DE102010033112A1 - Device for installing e.g. circuit breaking switch in electrical distribution board, has busbar that is rotated at end position according to opening amount of spring clip which is supported by housing - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a housing (2) that supports a spring clip (10) to press a bus bar (9) in an end position by spring force exerted against an electrically conductive contact element. A guide contour (4) is arranged to guide a busbar in mounting position upon insertion into spring clip, in a defined angle relative to the housing, such that the pressing force applied to open the clip is reduced. The busbar is moved relatively to an end position in the assembled state. The busbar is rotated at the end position according to the opening amount of the spring clip.

Description

The invention relates to an electrical installation device - for example, a circuit breaker or a residual current circuit breaker - for mounting in an electrical distribution box. The electrical installation device has a spring clamp, which is arranged and supported in a housing of the electrical installation device and is adapted to press a busbar in an end position by means of a force applied by the spring clip spring force against an electrically conductive element of the electrical installation device.

Such electrical installation equipment, such as circuit breaker or residual current circuit breaker, have terminals, which are provided for connecting each of an electrical connection conductor. In electrical distribution manifolds, which are also referred to as switch boxes or distribution boxes, usually several electrical installation devices are arranged side by side. It often proves to be advantageous to connect at least some of the electrical installation devices with so-called busbars with each other, for example, to set a phase line. In this way, the wiring costs when equipping a junction box can be significantly reduced.

From the publication DE 10 2006 057 100 A1 a terminal for an electrical installation device is known, which is suitable both for Klemmkontaktieren a busbar and an electrical connection conductor. For Klemmkontaktieren the busbar a spring clip is provided, which has a first and a second leg, wherein the first leg can be inserted into a clamping body of a screw. When inserting the busbar, the spring clip is bent, wherein the busbar is clamped between the second leg and the clamping body.

To ensure a good electrical contact when contacting the busbar a predefined contact force is required. This is the force that must be applied through the spring clamp to clamp the connected busbar so that a proper electrical connection is made and contact corrosion is avoided. When inserting the busbar into the spring clamp thus a counter force to this contact force is required to open the spring clip. If several juxtaposed electrical installation equipment to be contacted simultaneously with the busbar, this results in the problem that the Eindrückkraft, which is required to depress the busbar in the spring terminals, proportionally increases with the number of juxtaposed electrical installation equipment, as to each spring terminal a Counterforce must be applied to open the spring clip. The assembly is made much more difficult.

Furthermore, from the document DE 60 2004 011 607 T2 a terminal for an electrical installation device is known, which is provided for a screwless Klemmkontaktierung a busbar. The terminal has two leaf springs for clamping the busbar, wherein one of the leaf springs is snapped on one side via a nose formed on the leaf spring in a window formed in a side tab of the terminal, so that it is a leaf spring at a constant distance is held by the contact surface, even if no busbar is inserted. As a result, a depression of the busbar is facilitated in the terminal. The snapped into the window leaf spring contributes so at most to a small extent for applying the clamping force on the busbar, so that the contact force of the terminal is significantly reduced. As a result, the quality of the electrical contact, for compliance with a certain minimum contact force is absolutely necessary, significantly reduced. Furthermore, can occur by the complaint of a leaf spring of the contact surface contact corrosion, since this clamps a leaf spring busbar only with reduced force. If the fixed distance of a leaf spring to the contact surface is greater than the thickness of the busbar, then even unwanted arcing between the leaf spring and the busbar can occur.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an electrical installation device with a spring clamp, wherein the Eindrückkraft is reduced for pressing the busbar into the spring clamp with constant contact force.

This object is achieved by the electrical installation device according to independent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

The electrical installation device according to the invention for mounting in an electrical distribution distributor has a spring terminal, which is arranged and held in a housing of the electrical installation device. In this case, the spring clip is adapted to press a busbar in an end position by means of a force applied by the spring clip spring force against an electrically conductive contact element of the electrical installation device. Furthermore, the housing has a guide contour to the busbar in a mounting position when inserted into the spring clip in a defined first angle relative to the housing, wherein the bus bar in a final position in the mounted state relative to the housing has a second angle. In this case, the first angle is selected such that a force to be applied to open the spring clamp pressure when pressing the busbar is reduced in the spring clip at the first angle compared to the second angle, wherein after opening the spring clip, the busbar is rotatable and can be brought into its end position ,

With the help of such a spring clip, which is also referred to as a push-in terminal, a screwless Klemmkontaktierung the busbar is possible. In conventional spring terminals, the insertion direction in which the busbar is pressed to the end position in the spring terminal, almost vertical to a direction of movement of the resilient part of the spring clip. Therefore, in the insertion direction acting insertion force, which is applied to open the spring clip on the busbar, in a conventional spring clip, as it is known for example from the prior art, comparatively high. This insertion force can be reduced by the fact that the direction in which is pressed to open on the spring clip, as vertical as possible to the direction of movement of the resilient part of the spring clip is selected. In this case, the force required for opening is approximately equal in magnitude to the contact force of the spring clip.

