DE102019133529B4 - Contacting device for contacting a shield conductor of an electrical cable - Google Patents

Abstract

Contacting device (1) for contacting a shield conductor (20) of an electrical line (2), with a housing (10) which encloses a receiving space (12) into which an electrical line (2) extending along a longitudinal axis (L) with a shield conductor (20) can be inserted in an insertion direction (E) pointing transversely to the longitudinal axis (L), with a spring element (11) which is adjustably arranged on the housing (10) and which has an actuating leg (110) and a clamping leg (112) pointing into the receiving space (12) and which can be adjusted from an open position into a clamping position in order to act in the clamping position with the clamping leg (112) on a shield conductor (20) of an electrical line (2) inserted into the receiving space (12), and with a lever element (13) which covers the actuating leg (110) at least in sections and is mounted on the housing (10) so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis (S) that the Spring element (11) can be adjusted by pivoting the lever element (13) towards the housing (10), wherein the lever element (13) has a connecting element (138) for positive connection with the actuating leg (110), wherein the connecting element (138) is arranged on an inner side (132) of the lever element (13) facing the actuating leg (110), and wherein the actuating leg (110) has a locking device for locking connection to the housing (10) in the clamping position, characterized in that the actuating leg (110) has at least one locking lug (114) for locking connection to at least one locking projection (102) of the housing (10) in the clamping position on an end section (113) remote from the clamping leg (112) to form the locking device, wherein a tool engagement (115) for releasing the Spring element (11) is arranged out of the clamping position.

Description

The invention relates to a contacting device for contacting a shield conductor of an electrical line according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such a contacting device comprises a housing which encloses a receiving space into which an electrical line extending along a longitudinal axis with a shield conductor can be inserted in an insertion direction pointing transversely to the longitudinal axis. A spring element is arranged on the housing which is adjustable relative to the housing and has an actuating leg and a clamping leg pointing into the receiving space. The spring element can be adjusted from an open position into a clamping position in order to act with the clamping leg on a shield conductor of an electrical line inserted into the receiving space in the clamping position. The contacting device also has a lever element which covers the actuating leg at least in sections and is mounted on the housing so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis such that the spring element can be adjusted relative to the housing by pivoting the lever element. The lever element has a connecting element for a positive connection to the actuating leg, wherein the connecting element is arranged on an inner side of the lever element facing the actuating leg. The actuating arm has a locking device for locking connection to the housing in the clamping position.

Such a contacting device, also referred to as a shield clamp, is used to contact a shield conductor, for example in the form of a shielding network surrounding the conductor wires of the electrical cable, over a large area with an earthing section - for example a busbar or a housing edge of an electrical system (e.g. a control cabinet). The contact should be stable, in particular temperature and corrosion resistant (even in aggressive environments), in order to establish a reliable earthing of the shield conductor with the earthing section over the service life of the electrical system.

Conventional contacting devices have a comparatively complex structure, use a large number of components and are correspondingly expensive to manufacture.

In one of the DE 20 2015 102 037 U1 With the known shield clamp, a grounding section in the form of a metallic conductor and an electrical cable can be inserted into a housing. A clamping screw is arranged on the housing, via which the electrical cable can be clamped to the metallic conductor.

In one of the DE 200 14 918 U1 In the known connection element for connecting a cable shield of a shield cable to conductor connections of at least one module, a web is pre-tensioned against a housing via spring elements. A shield cable can be electrically contacted via the web.

In one of the DE 196 108 541 A1 Using the known terminal arrangement, a shield conductor of an electrical cable can be attached to spring terminals for electrical contact with a busbar.

From the EN 10 2016 110 393 A1 A contacting device in the form of a shield clamp is known in which a spring element is pivotably mounted on a housing in order to act with a clamping leg on a shield conductor of an electrical line inserted into a receiving space. The fact that the spring element is mounted directly on the housing and acts on the housing's pivot pins via joint tabs results in a comparatively complicated production of the spring element, which has to be cut using a punching process, for example, and then bent in several spatial directions.

In the EN 10 2013 107 292 A1 a connector is described which has an insulating housing which has at least one conductor insertion opening for inserting an electrical conductor into a contact space within the insulating housing and a busbar receiving space for receiving a separate busbar, and at least one cage tension spring. The cage tension spring is introduced into a first section of the insulating housing and the conductor insertion opening is introduced into a second section of the insulating housing. The busbar receiving space forms an intermediate space between the first section and the second section. The contact leg of the cage tension spring adjoins the busbar receiving space for supporting the contact leg on a busbar received in the busbar receiving space. The first section and the second section are designed to be movable relative to one another for clamping a busbar that can be received in the busbar receiving space. A releasable locking element is provided for locking the first section and the second section to one another.

