leg protrudes from the actuating element on a second side facing away from the latter and is adjusted together with the actuating element when the actuating element is adjusted. This results in a space-efficient arrangement of the actuating element and the spring element, which effectively introduces a force into the spring element when the actuating element is moved from the unactuated position into the actuated position, and which furthermore effectively introduces a force from the spring element when the actuating element is returned from the actuated position due to the spring pretension of the spring element.

In one embodiment, the actuating element is mounted on the housing in a linearly movable manner and has an actuating section for actuation by a user and an actuating section for acting on the clamping leg. The actuating section is accessible from outside the housing, for example, the user can act on the actuating section by means of a tool, for example a screwdriver, or alternatively manually, while the actuating section is operatively connected to the clamping leg of the spring element. By adjusting the actuating element, an actuating force is thereby applied to the clamping leg via the actuating section, so that the clamping leg is moved in the direction of the release position, in particular when the actuating element is moved from the unactuated position into the actuated position.

In one embodiment, the actuating element has a locking section for locking with the locking element of the housing in the actuated position. The locking section can be arranged, for example, at the end of the actuating element facing away from the actuating section. The actuating element is latched with a corresponding latching element of the housing in the actuated position by the latching section, so that the actuating element is thereby held in the actuated position, but the triggering of the triggering element can be released from the actuated position in a simple and reliable manner by the insertion of the electrical line.

In one embodiment, the locking section of the actuating element can be adjusted elastically relative to the actuating section. For example, the locking section may be constructed from a resilient finger which extends linearly from the actuating section, for example along an actuating direction in which the actuating element can be displaced relative to the housing. In one embodiment, the locking section can be adjusted relative to the actuating section, for example transversely to the actuating direction, in order to engage with the locking element of the housing by means of an elastic displacement when the actuating element is switched into the actuated position, wherein the actuating element can again be released from the actuated position by the triggering element acting on the locking section.

If a through-hole is formed in the actuating element, through which the spring element engages, the through-hole can extend into the region of the locking section, so that a material weakness is produced in the region of the locking section and the locking section can thus be deformed in a bending-elastic manner relative to the actuating section, in particular transversely to the actuating direction.

In one embodiment, the locking element of the housing is formed by a snap-in projection protruding from the housing wall of the housing. The engagement projections can be formed in particular rigidly on the housing, so that they cannot be displaced relative to the housing wall. The elasticity for establishing the locking connection of the actuating element in the actuated position is thus provided by a locking section of the actuating element which, when the actuating element is moved into the actuated position, is in locking engagement with the engagement projection of the locking element and can be disengaged from the engagement projection in order to release the actuating element from the actuated position.

The engagement projection protrudes from the housing wall and preferably forms a recess for locking with the locking section of the actuating element. The engagement projections can be formed, for example, on a side wall of the housing, wherein in one embodiment two engagement projections can be provided for latching with the locking section of the actuating element in the actuated position on opposite side walls spaced apart from one another transversely to the actuating direction. If the connection terminal is designed for being juxtaposed with a further connection terminal, the second engagement projection can also be arranged on the rear wall of the adjacent connection terminal, parallel to the side wall of the housing of the current connection terminal.

In one embodiment, the actuating leg is designed to act on the locking section when the trigger element is pivoted in order to lift the locking section off the engagement projection. The actuating leg may extend approximately at right angles to the trigger leg, for example. When the trigger element is pivoted by means of the electrical lines on the trigger leg, the trigger leg is pivoted and thus acts on the locking section of the actuating element, in order to lift the actuating element, for example, transversely to the actuating direction, from the locking element formed by the engagement projection. Thus, the latching of the locking section to the locking element is released.

In one embodiment, the triggering element has a contact ramp which is configured to: when the trigger element is moved, it acts on the locking section to release the actuating element from the actuated position. The contact ramp is oriented in particular obliquely to the insertion direction. If the trigger element is moved relative to the housing when the electrical conductor is inserted into the receptacle of the housing, the contact ramp hits the locking section and disengages the locking section from the locking element of the housing. By striking the contact ramp, the locking section of the actuating element is thereby released from the locking element of the housing, and the actuating element is released from the actuated position.

