CN221262717U

CN221262717U - Connection terminal for connecting electrical conductors

Info

Publication number: CN221262717U
Application number: CN202321854862.1U
Authority: CN
Inventors: 谢尔盖·埃雷明
Original assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2022-07-21
Filing date: 2023-07-14
Publication date: 2024-07-02
Anticipated expiration: 2033-07-14
Also published as: DE102022118237A1

Abstract

The utility model relates to a connection terminal (1) for connecting an electrical line (2), comprising a housing (10) having a plug-in opening (100) into which the electrical line (2) can be plugged for connection to the connection terminal (1). A contact element (11) for electrical contact with the electrical conductor (2) and a spring element (12) having a clamping leg (120) for acting on the electrical conductor (2) in order to bring the electrical conductor (2) into contact with the contact element (11) are arranged on the housing (10). An actuating element (14) which is pivotably arranged on the housing (10) can be moved from an unactuated position into an actuated position for displacing the clamping leg (120) and comprises a cam (144) for acting on the clamping leg (120). The trigger element (13) has a trigger leg (130) and a latching leg (132). The cam (144) of the actuating element (14) is locked with the locking leg (132) in the actuating position.

Description

Connection terminal for connecting electrical conductors

Technical Field

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

Background

Such a connection terminal comprises a housing having a plug opening into which an electrical conductor can be inserted for connection to the connection terminal. Contact elements are arranged on the housing for making electrical contact with the electrical conductors. The housing is also provided with a spring element having a clamping leg which is designed to act on the electrical conductor when the electrical conductor is inserted into the insertion opening, so that the electrical conductor is in contact with the contact element. The actuating element is pivotably arranged on the housing and is operable by a user to displace the clamping leg. For this purpose, the actuating element can be moved, for example using a tool, from an unactuated position to an actuated position in order to displace the clamping leg in the actuated position, in order to facilitate, for example, the insertion of an electrical conductor into the insertion opening or the removal of an electrical conductor from the insertion opening. The actuating element has a cam for acting on the clamping leg, whereby the cam is displaced by pivoting the actuating element relative to the housing, thereby displacing the clamping leg.

A connection terminal is known, for example, from WO 2018/010893A1, in which the clamping legs of the spring element are displaced by a cam of the actuating element.

By using a spring element, such a connection terminal achieves a spring connection, whereby the electrical conductor is clamped with the contact element in the connection position under the action of the spring element's spring force, and thus is electrically connected with the contact element.

In the connection terminals known from DE 10 2019 127 464 B3, spring elements in the form of tension springs are provided which, by means of an elastic spring action, pull the connected electrical conductor into contact with the corresponding contact element, so that a clamping connection is established between the electrical conductor and the contact element. For this purpose, the electrical conductor is passed through an opening in the clamping leg when attached and is clamped between the clamping leg and the contact element in the connection position.

In the connection terminal of DE 10 2019 127 464 B3, a latching device is provided, by means of which the clamping leg is locked in the release position relative to the housing. When the electrical conductor is inserted, the latching means are activated, thus releasing the locking, so that the clamping leg is moved away from the release position, thereby clamping the electrical conductor with the contact element. In order to bring the clamping leg into the release position, in particular in order to be able to connect an electrical conductor or release an connected electrical conductor from a connection terminal, a tool, for example a screwdriver, can be attached to the connection terminal, so that a force is exerted on the clamping leg.

In DE 10 2019 127 464 B3, the clamping legs are displaced directly by means of a tool, whereas in the connection 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 element (Pusher) is provided, which can be pressed into the housing of the connection terminal in order to act on the clamping legs in this way and to displace the clamping legs into their release position. The actuating elements are each preloaded against the housing springs of the connection terminals via a tensioning spring in the form of a compression spring. In DE 10 2019 135

203A1, 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 the clamping position when an electrical conductor is inserted.

This object is achieved by a connection terminal for connecting an electrical conductor, having a housing with a plug opening into which an electrical conductor can be inserted for connection with the connection terminal; a contact element disposed on the housing for making electrical contact with an electrical lead; a spring element arranged on the housing, the spring element having a clamping leg for acting on the electrical conductor to bring the electrical conductor into contact with the contact element; and an actuating element which is pivotably arranged on the housing and can be displaced in order to displace the clamping leg from the non-actuated position into the actuated position and has a cam for acting on the clamping leg.