The CN 105 428 914 A discloses a connection terminal with a clamping spring, the holding leg of which is firmly connected to the actuating lever of the connection terminal.

From the EN 10 2015 118 033 A conductor connection terminal with an insulating housing, with a spring-loaded clamp connection that has a clamping spring for clamping an electrical conductor, and with an actuating lever mounted in the insulating housing so as to be pivotable about a center of rotation is known. The actuating lever has a lever arm section and an actuating section that cooperates to apply force to the associated clamping spring, and the actuating lever has a free space in the center of rotation. The center of rotation lies between the actuating section and the lever arm section. A bent section of the clamping spring is positioned in the free space of the actuating lever. The free space has a curved inner contour that lies adjacent to the curved section of the clamping spring, and the actuating section forms the tapered end of the curved inner contour.

The WO 2019/192842 A1 describes a connection device for connecting a shield conductor of an electrical line to a grounding section. This comprises a housing which encloses a receiving space into which an electrical line can be inserted along a longitudinal axis with a shield conductor. In addition, a spring element which is adjustably arranged on the housing is provided, which has a clamping leg and can be moved from an open position into a clamping position towards the housing in order to act with the clamping leg on a shield conductor of an electrical line inserted into the receiving space in the clamping position, wherein the clamping leg has a contact section for acting on the shield conductor, which has an at least partially curved or angled contact contour on a side facing the shield conductor, viewed in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

Furthermore, the EN 10 2014 117 699 A1 a conductor clamp device is known which comprises a housing with at least one attachment point for attaching a conductor and a spring element arranged on the housing so as to be pivotable about a hinge axis, which can be brought into a first pivot position to clamp a conductor attached to the attachment point to the housing and can be pivoted out of the first pivot position to release the clamping. A locking device serves to lock the spring element to the housing in the first pivot position of the spring element. In addition, an actuating element is provided which can be moved in an actuating direction relative to the housing in the first pivot position of the spring element and is designed to act on the spring element when actuated to release the locking of the spring element to the housing.

The object of the present invention is to provide a contacting device which enables a reliable and consistent contacting of a shield conductor of an electrical line with an associated grounding section, while being easy to operate and inexpensive to manufacture.

The problem is solved by an article having the features of claim 1.

Accordingly, in order to form the locking device, the actuating leg has at least one locking lug on an end section remote from the clamping leg for locking connection to at least one locking projection of the housing in the clamping position, wherein a tool engagement for releasing the spring element from the clamping position is arranged on the end section of the actuating leg.

In the contacting device, the spring element is arranged so that it can pivot relative to the housing via the lever element. The spring element is not mounted directly on the housing, but is operatively connected to the lever element in such a way that a pivoting movement of the lever element can be transferred into a pivoting movement of the spring element to the housing. The lever element is mounted on the housing so that a user can grip the lever element and thereby adjust the spring element to the housing.

Because the spring element is supported via the lever element, the spring element can be manufactured in a comparatively simple manner, for example as a stamped and bent part made from spring steel. For production, the spring element can be cut from spring steel using a stamping process, for example. A bending process can then be carried out in a comparatively simple manner, whereby no bending of sections of the spring element for mounting on the housing is necessary.

The lever element is operatively connected to the spring element and covers the actuating leg of the spring element at least in sections. The lever element can be made from a metal material, for example using a metal die-casting process, for example as a zinc die-cast part.

Because the lever element is made of a metal material, the lever element can be made rigid so that a user can comfortably grip the lever element to actuate the spring element. Because the lever element completely or partially covers the actuating leg, there is the additional advantage that deformation of the spring element is not immediately visible from the outside when the spring element is in the clamping position, which improves the appearance of the contacting device in the clamping position.

However, the lever element can also be made of a plastic material.

Because the lever element is designed as a separate part from the spring element, a marking can also be attached to the lever element, for example, which cannot otherwise be easily provided on the spring element. For example, as part of a die-casting process, a marking, for example in the form of a label or a symbol, can be attached to an outward-facing side of the lever element.