The contact ramp is arranged offset with respect to the locking element on the housing, viewed spatially in a direction transverse to the insertion direction, so that the contact ramp can be moved past the locking element. If two locking elements in the form of engagement projections are provided on the opposite walls of the housing, then a contact ramp is arranged between the locking elements and can move through them.

In one embodiment, the triggering element has a further second contact ramp which is oriented obliquely to the actuating direction of the actuating element (for example, oriented parallel to the insertion direction) and which enables the locking section to strike the triggering element when the actuating element is actuated for transfer into the actuated position, so that, when interacting with the triggering element, the locking section is offset even when the actuating element is actuated for transfer into the actuated position. In this way, the locking section can be brought into latching engagement with the locking element of the housing in a simple manner by lifting it above the locking element and being able to engage with the locking element after passage.

In one embodiment, the actuating element has a guide surface which is guided in a linearly displaceable manner on a guide section of the housing. The actuating element is accommodated, for example, in an actuating opening of the housing and is guided in the actuating opening in a linearly movable manner along an actuating direction, which is oriented, for example, parallel to the insertion direction. The one or more guide surfaces may be constituted, for example, by one or more flat extending walls of the actuating element. In contrast, the guide section on the housing can be formed, for example, by a defined wall of the actuating opening of the housing, which extends in the actuating direction and provides guidance of the actuating element in the path of movement in the housing.

In one embodiment, the connection terminal has a pretensioning element, which is different from the spring element and is configured to pretension the actuating element elastically relative to the housing in the direction of the unactuated position. For example, the pretensioning element can be arranged between the support section of the actuating element and the corresponding housing section and pretension the actuating element relative to the housing in this way. When the actuating element is actuated in the direction of the actuated position, the pretensioning element is tensioned, so that the pretensioning element provides a pretensioning force on the actuating element in the direction opposite to the actuating direction and toward the non-actuated position. The pretensioning element can be formed, for example, by a mechanical spring, for example a compression spring, which is tensioned when the actuating element is actuated into the actuated position.

By using a pretensioning element in addition to the spring element, the actuating element can be returned to a defined position, which corresponds to the unactuated position, after releasing the latch, which can be recognized in a simple manner by the user. The user thus obtains information about the triggered connection terminals in a reliable manner, thereby overcoming the risk of incorrect operation.

The pretensioning element can be designed in particular such that, as soon as the actuating element is released from the actuated position, the actuating element always reaches the same position, irrespective of the wire cross section to be connected, due to the pretensioning action of the pretensioning element. The actuating element thus occupies a defined position relative to the housing when the wires are connected after being released from the actuated position and can thus be used as a reliable indicator for triggering the connection terminal when the electrical wires are connected. The actuating element is thus adjusted between two independent positions, namely an actuated position and an unactuated position, due to the pretensioning action of the pretensioning element, and does not occupy an undefined intermediate position between the two defined positions.

Drawings

The idea underlying the utility model is explained in detail below with the aid of an embodiment shown in the drawings. Wherein:

fig. 1A shows a view of an embodiment of a connection terminal, wherein the actuating element is in an unactuated position;

FIG. 1B shows a side view of the arrangement according to FIG. 1A;

Fig. 2A shows a view of the connection terminal of the actuating element in the actuating position;

FIG. 2B shows a side view of the arrangement according to FIG. 2A;

FIG. 3A shows a view of the terminal when the electrical lead is co-acting with the trigger element;

FIG. 3B shows a side view of the arrangement according to FIG. 3A;

Fig. 4A shows a view of the connection terminal after insertion of an electrical lead and release of the actuating element from the actuated position; and

FIG. 4B shows a side view of the arrangement according to FIG. 4A;

fig. 5A shows an isolated view of the housing of the terminal;

Fig. 5B shows a side view of the housing;

fig. 6A shows an individual view of the actuating element of the connection terminal;

FIG. 6B shows a side view of the steering element;

fig. 7A shows an isolated view of the trigger element of the terminal;

FIG. 7B illustrates a side view of the trigger element;

fig. 8A shows an isolated view of the spring element of the terminal;

FIG. 8B shows a side view of the spring element;

fig. 9A shows an isolated view of the pretensioning element of the terminal; and

Fig. 9B shows a side view of the pretensioning element.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1A, 1B to 4A, 4B show an embodiment of a connection terminal 1, which connection terminal 1 is constructed with a housing 10 in which a receptacle 100 for inserting an electrical conductor 2 in a plugging direction E is formed.