Correspondingly, the connection terminal has a trigger element with a trigger leg and a latching leg. The cam of the actuating element is locked in the actuating position with the locking leg so that the actuating element maintains its position relative to the housing in the actuating position, the locking leg being displaceable relative to the housing by the interaction of the trigger leg and the electrical line when inserted into the insertion opening so as to release the actuating element from the actuating 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 insertion opening, 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 leg of the spring element can be deflected elastically by actuating the actuating element in order in this way to shift the clamping leg 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 is embodied in the form of a lever and is displaced relative to the housing by user actuation in order in this way to act on the clamping leg by means of a cam formed on the actuating element and to displace the clamping leg in the direction of the release position.

The actuating element, which is pivotably arranged on the housing, is locked in the actuating position relative to the housing by the actuating element being operatively connected to the latching leg of the triggering element. In the actuating position, the actuating element is thus held in its 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 conductor can be connected to the connecting terminal in a simple manner or the connected electrical conductor can be removed from the connecting terminal in a substantially weak manner.

The locking is performed by a cam of the actuating element, by which cam the actuating element also acts on the clamping leg for displacement. The locking therefore takes place in a spatially close positional relationship with the point of action on the cam at which the actuating element acts on the clamping leg.

By actuating the actuating element, the clamping leg can be displaced relative to the housing and moved into the release position, so that in particular the electrical line can be simply inserted into the insertion opening of the housing to connect the line to the connection terminal. The trigger element is used for locking with the operating element in the operating position, so that the operating element is kept in its position relative to the housing by the trigger element, i.e. the latching leg of the trigger element. The triggering element is also 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 insertion opening, and thus to transfer the clamping leg into the clamping position in which the electrical conductor inserted into the insertion opening is in electrical contact with the contact element of the connection terminal. For this purpose, the triggering element has a triggering leg which is designed to interact with the electrical line when it is inserted into the insertion opening. The interaction of the electrical lines with the trigger legs displaces the trigger legs and thus deflects the latching legs connected to the trigger legs, so that the connection between the latching legs of the trigger element and the cams of the actuating element is released and the actuating element is thus released from the actuating position.

After unlocking, the actuating element can be moved back in the direction of the unactuated position, in particular automatically, preferably under spring pretension. For example, a spring pretension of the actuating element can be brought about by the clamping leg, which is deflected elastically in the actuating position and, after the actuating element has been released, acts mechanically on the actuating element in order to shift the actuating element from the actuating position in the direction of the non-actuating 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 and thus deflecting the catch legs when the electrical line is inserted, the connection terminal is automatically closed when the electrical line is inserted. A simple connection process is achieved at the same time as the electrical conductor is reliably brought into contact with the contact element by the clamping action of the clamping legs.

In one embodiment, the housing defines a receiving space into which the electrical line can be introduced by insertion into the insertion opening. The trigger leg extends in the receiving space to cooperate with the electrical conductor. The electrical line may in particular be insertable into the insertion opening along the insertion direction, wherein the trigger leg extends in the initial position transversely to the insertion direction in the receiving space. The locking leg can be displaced relative to the housing via the triggering leg, so that the triggering leg moves out of the initial position when interacting with the electrical line, and thus displaces the locking leg to release the locking with the actuating element.

The trigger leg may, for example, define a lever arm that is larger than the lever arm of the latch leg. This allows the electrical conductor to act with relatively little force on the trigger leg in order to pivot the trigger leg out of the initial position.

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. In this case, for example, an opening can be formed in the clamping leg, through which the electrical line can be passed when it is inserted into the insertion opening of the housing, in order to pull the electrical line into clamping contact with the contact element after the clamping leg has been 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 push the piezoelectric wire against the contact element by means of a spring force. When inserted into the insertion opening, 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 displaced elastically relative to the housing into a release position by actuation of the actuating element and is held relative to the housing in the release position by the actuating element being locked in the actuating 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 its 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 in such a way that the spring element is elastically tensioned and the clamping leg is moved out of the release position in an elastically pretensioned manner after being released from the release position.