In one embodiment, the lever element is firmly connected to the actuating leg, so that the actuating leg is held firmly on the lever element. When the lever element is pivoted towards the housing, the actuating leg is thus moved together with the lever element and the spring element is thereby adjusted towards the housing.

In another embodiment, the spring element can, for example, be loosely connected to the lever element, for example by inserting the spring element into the housing and the lever element being pivotably mounted on the housing while covering the actuating leg, wherein the lever element acts on the actuating leg when pivoting, for example in the direction of the clamping position, and thereby adjusts the spring element to the housing.

According to the invention, the lever element has a connecting element for a positive connection to the actuating leg. The connecting element is arranged on an inner side of the lever element facing the actuating leg and is designed, for example, as a hook protruding from the inner side for engagement in an associated connection opening of the actuating leg. A positive connection between the lever element and the actuating leg can thus be established via the connecting element, so that when the lever element is adjusted, the spring element is adjusted together with the lever element.

In addition to the connecting element, the lever element can have a positioning pin arranged on the inside for connection to the actuating leg, which is designed to engage in an associated positioning opening on the actuating leg. The positioning pin is arranged spatially offset from the connecting element and thus enables positioning and a stable connection - in interaction with the connecting element - of the lever element to the actuating leg.

In one embodiment, the spring element has a curved section that connects the clamping leg to the actuating leg. The clamping leg is bent over the curved section to the actuating leg, so that the clamping leg and the actuating leg extend at an angle to one another. When the spring element is actuated for clamping connection to a shielding conductor, the position of the clamping leg to the actuating leg can be elastically deformed in order to exert a spring force on the shielding conductor.

In one embodiment, a curved support section is formed on the lever element, which serves to support the curved section of the spring element on the lever element. By connecting the lever element to the actuating leg and by supporting it via the support section, a deformation of the spring element can be caused when adjusted in the direction of the clamping position, in particular in the area of the curved section for deflecting the clamping leg towards the actuating leg, so that a defined spring force is exerted on the shield conductor of a cable inserted into the receiving space of the housing in the clamping position.

In one embodiment, the clamping leg has a contact section curved around the pivot axis at an end remote from the actuating leg. The spring element is designed to come into contact with the shield conductor of the electrical cable inserted into the receiving space via the contact section in the clamping position. Because the clamping leg comes into contact with the shield conductor of the electrical cable via the curved contact section, a flat contact of the clamping leg with the shield conductor can be achieved. Due to the curvature of the contact section, the clamping leg nestles against the shield conductor and contacts the shield conductor flatly, without that sharp edges come into contact with the shield conductor (which could otherwise lead to damage to the shield conductor).

The contact section can be divided into sections that are at an angle to each other and are each aligned at an angle to the pivot axis. The contact section therefore has a V-shape that is designed so that the contact section can advantageously be applied to an approximately cylindrical shield conductor (corresponding to the shape of the cable). The V-shape of the contact section can also be used to position and center the shield conductor relative to the spring element and to securely hold the clamping leg on the shield conductor.

According to the invention, the spring element is locked to the housing in the clamping position via the actuating leg. For this purpose, the actuating leg has a locking device which is formed by at least one locking lug on an end section of the actuating leg remote from the clamping leg. The actuating leg locks to at least one locking projection on the housing via the at least one locking lug, so that the actuating leg is positively secured in its clamping position and is thus held in the clamping position.

To close the contacting device, the spring element is pressed in the direction of the clamping position, for example by pressing on the lever element and thereby on the actuating leg. In the clamping position, the spring element clamps the shield conductor of the electrical line to an associated contacting section, for example a grounding section extending into the housing. From the closed position, the spring element can be released, for example by a user using a tool, e.g. a screwdriver, to reach into a tool recess on the end section of the actuating leg via an opening on the lever element and in this way release the locking between the locking lugs of the actuating leg and the locking projections of the housing. When the locking is released, the spring element jumps out of the clamping position due to the elastic preload of the clamping leg (caused by the contact with the shield conductor of the electrical line), so that the contacting device is opened and the electrical line can be removed from the housing.

In another embodiment, a locking device can also be arranged on the lever element, so that the assembly formed by the lever element and the spring element is locked to the housing in the clamping position via the lever element. For this purpose, a locking lug can be formed on the lever element, for example, which engages with an edge of the housing in the clamping position and thus locks the lever element to the housing.