In that, for opening the spring clip, the bus bar is moved to an assembly position in which it is pressed against the spring clip at a first angle to the direction of movement of the resilient member, said first angle being significantly less than the approximately right angle which the busbar engages when inserted into the spring clip From the prior art spring clamp takes, the force that must be applied to push the busbar in the spring clip and thus to open the spring clip, can be significantly reduced. The contact force with which the spring clip presses against the busbar to ensure good electrical contact is not affected.

In an advantageous development of the electrical installation device, the first angle of the busbar relative to the housing is between 30 ° and 60 °. An angle of this magnitude provides a good compromise between the goal of reducing indentation force and practical handling.

In a further advantageous development of the electrical installation device, the busbar is oriented in the end position approximately parallel to a contact surface of the spring clip. In this way, a good electrical contact is achieved when contacting the busbar.

In a further advantageous development of the electrical installation device, the spring clamp has a limiting element in order to limit the elastic deformation of the spring clip in a predetermined manner. With the help of the limiting element, the spring travel of the spring clip is limited so that only elastic deformations are possible. As a result, the spring clamp is protected from plastic deformation, which would result in a reduced contact force, for example.

In a further advantageous development of the electrical installation device, a screw terminal is additionally provided which is fixedly mounted in the housing and designed to receive an electrical connection conductor. In this case, the spring terminal is mechanically coupled to the screw, so that an electrical contact of the electrical connection conductor by means of the screw and / or the busbar by means of the spring clip can be realized. In this way, a standardized terminal is provided, which is suitable both for electrical contacting of a busbar and an electrical connection conductor. In addition, it is possible to electrically connect the electrical installation device with both the busbar and with an electrical connection conductor.

In a further advantageous development of the electrical installation device, the spring terminal is electrically connected to the screw terminal. Since the terminal inside the electrical installation device is electrically connected to an electrically conductive element, an electrically conductive connection of both the spring terminal and the screw is required to the electrically conductive element. This is structurally in a simple manner feasible by spring clamp and screw terminal are electrically connected to each other.

In a further advantageous development of the electrical installation device, the screw terminal has a clamping frame with at least one groove in which the spring clip can be latched via a latching element in order to realize the coupling between the screw terminal and the spring clip. The locking of a locking element of the spring clip in a groove of the screw provides an easy to implement and cost-effective way to mechanically couple spring clamp and screw together.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the electrical installation device, the Screw on a screw to clamp the electrical connection conductor. The spring clip is arranged on a side facing away from the screw of the screw. Due to this arrangement, the ergonomics in the contacting of the electrical installation device - for example, when installed in a distribution box - improved by the fact that the screw is still accessible even when mounted busbar. The wiring effort in equipping a distribution box is thereby significantly reduced.

In the following, an embodiment of the electrical installation device will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures are:

1A to 1C schematic representations of the electrical installation device according to the invention in several views;

2A to 2D schematic representations of the terminal in several views;

3A to 3C schematic representations of the spring clamp in several views.

In the various figures of the drawing, like parts are always provided with the same reference numerals. The description applies to all drawing figures in which the corresponding part can also be recognized.

In the 1A to 1C is a housing 2 the electrical installation device according to the invention 1 schematically shown with a terminal arranged therein in several views. While the 1A and 1B the assembly procedure of a busbar 9 show in a side view is in 1C the electrical installation device according to the invention 1 with the busbar connected to it 9 shown in perspective view.

1A shows the electrical installation device 1 with the housing open 2 with one in the housing 2 arranged terminal. The terminal essentially consists of a screw terminal 20 and a spring clip 10 , which as a common structural unit in the housing 2 of the electrical installation device 1 are stored. The screw clamp 20 has a clamping frame 21 on, in which a screw 23 can be screwed to one by one in the housing 2 trained connection opening 6 in the clamping frame 21 introduced terminal lead (not shown) to clamp. To do this, use the clamping screw 23 a pressure piece 24 coupled, which when tightening the clamping screw 23 is pressed down and the connecting conductor against a bottom of the clamping frame 21 suppressed. For accessibility to the clamping screw 23 to ensure the housing 2 in an area at the front an opening 5 on, through which a suitable tool - such as a screwdriver - with the head of the clamping screw 23 can be coupled to operate this.