In one embodiment, the cam has a latching section for latching with a latching leg of the triggering element in the actuating position. In the actuating position, the latching section of the cam engages in latching engagement with the latching leg of the triggering element, so that the actuating element is locked with the latching leg by the cam and is thus held in its position relative to the housing. The cam is held in its position by engagement with the latching legs in a form-fitting manner, so that the actuating element is locked in the actuating position and the clamping legs of the spring element are held in the release position.

In one embodiment, the latching section can be formed by a recess on the cam. In the actuating position of the actuating element, the latching legs of the triggering element engage in the recess, so that the actuating element is locked relative to the housing. For example, the latching legs of the triggering element can be embodied as rigid sections, in particular, not deformable in the loading direction, in which force is introduced into the latching legs from the actuating element side, so that the actuating element is held in its position in the locking position by the latching legs.

In one embodiment, the spring element has a lever arranged on the clamping leg. For example, the lever protrudes from the clamping leg and is bent relative to the clamping leg in such a way that it points toward the cam region of the actuating element which is pivotably arranged on the housing. For example, the spring element may be formed as a one-piece, one-piece sheet metal element, for example as a stamped and bent part made of spring steel, so that the lever is integrally formed on the clamping leg and protrudes therefrom in order to be able to advantageously introduce forces from the cam into the clamping leg.

For example, the lever may surround the support leg such that the cam acts on the lever on the side of the support leg remote from the clamping leg. In this way it is possible to arrange the actuating element outside the receiving space of the housing, into which the electrical conductors are inserted for connection to the connection terminals.

In one embodiment, the triggering element is arranged on the housing in a pivotable manner about a pivot axis. The trigger leg preferably extends on a first side relative to the pivot axis, and the latch leg extends on a second side relative to the pivot axis, remote from the first side. The trigger leg and the latching leg thus extend on different sides relative to the pivot axis and in different directions of extension relative to the pivot axis, so that the trigger leg is directed transversely to the insertion direction into the receiving space in the interior of the housing, in which insertion direction the electrical conductor is inserted into the insertion opening, the latching leg being able to interact with the actuating element, so that in the locking position the forces introduced by the actuating element can be absorbed and dissipated.

In one embodiment, the connection terminal comprises a tensioning element, which is designed to support the triggering element elastically relative to the housing. The triggering element is supported relative to the housing by the tensioning element such that the triggering element is preloaded relative to the housing or relative to a component fixed to the housing, such as a contact element, by the tensioning element. The triggering element is elastically displaceable relative to the tensioning element. If the trigger leg is displaced by interaction with the inserted electrical line, the locking leg is also displaced, so that the locking of the locking leg with the actuating element is released, so that the actuating element is released from the actuating position under the pretension by the tensioning element.

Due to the elastic support by the tensioning element, the triggering element is held in the initial position when no electrical conductor is inserted into the insertion opening of the housing. In the initial position, the actuating element can be locked with the latching leg of the triggering element. When the actuating element is locked with the locking leg in the actuating position, the triggering element is also in the initial position. The trigger element is deflected from the initial position by the interaction of the electrical leads with the trigger legs in such a way that the trigger legs are displaced and the latch legs are moved together with the trigger legs. If the electrical conductor is removed again, the triggering element returns to its initial position again due to the elastic support by the tensioning element, in which initial position the actuating element can be locked with the locking leg.

The tensioning element is formed, for example, by a leg spring. For example, the tensioning element has a first leg supported on the housing and a second leg supported on the triggering element and elastically displaceable relative to the first leg. When the trigger element is moved out of the initial position, the tensioning element is tensioned, whereby a resetting force is applied to the trigger element by the tensioning element to return it to the initial position.