The housing can, for example, be made in one piece. In one embodiment, the housing can, for example, have two parallel side walls spaced apart from one another along a transverse direction, between which the receiving space is formed, and a base connecting the side walls to one another. The housing can thus, for example, have a U-shaped cross-section, into which the electrical cable with stripped shield conductor can be inserted.

Such a housing design can be used in particular for attaching the contacting device to a grounding section in the form of a housing wall of an electrical system, for example a control cabinet or a busbar. To electrically contact the shield conductor of the electrical line with a grounding section, the electrical line with the stripped shield conductor is preferably first inserted into the housing of the contacting device. The housing can then be attached together with the electrical line arranged thereon to the grounding section, for example a busbar providing grounding or a section of a housing wall of an electrical system, e.g. a control cabinet or the like. If the housing has been attached to the grounding section, the grounding section preferably extends through the receiving space along the transverse direction along which the side walls of the housing are spaced apart from one another. The side walls of the housing can have recesses for this purpose, the shape of which is adapted to the shape of the grounding section and can thus accommodate the grounding section, for example a metallic conductor with a rectangular cross section.

In another embodiment, the contacting device can also be designed for flat attachment to a grounding section, for example a wall of an electrical system, for example a control cabinet. In this case, the housing can have a C-shape, whereby a base of the housing can be flatly attached to the grounding section and connected to the grounding section. In this case, the housing can be open at the side so that an electrical line can be inserted laterally into the receiving space of the housing along an insertion direction pointing along the pivot axis. can be clamped into contact with a contact section in the housing via the spring element.

• 1 eine Ansicht einer Kontaktierungseinrichtung zum Kontaktieren einer elektrischen Leitung mit einem Erdungsabschnitt in Form einer Sammelschiene, darstellend unterschiedliche Baugrößen der Kontaktierungseinrichtung;
• 2 eine Ansicht einer Kontaktierungseinrichtung zum Kontaktieren einer elektrischen Leitung mit einem Erdungsabschnitt in Form einer Wandung einer elektrischen Anlage, zum Beispiel eines Schaltschranks, darstellend unterschiedliche Baugrößen der Kontaktierungseinrichtung;
• 3A eine Ansicht eines Hebelelements einer Kontaktierungseinrichtung;
• 3B eine rückseitige Ansicht eines Hebelelements;
• 4A eine Ansicht eines Federelement der Kontaktierungseinrichtung;
• 4B eine rückseitige Ansicht des Federelements;
• 5A eine Ansicht der Baugruppe des Hebelelements und des Federelements;
• 5B eine rückseitige Ansicht der Baugruppe des Hebelelements und des Federelements;
• 6 eine Ansicht eines anderen Ausführungsbeispiels einer Kontaktierungseinrichtung zum Kontaktieren einer elektrischen Leitung mit einem Erdungsabschnitt in Form einer Sammelschiene, darstellend unterschiedliche Baugrößen der Kontaktierungseinrichtung;
• 7 eine Ansicht eines wiederum anderen Ausführungsbeispiels einer Kontaktierungseinrichtung zum Kontaktieren einer elektrischen Leitung mit einem Erdungsabschnitt in Form einer Sammelschiene, darstellend unterschiedliche Baugrößen der Kontaktierungseinrichtung;
• 8 eine Ansicht eines wiederum anderen Ausführungsbeispiels einer Kontaktierungseinrichtung zum Kontaktieren einer elektrischen Leitung mit einem Erdungsabschnitt in Form einer Sammelschiene, darstellend unterschiedliche Baugrößen der Kontaktierungseinrichtung;
• 9 eine Ansicht eines Ausführungsbeispiels einer Kontaktierungseinrichtung zum Kontaktieren einer elektrischen Leitung mit einem Erdungsabschnitt in Form einer Wandung einer elektrischen Anlage, zum Beispiel eines Schaltschranks, darstellend unterschiedliche Baugrößen der Kontaktierungseinrichtung;
• 10 eine Ansicht eines anderen Ausführungsbeispiels einer Kontaktierungseinrichtung zum Kontaktieren einer elektrischen Leitung mit einem Erdungsabschnitt in Form einer Sammelschiene; und
• 11 eine Ansicht der einzelnen Bauteile der Kontaktierungseinrichtung gemäß 10.