The housing 10 defines a receiving chamber 101 into which the electrical conductor 2 is introduced with the conductor end 20, from which the insulation is removed, when the electrical conductor 2 is inserted into the plug socket 100 in the plug-in direction E. In the connection position, the conductor end 20 of the conductor 2 with the insulation removed is located within the receiving space 101 and is in electrical contact with the contact element 11 in the form of a current strip via the clamping leg 120 of the spring element 12, so that the conductor 2 is electrically connected to the connection terminal 1.

The spring element 12 has a support leg 121 which is supported on the wall of the housing 10, so that the spring element 12 is thereby fixed to the housing 10 and fixed relative to the housing 10. The clamping leg 120 can be elastically deflected relative to the support leg 121, in particular in such a way that the clamping leg 120, in the clamping position shown in fig. 4A, 4B, acts clampingly on the electrical conductor 2 connected to the connection terminal 1 and presses the electrical conductor into contact with the contact element 11 under elastic pretension and thus brings the electrical conductor 2 into electrical contact with the contact element 11 via its conductor end 20.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, an actuating element 14 is mounted on the housing 10 so as to be movable in the actuating direction B. The actuating element 14 is accommodated movably in the actuating opening 102 of the housing 10 and can be displaced in a linear guide manner relative to the housing 10 along an actuating direction B pointing parallel to the insertion direction E, in order to thereby act on the clamping leg 120 of the spring element 12 and to adjust it between the clamping position and the release position.

The actuating element 14 shown in fig. 6A, 6B in separate views has an actuating section 141 which can be accessed from outside the housing 10 via the actuating opening 102 and can thus be actuated by a user, for example, using a tool. The actuating section 141 is accommodated in the actuating opening 102 and is guided in a displaceable manner by an outer guide surface 140 against a defined wall of the actuating opening 102.

The actuating element 14 is in operative connection with the clamping leg 120 of the spring element 12. For this purpose, the spring element 12, which is shown in fig. 8A, 8B in a separate view, is passed through the through-opening 142 in the interior of the actuating element 14 in such a way that the spring element 12 engages with the intermediate section 122 around the pin-shaped housing section 104 of the housing 10. The support legs 121 protrude from the holes 142 at a first side and are supported on the housing 10. In contrast, the clamping leg 120 protrudes from the actuating element 14 on the second remote side and extends in the region of the insertion opening 100 in the receiving space 101 in such a way that the spring element 12 can act via the clamping leg 120 on the electrical conductor 2 inserted into the insertion opening 100 for contact with the contact element 11 and also for mechanical locking.

The connection terminal 1 has a triggering element 13 shown in fig. 7A, 7B, which is mounted on the housing 10 in a movable manner. The triggering element 13 has a triggering body 130, the triggering body 130 being arranged in the interior 101 of the housing 10 in a region aligned with the insertion opening 100, so that, when the electrical conductor 2 is inserted, the electrical conductor hits the triggering body 130 with the conductor end 20 and thereby acts on the triggering element 13. The guide means 131 in the form of lateral guide grooves are formed on both sides of the trigger body 130, which are remote from one another in a transverse direction transversely to the insertion direction E, and cooperate with the guide means 106 in the form of inwardly projecting guide pins of the housing 10 in order to guide the trigger element 13 movably on the housing 10 (the housing is closed off outwardly by a cover extending parallel to the wall 105 and spaced apart from the wall 105 transversely to the insertion direction E, the guide means 106 in the form of guide pins being provided on the wall 105 and on the cover, respectively, which guide pins guide the trigger body 130 on both outer sides of the trigger body).