Drawings

The basic idea of the utility model 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 an embodiment of a connection terminal in an unactuated position of an actuating element;

Fig. 2 shows a view of the connection terminal when the operating element is operated to be transferred to the operating position of the operating element;

Fig. 3 shows a view of the connection terminal in the actuating position of the actuating element;

Fig. 4 shows a view of the connection terminal when an electrical lead is inserted;

FIG. 5 shows a view of the connection terminal after insertion of an electrical lead and release of the actuating element from the actuating position;

Fig. 6 shows another view of the connection terminal in the position shown in fig. 5;

Fig. 7A, 7B show separate views of the tensioning element of the connection terminal;

Figures 8A-8E show separate views of the contact element of the connection terminal;

figures 9A-9E show separate views of the spring element of the connection terminal;

FIGS. 10A-10E show separate views of the steering element of the connection terminal; and

Fig. 11A-11E show separate views of the trigger element of the connection terminal.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 to 6 show an exemplary embodiment of a connection terminal 1 having a housing 10 in which a plug opening 100 is formed for inserting an electrical conductor 2 in a plug direction E.

The housing 10 defines a receiving space 101 into which the electrical conductor 2 is inserted with the uninsulated conductor end 20 when the electrical conductor 2 is inserted into the insertion opening 100 in the insertion direction E. In the connection position, the conductor wire 2 is located with the uninsulated conductor end 20 in the receiving space 101 and is in electrical contact with the contact element 11 in the form of a current bar via the clamping leg 120 of the spring element 12, so that the conductor wire 2 is electrically connected to the connection terminal 1.

The spring element 12 shown in the individual views of fig. 9A to 9E has a support leg 121, which in the shown embodiment is supported on a curved surface section 112 of the contact element 11 relative to the wall 113, so that the spring element 12 is thereby fastened to the housing 10 and fixed relative to the housing 10. The clamping leg 120 can be deflected elastically relative to the support leg 121, in particular in such a way that, in the clamping position shown in fig. 5 and 6, the clamping leg 120 acts in a clamping manner on the electrical conductor 2 connected to the connection terminal 1 and presses it into contact with the face section 110 of the contact element 11 under elastic pretensioning, so that the electrical conductor 2 is brought into electrical contact with the contact element 11 via its conductor end 20.

In the illustrated embodiment, the actuating element 14 is supported on the housing 10 in a pivotable manner about a pivot 140. The actuating element 14 is accommodated in the actuating opening 102 of the housing 10 and is pivotable relative to the housing 10 in the actuating direction B about a pivot 140 formed by a shaft stub on the actuating element 14, in order to thereby act on the clamping leg 120 of the spring element 12 and displace it between the clamping position and the release position.

The actuating element 14 shown in the individual views in fig. 10A to 10E has an actuating section 141 which is accessible from outside the housing 10 through the actuating opening 102 and can therefore be actuated by a user, for example manually or by using a tool.

The actuating element 14 is operatively connected to the clamping leg 120 of the spring element 12. For this purpose, the actuating element 14 has a cam 144 which acts on the lever 122 on the clamping leg 120 of the spring element 12 in order to displace it in the receiving space 101 of the housing 10 relative to the support leg 121 in the event of a resilient deflection. In the actuating position of the actuating element 14 shown in fig. 3, the clamping leg 120 is held by the actuating element 14 in a release position in which a space within the housing 10 that is flush with the insertion opening 100 is released, so that, as shown in fig. 4, the electrical conductor 2 can be inserted into the housing 10 in a substantially weak manner.

The spring element 12 is formed as a one-piece sheet metal element, for example made of spring steel, for example as a stamped bent part, and is itself elastic. A lever 122 is formed on the clamping leg 120, protrudes from the clamping leg 120 in the direction of the support leg 121 and surrounds the support leg 121 in order to cooperate with the cam 144 of the actuating element 14 on the side of the support leg 121 remote from the clamping leg 120. By means of the lever 122, a force can be introduced into the clamping leg 120 by actuating the actuating element 14, so that the clamping leg is moved in the direction of the release position, so that it is deflected relative to the support leg 121.

The connection terminal 1 has a trigger element 13 as shown in fig. 11A to 11E, which is supported on the housing 10 in a pivotable manner about a pivot 131. The pivot 131 is formed by a peg protruding on both sides of the trigger element 13, which peg is supported on the housing 10, whereby the trigger element 13 can pivot relative to the housing 10.