The idea underlying the invention will be explained in more detail below using the embodiments shown in the figures. They show:

• 1 a view of a contacting device for contacting an electrical line with a grounding section in the form of a busbar, showing different sizes of the contacting device;
• 2 a view of a contacting device for contacting an electrical line with an earthing section in the form of a wall of an electrical system, for example a control cabinet, showing different sizes of the contacting device;
• 3A a view of a lever element of a contacting device;
• 3B a rear view of a lever element;
• 4A a view of a spring element of the contacting device;
• 4B a rear view of the spring element;
• 5A a view of the lever element and spring element assembly;
• 5B a rear view of the lever element and spring element assembly;
• 6 a view of another embodiment of a contacting device for contacting an electrical line with a grounding section in the form of a busbar, showing different sizes of the contacting device;
• 7 a view of yet another embodiment of a contacting device for contacting an electrical line with a grounding section in the form of a busbar, showing different sizes of the contacting device;
• 8th a view of yet another embodiment of a contacting device for contacting an electrical line with a grounding section in the form of a busbar, showing different sizes of the contacting device;
• 9 a view of an embodiment of a contacting device for contacting an electrical line with a grounding section in the form of a wall of an electrical system, for example a control cabinet, showing different sizes of the contacting device;
• 10 a view of another embodiment of a contacting device for contacting an electrical line with a grounding section in the form of a busbar; and
• 11 a view of the individual components of the contacting device according to 10 .

1 shows an embodiment of a contacting device 1 in different sizes, which serves to electrically contact a shield conductor 20 in the form of an electrically conductive shield braid of an electrical line 2 with a grounding section 3 in the form of a busbar. The different sizes of the contacting device 1 are functionally identical, but differ in their size and are accordingly suitable for receiving lines 2 of different diameters.

The electrical line 2 to be attached to an associated contacting device 1 has, for example, a plurality of electrical line wires 22 which are surrounded by the shield conductor 20 in the form of the shielding. The shield conductor 20 is covered on the outside by means of an electrically insulating sheath, so that the shield conductor 20 is insulated on the outside.

By means of the contacting device 1, the shielding conductor 20 of the electrical line 2 - in the embodiment shown - can be electrically contacted with a grounding section 3 in the form of a metallic conductor, for example a busbar or a housing edge of an electrical system. The shielding conductor 20 can thereby be brought to the grounding potential of the grounding section 3, so that the shielding conductor 20 is grounded via the contacting device 1.

In principle, a plurality of electrical lines 2 can be arranged on the grounding section 3 and electrically grounded.

In the embodiment shown, the contacting device 1 has a housing 10 which is formed from two parallel side walls 100 spaced apart from one another along a transverse direction Q and a base 104 connecting the side walls 100 to one another. The housing 10 is preferably manufactured in one piece, for example as a stamped and bent part made of a metal sheet.

A lever element 13 is arranged on the housing 100 and can pivot about a pivot axis S. The lever element 13 is operatively connected to a spring element 11 which has an actuating leg 110 and a clamping leg 112 bent over to form the actuating leg 110. The spring element 11 is made, for example, as a stamped and bent part made of spring steel and is inherently elastically springy, so that the actuating leg 110 and the clamping leg 112 can be elastically adjusted in their position relative to one another.

3A , 3B , 4A , 4B and 5A , 5B show separate views of the lever element 13 ( 3A , 3B) , of the spring element 11 ( 4A , 4B) and the common assembly of the lever element 13 and the spring element 11 ( 5A , 5B) The lever element 13 has a body 130 which covers the actuating leg 110 and is firmly connected to the actuating leg 110 of the spring element 11 via a connecting element 138 in the form of a hook protruding from an inner side 132 and a positioning pin 133.

The connecting element 138 engages in a connection opening 119 on the actuating leg 110 for the connection and engages behind an edge of the connection opening 119. The positioning pin 133, on the other hand, engages in a positioning opening 111 on the actuating leg 110, so that a firm connection between the lever element 13 and the actuating leg 110 is created via the connecting element 138 and the positioning pin 133.

The actuating leg 110 is connected via a curved section 118 to the clamping leg 112 bent over to form the actuating leg 110. On the inner side 132 of the body 130, the lever element 13 has a curved support section 134, via which the curved section 118 of the spring element 11 is supported on the lever element 13 in such a way that when the lever element 13 is adjusted in the direction of a clamping position, the clamping leg 112 is deflected in a defined manner with elastic deformation towards the actuating leg 110.

The lever element 13 is mounted on bearing points 103 via bearing pins 131, so that the lever element 13 can be pivoted about the pivot axis S to the housing 10. The bearing points 103 are formed on bearing sections 107, which extend from the side walls 100. The bearing points 103 are here, in the case of the 1 illustrated embodiment, designed as circumferentially closed openings into which the bearing pins 131 of the lever element 13 engage.