Furthermore, in the 1A a busbar 9 represented, which relative to the housing 2 of the electrical installation device 1 occupies a mounting position. Such busbars serve to provide a quick and easy electrical connection, usually several juxtaposed electrical installation device 1 to realize, with the busbars usually access side, ie for feeding the current in the electrical installation equipment 1 be used. The mounting position of the busbar 9 is how in 1A seen obliquely to the access side of the electrical installation device 1 oriented in a defined first angle. Around the busbar 9 during assembly, ie when plugged into the spring clamp 10 to guide in this defined first angle, the housing has 2 of the electrical installation device 1 in the area of the terminal opening 6 a leadership contour 4 on. This is as a chamfer on the case 2 formed, wherein the angle of the chamfer corresponds to the first angle, the busbar 9 in its mounting position relative to the housing 2 of the electrical installation device 1 occupies.

In contrast to 1A is in the 1B and 1C the busbar 9 shown in an assembled state in which they are relative to the housing 2 of the electrical installation device 1 occupies an end position. In this end position is a good electrically conductive contact between the busbar 9 and the spring clip 10 of the electrical installation device 1 realized. This is achieved by a spring element 11 the spring clamp 10 the finger-like connection of the busbar 9 against an electrically conductive element, in the illustrated case against the lower part of the clamping frame 21 the screw terminal 20 , presses. Around the busbar 9 from its mounting position (see illustration in 1A ) is brought to its end position, the finger-like connection element of the busbar 9 initially under the defined first angle against the spring element 11 the spring clamp 10 pressed, causing the spring clip 10 is opened. In the process, the busbar becomes 9 on the guide contour 4 of the electrical installation device 1 guided. In the further assembly process, the busbar 9 turned and continue into the spring clip 10 pressed until it reaches its end position (see illustration of 1B and 1C ) has reached. As the angle between the finger-like connection part of the busbar 9 and the spring element 11 the spring clamp 10 passing through the guide contour 4 is given, is chosen such that the finger-like Connection element of the busbar 9 approximately at a right angle to the surface of the spring element 11 presses, can to open the spring clip 10 applied pressure force to be kept comparatively low. Inserting the busbar 9 in the spring clamp 10 This significantly simplifies it. This is especially the case when multiple electrical installation equipment 1 are arranged side by side to a busbar assembly and the busbar 9 at the same time in the several spring clips 10 the multiple electrical installation equipment 1 must be pressed.

Furthermore, it is possible to have a single electrical installation device 1 to be loosened from the busbar network or re-integrated into the busbar network. Also in the event that the electrical installation device to be detached from the busbar network 1 still with a screw terminal 20 Connected electrical conductor is connected, a release of a single electrical installation device from the busbar assembly is possible.

In the 2A to 2D the connection terminal is shown schematically in several views. The show 2A and 2 B a front or a side view, while the terminal in 2C is shown in perspective view. In 2D an exploded view of the terminal is shown.

The terminal essentially consists of the screw terminal 20 and the spring clip 10 , As in the 1A to 1C shown, the screw terminal 20 a clamping frame 21 on, in which a clamping screw 23 can be screwed. When screwing in the clamping screw 23 becomes a pressure piece 24 together with the clamping screw 23 in the direction of the clamping frame 21 moves, leaving one in the clamping frame 21 inserted electrical conductor (not shown) via the pressure piece 24 against the ground, ie the lower part of the clamping frame 21 is pressed. In this way, a good electrically conductive contact between the clamping frame 21 made of the terminal and the inserted electrical conductor. Furthermore, the clamping frame 21 in its lower part two guide grooves 22 on which for receiving the spring clip 10 are provided. For this purpose, the spring clip 10 two side flaps 14 on, at each of whose ends a latching element 15 is trained. With the help of the two locking elements 15 can the spring clamp 10 at the two at the clip frame 21 trained grooves 22 the screw terminal 20 be latched so that the screw clamp 20 and the spring clip 21 if necessary in a simple manner to a stable terminal mountable.