The housing 10 can be closed on both sides, for example, if a cover is used, so that the actuating element 14 and the triggering element 13 are supported on both sides of the housing 10. However, it is also conceivable to arrange the connection terminals 1 together with other connection terminals 1, wherein bearing points for the actuating element 14 and the triggering element 13 can be formed on the rear wall of the adjacent connection terminal 1.

The triggering element 13 has a triggering leg 130 which, in the initial position (see fig. 1 and 3), extends at least approximately transversely to the insertion direction E and protrudes in the housing 10 into the receiving space 101 in the region flush with the insertion opening 100, so that, when the electrical conductor 2 is inserted, it touches the triggering leg 130 with the conductor end 20, thereby acting on the triggering element 13.

The triggering element 13, which is formed as a rigid element, also has a latching leg 132, which is connected integrally and in one piece to the triggering leg 130 and extends transversely to the triggering leg 130, so that the latching leg 132 points from the pivot 131 against the actuating direction B toward the actuating element 14.

According to fig. 1 and 3, the trigger leg 130 extends transversely to the insertion direction E in the initial position and thus protrudes into the region of the receiving space 101 which is flush with the insertion opening 100 in order to interact with the electrical conductor 2 when the electrical conductor 2 is inserted, while the latching leg 132 protrudes in the direction of the actuating element 14 substantially along the insertion direction E relative to the pivot 131. In the actuating position, the actuating element 14 is locked with the latching legs 132 by the latching legs 132 engaging with the grooves forming the latching sections 143 of the cam 144, as shown in fig. 3. In the actuating position, the actuating element 14 is thus held in its position relative to the housing 10 by the triggering element 13 in that the latching legs 132 formed as rigid legs engage in a form-fitting manner with the recesses of the latching sections 143 on the cam 144 of the actuating element 14.

Since the trigger leg 130 is rigidly connected to the latching leg 132, the latching leg 132 can be pivoted about the pivot 131 by actuating the trigger leg 130, so that the locking between the actuating element 14 and the latching leg 132 is released.

The triggering element 13 is spring-preloaded relative to the housing 10 by means of a tensioning element 15 shown in the separate views in fig. 7A, 7B. The tensioning element 15 has a first leg 150 which is supported on the housing 10 and is operatively connected to the triggering element 13 by a second leg 151 in such a way that the leg 151 engages with the triggering element 13 and is thus supported on the triggering element 13.

By the user displacing the actuating element 14 in the actuating direction B by grasping the actuating section 141, the actuating element 14 is moved from the non-actuated position shown in fig. 1 into the actuated position shown in fig. 3, and the cam 144 then strikes the latching leg 132, so that the triggering element 13 is deflected, as can be seen in fig. 2. Once the operating position shown in fig. 3 is reached, the latching legs 132 slide into engagement with the grooves of the latching sections 143, so that the operating element 14 is locked in the operating position.

The actuating element 14 cannot pivot relative to the housing 10 beyond the actuating position in the actuating direction B. In the actuating position, the actuating section 141 rests against the edge section 103 of the receiving opening 102, so that it cannot be moved further in the actuating direction B.

The triggering element 13 serves to interact with the electrical line 2 inserted into the insertion opening 100 in order to automatically connect the electrical line 2 to the connection terminal 1 when the clamping leg 120 is triggered. As shown in fig. 4 and 5, if the electrical conductor 2 is inserted into the insertion opening 100, the conductor 2 acts with the conductor end 20 on the trigger leg 130 and deflects it from the unloaded initial position shown in fig. 3, as can be seen in fig. 4. Along with the trigger leg 130, the latching leg 132 is also displaced accordingly. The locking between the actuating element 14 and the latching leg 132 is thus released, so that the clamping leg 120 of the spring element 12 can be moved out of the release position for clamping with the electrical conductor 2.

The trigger leg 130 defines a lever arm which is greater than the lever arm of the latching leg 132 for latching with the latching section 143 of the cam 144 of the actuating element 14. A force transmission is achieved in which the electrical conductor 2 can be acted with its uninsulated conductor end 20 with a relatively small force on the trigger leg 130 in order to pivot the latter out of its initial position shown in fig. 3. In this case, the latching leg 132 pivots in a force-transmitting manner, as a result of which the locking between the latching leg 132 and the latching section 143 of the actuating element 14 is released.