As shown in the individual views of the housing 10 according to fig. 5A, 5B, in the exemplary embodiment shown, a locking element 103 in the form of a rigid snap-in projection is formed on the side wall 105, which snap-in projection serves to lock the actuating element 14 in the actuated position relative to the housing 10. The actuating element 14 has a locking section 143 in the form of an elastic locking finger, on which locking section 143 a locking head 145 is formed, which extends linearly from the actuating section 141 in the actuating direction B and through-holes 142 also extend in the region thereof, the spring element 12 engaging through the through-holes 142. The locking section 143 is elastically deflectable transversely to the actuating direction B relative to the actuating section 141 and can thereby be locked to the housing 10 by means of the locking element 103 (if the housing 10 is closed on the front side in fig. 2A, 2B by a cover parallel to the side wall 105, the locking element 103 can be formed both on the side wall 105 and on the cover, so that the locking section 143 is locked on one side to the side wall 105 and on the other side to the cover). In the actuated position shown in fig. 2A, 2B, the actuating element 14 latches with respect to the housing 10 and is thus held in position with respect to the housing 10 in the actuated position.

The triggering element 13 serves to interact with the electrical conductor 2 inserted into the receptacle 100 in order to automatically connect the electrical conductor 2 to the connection terminal 1 when the clamping leg 120 is triggered. The triggering element 13 has an actuating section 132 which is designed to cooperate with the locking section 143 when the triggering element 13 is moved in the insertion direction E, so that the actuating element 14 is released from the locking in the actuated position. When the trigger element 13 is moved guided by the guide means 106, 131, the actuating section 132 acts on the locking section 143 in order to lift the locking section from the locking element 103 transversely to the actuating direction B and thus release the locking, so that the actuating element 14 can be reset in the housing 10 counter to the actuating direction B.

For this purpose, the triggering element 13 has a contact ramp 133 on its active section 132, which extends obliquely to the insertion direction E, as can be seen, for example, from the side view according to fig. 2B. If the electrical conductor 2 is inserted into the insertion opening 100 of the housing 10 in the insertion direction E and the electrical conductor 2 thus acts with its conductor end 20 on the triggering element 13 in the insertion direction E, the action section 132 contacts the locking head 145 on the locking section 143 of the actuating element 14 by means of the contact ramp 133 and presses the locking head upwards transversely to the insertion direction E, so that the locking head 145 is disengaged from the locking element 103 and thus the locking of the actuating element 14 is released.

The actuating element 14 is preloaded against the housing 10 by a preloading element 15 in the form of a pressure spring, which is shown in separate views in fig. 9A, 9B. The pretensioning element 15 acts here on the locking section 143 of the actuating element 14 between the housing section and the support section 146. When actuating the actuating element 14 into the actuated position, the pretensioning element 15 is tensioned, so that the pretensioning element 15 exerts a restoring pretensioning force on the actuating element 14 against the actuating direction B.

The following working modes are obtained:

In the initial position in the case of an unactuated actuating element 14, the actuating element 14 and the triggering element 13 are located in the positions shown in fig. 1A, 1B.

If the actuating element 14 is actuated in the actuating direction B and is thus moved into the housing 10, the actuating element 14 brings the clamping leg 120 of the spring element 12 via the actuating section 144 and thus adjusts the clamping leg 120 into the release position shown in fig. 2A, 2B. In the release position, the clamping leg 120 releases the region of the receiving space 101 aligned with the insertion opening 100 in the insertion direction E, so that the electrical conductor 2 can be inserted into the insertion opening 100 unimpeded by the clamping leg 120 and can thus be connected to the connection terminal 1 in a substantially weak manner.

When actuating element 14 is moved into housing 10, locking head 145 contacts contact ramp 134 on the side of trigger element 13 facing away from actuating direction B, as is evident from the transition from fig. 1A, 1B to fig. 2A, 2B. The locking section 143 is thus offset transversely to the actuating direction B and rises above the highest point of the active section 132 and also above the locking element 103 formed on the housing 10, so that the locking head 145, after passing the locking element 103, is in latching engagement with the locking element 103, as can be seen from fig. 2A, 2B. The actuating element 14 is thus latched in the actuated position.

Furthermore, during the locking, the trigger element 13 is moved inside the housing 10 against the insertion direction E by the action of the locking head 145 on the contact ramp 133 of the contact section 132, as can be seen in a comparison of fig. 1B and 2B. The triggering element 13 is thus introduced into the interior 101 of the housing 10 in a position in which the triggering element 13 can cause a triggering of the latching of the actuating element 14 when the electrical conductor 2 is inserted.