In the 3A to 3C is the spring clamp 10 shown schematically in several views. The 3A and 3B again show a front or a side view, while the spring clip 10 in the 2C is shown in perspective view. The spring clamp 10 is produced as a sheet metal part and has a bottom 16 on, on which the spring element 11 as well as the two side flaps 14 are integrally formed. The two side flaps 14 are relative to the ground 16 bent by about 90 ° upwards and have at their bottom opposite the end of each locking element 15 in the form of a folded edge over which the spring clip 10 with the clamping frame 21 the screw terminal 20 taking advantage of the inherent elasticity of the side flaps 14 can be locked to a unit. The spring element 11 is relative to the ground 16 bent inwards and at its bottom 16 bent away from the end bent again, creating a limiting element 13 is formed. On one floor 16 remote surface of the spring element 11 the spring clip has a contact surface 12 on, via the one inserted busbar 9 in the assembled state against the clamping frame 21 is pressed. Becomes a busbar 9 (please refer 1A to 1C ) in the on the clamping frame 21 mounted spring clip 10 pressed in, so does the spring element 11 pressed down against its spring force and thus deformed elastically. In order to achieve a plastic deformation of the spring element 11 to prevent is the delimiter 13 designed such that it starts at a certain spring travel of the spring element 11 on the ground 16 gets up. This maximum spring travel is dimensioned such that the deformation of the spring element 11 at a safe distance from the area of plastic deformation. In this way, the spring travel of the spring element 11 safely limited to the purely elastic deformation range.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Electrical installation equipment

2

casing

4

guide contour

5

opening

6

Terminal Opening

9

bus

10

spring clip

11

spring element

12

contact area

13

limiting element

14

side flap

15

locking element

16

ground

20

screw

21

clamping frame

22

groove

23

screw

24

Pressure piece

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 102006057100 A1 [0003]
• DE 602004011607 T2 [0005]

Claims (8)

Electrical installation device ( 1 ) for mounting in an electrical distribution manifold, - with a spring clip ( 10 ), which are housed in a housing ( 2 ) of the electrical installation device is arranged and supported and is adapted to a busbar ( 9 ) in an end position by means of a spring clip ( 10 ) applied spring force against an electrically conductive contact element of the electrical installation device ( 1 ), - in which the housing ( 2 ) a guide contour ( 4 ) to the busbar ( 9 ) in a mounting position when inserted into the spring clip ( 10 ) at a defined first angle relative to the housing ( 2 ), - in which the busbar ( 9 ) in an end position in the assembled state relative to the housing ( 2 ) has a second angle, - wherein the first angle is selected such that one for opening the spring clip ( 10 ) applied pressure force when pressing the busbar ( 9 ) in the spring clip ( 10 ) is reduced at the first angle compared to the second angle, - wherein after opening the spring clip ( 10 ) the busbar ( 9 ) is rotatable and can be brought into its end position. Electrical installation device ( 1 ) according to claim 1, wherein the first angle of the busbar ( 9 ) relative to the housing ( 2 ) is between 30 ° and 60 °. Electrical installation device ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the busbar ( 9 ) in the end position approximately parallel to a contact surface ( 12 ) of the spring clip is oriented. Electrical installation device ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the spring clip ( 10 ) a limiting element ( 13 ) to the elastic deformation of the spring clip ( 10 ) in a predetermined manner. Electrical installation device ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, - in which additionally a screw terminal ( 20 ) is provided, which in the housing ( 2 ) is mounted fixed and adapted to receive an electrical connection conductor, - wherein the spring clip ( 10 ) with the screw terminal ( 20 ) is mechanically coupled, so that an electrical contacting of the electrical connection conductor by means of the screw ( 20 ) and / or the busbar ( 9 ) by means of the spring clip ( 10 ) is feasible. Electrical installation device ( 1 ) according to claim 5, wherein the spring clip ( 10 ) with the screw terminal ( 20 ) is electrically connected. Electrical installation device ( 1 ) according to claim 6, wherein the screw terminal ( 20 ) a clamping frame ( 21 ) with at least one groove ( 22 ), in which the spring clip ( 10 ) via a locking element ( 15 ) is latched to the coupling between the screw ( 20 ) and the spring clip ( 10 ) to realize. Electrical installation device ( 1 ) according to one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the screw terminal ( 20 ) a screw ( 23 ) for clamping the electrical connection conductor, and wherein the spring clip ( 10 ) on one of the screws ( 23 ) facing away from the screw ( 20 ) is arranged.

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