By dimensioning the trigger leg 130 and the latching leg 132, the force transmission can be adjusted in a manner suitable for reliable triggering when the electrical line 2 is inserted.

Fig. 8A-8E show separate views of the contact element 11. The contact element 11 has a surface section 110 against which the conductor end 12 is pressed in the clamping position according to fig. 5 and 6 by the clamping action of the clamping leg 120, so that the conductor wire 2 is thereby brought into contact with the contact element 11. The face section 110 is curved relative to the wall 113, with the face section 112 also curved relative to the wall at the edge remote from the face section 110.

The following working modes are generated:

if the actuating element 14 is actuated in the actuating direction B and thus pivoted relative to the housing 10, the actuating element 14 brings about the clamping leg 120 of the spring element 12 via the cam 144 and thus displaces the clamping leg 120 into the release position shown in fig. 3. In the release position, the clamping leg 120 releases the region of the receiving space 101 that is flush with the plug-in opening 100 in the plug-in direction E, so that the electrical conductor 2 can be inserted into the plug-in opening 100 unimpeded by the clamping leg 120 and can thus be connected to the connection terminal 1 in a substantially weak manner.

By pivoting in the actuating direction B relative to the housing 10, the actuating element 14 reaches the actuating position shown in fig. 3, in which the actuating element 14 is locked with the latching legs 132 of the triggering element 13 by latching sections 143 in the form of recesses on the cam 144. For this purpose, the latching legs 132 engage with recesses on the cam 144, so that the cam 144 and thus the actuating element 14 are locked in a positive-locking manner.

The connection terminal 1 can also be provided by the manufacturer in the manipulated, tensioned position shown in fig. 3.

If the electrical conductor 2 is inserted with the uninsulated conductor end 20 into the insertion opening 100 and thus into the receiving space 101 in the insertion direction E, while the actuating element 14 is in the actuating position and thus the clamping leg 120 is in the release position, the electrical conductor 2 abuts against the triggering leg 130 of the triggering element 13, so that the triggering leg 130 pivots in the housing 10. This displaces the latching leg 132 relative to the latching section 143 of the actuating element 14, so that the latching leg 132 releases the cam 144, as shown in fig. 4. Thus, the operating element 14 is released from the operating position.

After unlocking, the actuating element 14 comes out of the actuating position as a result of the elastic pretensioning on the clamping leg 120 and returns counter to the actuating direction B, as can be seen from fig. 5 and 6. The clamping leg 120 engages in 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 means of the lever 122, the spring element 12 acts on the cam 144 in the actuating position of the actuating element 14 according to fig. 4, so that a torque is applied to the actuating element 14 counter to the actuating direction B. The tensioned spring element 12 thus acts on the actuating element 14 in the direction of return from the actuated position into the non-actuated position. Thus, after unlocking, the actuating element 14 is subjected to an opening moment and is automatically displaced under the spring force of the spring element 12 in the direction of the non-actuated position shown in fig. 5 and 6.

Since the actuating element 14 is automatically moved out of the actuating position after unlocking, the user can safely and reliably detect that the connection terminal 1 has been triggered and that the electrical conductor 2 is thus connected to the connection terminal 1. Thus, the risk of incorrect operation is reduced.

If the electrical conductor 2 is to be released from the connection position shown in fig. 5 and 6 and is again removed from the connection terminal 1, the actuating element 14 can be moved into the actuating position according to fig. 3 again, so that the clamping leg 120 comes out of abutment with the conductor 2. Thereby, the wire 2 can be taken out of the connection terminal 1 in a substantially weak manner.

Since the triggering element 13 is returned to its initial position, as shown in fig. 3, by the elastic support of the tensioning element 15, the operating element 14 is locked in the operating position and the electrical conductor 2 can be connected again to the connection terminal 1.

The idea of the utility model is not limited to the embodiments described above, but can be implemented in other ways.