In the position shown in fig. 1A, 1B, the triggering element 13 occupies a first end position defined by the guide means 106, 131 and displaced in the plugging direction E, whereas in the position according to fig. 2A, 2B, the triggering element 13 occupies a second end position defined by the guide means 106, 131 and displaced counter to the plugging direction E, from which the triggering element 13 can be moved out by the action of the electrical leads 2 in order to release the locking of the actuating element 14.

If the conductor end 20 of the electrical conductor 2, with the insulation removed, is inserted into the insertion opening 100 and thus introduced into the receiving space 101 in the insertion direction E, and the actuating element 14 is in the actuated position and thus the clamping leg 120 is in the release position, the electrical conductor 2 abuts against the triggering body 130 of the triggering element 13 and the triggering element 13 is thereby moved in the insertion direction E within the housing 10. As a result, the actuating section 132 is displaced relative to the locking section 143 of the actuating element 14, so that the actuating section 132 acts on the locking section 143 via the contact ramp 133 and presses the locking section 143 out of engagement with the locking element 103 on the housing 10 in the case of elastic deformation, as is shown in fig. 3A, 3B and 4A, 4B. The actuating element 14 is thus released from the actuated position.

As a result of the contact ramp 133 extending obliquely to the insertion direction E, a force transformation for displacing the locking section 143 is brought about in order to release the actuating element 14 from the actuated position. As a result of the relatively small inclination of the contact ramp 133 with respect to the insertion direction E, the result is that a small force of the wire 2 on the triggering element 13 is sufficient to deflect the locking section 143 by striking the contact ramp 133 and out of engagement with the locking element 103.

By designing the contact ramp 133, the force conversion on the triggering element 13 can be dimensioned in a suitable manner and adapted to the conductor 2 to be connected to the connection terminal 1.

After the unlocking, the actuating element 14 comes out of the actuated position and returns counter to the actuating direction B due to the elastic pretensioning on the clamping leg 120 and, in addition, by the additional pretensioning of the pretensioning element 15, as can be seen from fig. 4A, 4B. The clamping leg 120 is brought into clamping contact with the electrical conductor 2 and thereby presses the conductor end 20 into contact with the contact element 11, so that the electrical conductor 2 is electrically connected to the connection terminal 1 and is also mechanically locked.

By the pretensioning action of the pretensioning element 15, the actuating element 14 is reset into a defined position, which corresponds to the unactuated position. Due to the pretensioning action of the pretensioning element 15, the actuating element 14 therefore assumes a defined position relative to the housing 10 in the activation position of the connecting terminal 1, independently of the conductor cross section of the connected conductor wire 2, in which the actuating section 141 protrudes from the housing 10, so that the user can obtain information about the activation of the connecting terminal 1 in a reliable manner.

Since the actuating element 14 is automatically adjusted out of the actuated position after releasing the locking, the user can safely and reliably recognize that the connection terminal 1 has been triggered and that the electrical conductor 2 is thus connected to the connection terminal 1. Thus reducing the risk of incorrect operation.

If the electrical conductor 2 is to be released from the connection position shown in fig. 4A, 4B and is again removed from the connection terminal 1, the actuating element 14 can again be moved into the actuated position according to fig. 2A, 2B, so that the clamping leg 120 comes out of abutment with the conductor 2. The conductor 2 can thereby be removed from the connection terminal 1 in a substantially weak manner.

The idea on which the utility model is based is not limited to the embodiments described above but can also be implemented in other ways.

The triggering element can be mounted movably on the housing or on a component that is stationary relative to the housing by means of a guide device. The triggering element can be prestressed, for example, by a prestressing element, for example a spring, in the direction of the initial position, so that the triggering element automatically returns to its initial position after triggering the actuating element. But this is not mandatory.

The actuating element can be preloaded in the direction of the non-actuated position by the action of the clamping legs of the spring element. An additional pretensioning element may be provided which pretensions the actuating element against the actuating direction in the direction of the unactuated position relative to the housing, but which is not mandatory. Such a pretensioning element may be constructed, for example, from a compression spring or other mechanical spring.