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. However, it is also conceivable to provide an additional pretensioning element which pretensions the actuating element against the actuating direction in the direction of the unactuated position relative to the housing. Such a pretensioning element may be configured, for example, by a pressure spring or other mechanical spring.

Description of the reference numerals

1. Connection terminal

10. Shell body

100. Plug-in opening

101. Accommodation space

102. Manipulation opening

103. Edge section

11 Contact element (Current rod)

110. Face section

112. Face section

113. Wall with a wall body

12. Clamping spring

120. Clamping leg

121. Supporting leg

122. Lever

13. Trigger element

130. Trigger leg

131. Pivot shaft

132. Latch leg

14. Actuating element

140. Pivot shaft

141. Steering section

143. Latch section

144. Cam

15. Tensioning element

150. Leg(s)

151. Leg(s)

2. Conducting wire

20. Conductor end

B steering direction

E direction of insertion

Claims

1. Connection terminal (1) for connecting an electrical line (2), having a housing (10) with a plug opening (100), into which plug opening (100) the electrical line (2) can be inserted for connection to the connection terminal (1); a contact element (11) arranged on the housing (10) for electrical contact with the electrical conductor (2); -a spring element (12) arranged on the housing (10), the spring element having a clamping leg (120) for acting on the electrical conductor (2) to bring the electrical conductor (2) into contact with the contact element (11); and an actuating element (14) which is pivotably arranged on the housing (10) and can be displaced in order to displace the clamping leg (120) from the non-actuating position into the actuating position and has a cam (144) for acting on the clamping leg (120), characterized in that a trigger element (13) is provided, which has a trigger leg (130) and a latching leg (132), wherein the cam (144) of the actuating element (14) is locked with the latching leg (132) in the actuating position in order to hold the actuating element (14) in its position relative to the housing (10) in the actuating position, wherein the latching leg (132) can be displaced relative to the housing (10) by the interaction of the trigger leg (130) with the electrical conductor (2) when inserted into the insertion opening (100) in order to release the actuating element (14) from the actuating position.

2. Connection terminal (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing (10) defines a receiving space (101), into which receiving space (101) the electrical conductor (2) can be inserted by inserting the plug-in opening (100), wherein the trigger leg (130) extends in the receiving space (101) for interaction with the electrical conductor (2).

3. Connection terminal (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the electrical line (2) can be inserted into the insertion opening (100) in an insertion direction (E), wherein the trigger leg (130) extends transversely to the insertion direction (E) in the receiving space (101) in the initial position.

4. A connection terminal (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the trigger leg (130) is displaceable from an initial position by co-action with the electrical conductor (2) in order to release the actuating element (14) from the actuating position.

5. Connection terminal (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the clamping leg (120) is designed to pull or press the electrical conductor (2) against the contact element (11) by means of a spring force.

6. Connection terminal (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the clamping leg (120) can be elastically displaced relative to the housing (10) into a release position by actuation of the actuating element (14) and is held in the release position relative to the housing (10) by the actuating element (14) being locked in the actuating position.

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

8. The connection terminal (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the cam (144) has a latching section (143) for latching with a latching leg (132) of the triggering element (13) in the actuating position.

9. The connection terminal (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the latching section (143) is formed by a groove on the cam (144).

10. Connection terminal (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the spring element (12) has a lever (122) arranged on the clamping leg (120), wherein the cam (144) of the operating element (14) is designed to act on the lever (122) to displace the clamping leg (120).

11. Connection terminal (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the triggering element (13) is arranged pivotably about a pivot (131) on the housing (10).

12. The connection terminal (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that the trigger leg (130) protrudes on a first side with respect to the pivot (131), and the latch leg (132) protrudes on a second side remote from the first side.

13. Connection terminal (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that a tensioning element (15) is provided for elastically supporting the triggering element (13) with respect to the housing (10).

14. Connection terminal (1) according to claim 13, characterized in that the tensioning element (15) is constituted by a leg spring.

15. The connection terminal (1) according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the tensioning element (15) has a first leg (150) supported on the housing (10) and a second leg (151) supported on the triggering element (13) and being elastically displaceable relative to the first leg (150).