Description of the reference numerals

1 Binding post

10 Shell body

100 Jack

101 Accommodating chamber

102 Manipulation opening

103 Locking element

104 Housing section

105 Shell wall (bottom)

106 Guide section

11 Contact element (Current strip)

12 Clamping spring

120 Clamping leg

121 Support leg

122 Intermediate section

13 Trigger element

130 Trigger

131 Guide device

132 Action section

133 Touch incline

134 Touch incline

14 Operating element

140 Guide surface

141 Steering section

142 Through hole

143 Locking section

144 Action section

145 Locking head

146 Support section

15 Pretensioning element

2 Lead

20 Conductor ends

B steering direction

E direction of insertion

Claims

1. A connection terminal (1) for connecting an electrical conductor (2), having a housing (10) with a socket (100) into which the electrical conductor (2) can be inserted for connection to the connection terminal (1), having a contact element (11) arranged on the housing (10) for electrical contact with the electrical conductor (2), having a spring element (12) arranged on the housing (10), having a clamping leg (120) for acting on the electrical conductor (2) for contacting the electrical conductor (2) with the contact element (11), and having an actuating element (14) adjustably arranged on the housing (10) for adjusting the clamping leg (120) from an unactuated position into an actuated position, characterized in that the actuating element has a trigger element (13) which is mounted on the housing (10) in a linearly movable manner and has a trigger body (130) and an actuating section (132), wherein the actuating element (14) is latched in the actuated position relative to the housing (10) such that the actuating element (14) is held in the actuated position relative to the housing (10), the triggering element (13) is movable relative to the housing (10) by the interaction of the triggering body (130) with the electrical line (2) when inserted into the insertion opening (100), and the actuating section (132) is configured to act on the actuating element (14) when the triggering element (13) is moved, so that the actuating element (14) is released from the actuated position.

2. The connection terminal (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing (10) defines a receiving cavity (101) into which an electrical conductor (2) can be inserted by insertion into the receptacle (100), wherein the triggering body (130) is arranged in the receiving cavity (101) to co-act with the electrical conductor (2).

3. The connection terminal (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the electrical line (2) can be inserted into the insertion hole (100) along an insertion direction (E), wherein the triggering element (13) can be moved on the housing (10) along the insertion direction (E).

4. Terminal (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the triggering element (13) has a first guide means (131) and the housing (10) has a second guide means (106), wherein the first guide means (131) and the second guide means (106) cooperate to movably guide the triggering element (13) on the housing (10).

5. Terminal (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the clamping leg (120) is configured for pressing or pulling the electrical conductor (2) against the contact element (11) by means of a spring force.

6. Terminal (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the clamping leg (120) can be elastically adjusted relative to the housing (10) into a release position by actuating the actuating element (14) and is held relative to the housing (10) in the release position by the actuating element (14) being latched in the actuated position.

7. Terminal (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the spring element (12) has a support leg (121) which is supported on the housing (10) and with respect to which the clamping leg (120) can be elastically deflected.

8. Terminal (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuating element (14) has a through-hole (142) through which the spring element (12) engages.

9. The connection terminal (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuating element (14) is mounted on the housing (10) in a linearly movable manner and has an actuating section (141) for actuation by a user and an actuating section (144) for acting on the clamping leg (120).

10. Terminal (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that the actuating element (14) has a locking section (143) for latching with a locking element (103) of the housing (10) in the actuated position.

11. The connection terminal (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the locking section (143) is elastically displaceable relative to the actuating section (141).

12. The connection terminal (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the actuating element (14) is movable relative to the housing (10) along an actuating direction (B), wherein the locking section (143) is elastically displaceable relative to the actuating section (141) transversely to the actuating direction (B).

13. Terminal (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the locking element (103) of the housing (10) is formed by a scarf projection protruding from a housing wall (105) of the housing (10).

14. Terminal (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the triggering element (13) has a contact ramp (133) which is designed to act on the locking section (143) to release the actuating element (14) from the actuated position when the triggering element (13) is moved.

15. Terminal (1) according to claim 1, characterized by a pretensioning element (15) which is different from the spring element (12) and which pretensions the actuating element (14) elastically in relation to the housing (10) in the direction of the non-actuated position.