In one embodiment, the lever element 13 is made of a metal material, for example using a metal die-casting process, for example as a zinc die-cast part. The lever element 13 is thus inherently rigid. One or more markings, for example in the form of a label or symbols, can be attached to the lever element 13, which are created, for example, as part of the manufacturing process on an outside of the lever element 13 facing away from the inside 130.

Because an additional lever element 13 is provided, the spring element 11 can be formed in a comparatively simple manner, so that the manufacturing costs for the contacting device 1 can be reduced. Because the lever element 13 with its body 130 covers the actuating leg 110 of the spring element 11 on the outside, a deformation on the spring element 11 in the clamping position, in particular on the actuating leg 110, is not visible from the outside, which can improve the appearance of the contacting device 1.

1 shows the lever element 13 and the spring element 11 in the clamping position, in which the spring element 11 is to be brought into clamping contact with a partially stripped shield conductor 20 of the electrical line 2 via the clamping leg 112 in order to press the shield conductor 20 into electrical contact with the earthing section 3. In this clamping position, the spring element 11 is locked via locking lugs 114 on an end section 113 of the actuating leg 110 remote from the clamping leg 112 with locking projections 102 on the opposite side walls 100, so that the spring element 11 is held in a form-fitting manner in its clamping position relative to the housing 10.

In the clamping position, the clamping leg 112 - when a cable 2 with a stripped shield conductor 20 is accommodated in the receiving space 12 - rests against the shield conductor 20 of the electrical cable 2 with a contact section 116 spaced from an end edge 117. In the area of this contact section 116, the clamping leg 112 is curved (in the plane perpendicular to the pivot axis S) so that no sharp-edged areas of the clamping leg 112 (in particular not the end edge 117) rest against the shield conductor 20 and thus a flat contact of the clamping leg 112 against the shield conductor 20 is provided.

The contact section 116 is in the illustrated embodiment, as can be seen in particular from 4A and 4B visible, formed by sections 116A, 116B which are arranged at an angle to each other and to the pivot axis S The contact section 116 thus forms a V-shape, which can improve the contact of the clamping leg 112 on the shield conductor 20 of a line 2 accommodated in the receiving space 12 of the housing 10. The V-shape of the contact section 116 can thus center the line 2 on the spring element 11, while securing the hold of the clamping leg 112 on the shield conductor 20 and increasing the contact surface.

In the clamping position, the spring leg 112 is elastically tensioned relative to the actuating leg 110 by the spring element 11 being pressed into the clamping position and being locked to the housing 10 in this clamping position via the actuating leg 110. Due to the elasticity of the spring element 11, for example, a (age-related) yielding of the shielding conductor 20 of the electrical line 2 can be compensated for without the electrical contact of the shielding conductor 20 with the grounding section 3 being impaired by the yielding.

On the side walls 100 of the housing 10, in the 1 In the exemplary embodiment shown, mutually opposite recesses 101 are formed, with which the housing 10 can be attached to an associated grounding section 3, so that the grounding section 3 extends along the transverse direction Q through a receiving space 14 of the housing 10 formed between the side walls 100. The electrical line 2, on the other hand, can be inserted with the partially stripped shield conductor 20 in an insertion direction E from a side facing away from the base 104 of the housing 10 into the receiving space 14, so that the electrical line 2, in the inserted position, extends along a longitudinal axis L transversely to the transverse direction Q and transversely to the insertion direction E through the receiving space 14 of the housing 10.

For electrical contacting of the shield conductor 20 of the electrical line 2 with the earthing section 3, in the embodiment according to 1 first, the electrical line 2 with the partially stripped shield conductor 20 is inserted into the receiving space 14 in the insertion direction E. Here, the lever element 13 together with the spring element 11 is in an open position in which the spring element 11 is moved out of the clamping position against the closing direction Z. Then, the contacting device 1 together with the electrical line 2 arranged thereon is attached to the grounding section 3 by bringing the housing 10 into engagement with the grounding section 3 via the recesses 101. The grounding section 3 thus extends through the receiving space 14 of the housing 10 in such a way that the spring element 11 and the grounding section 3 come to lie on different sides of the electrical line 2. By pressing on the lever element 13, the spring element 11 is then pushed into the 1 shown clamping position and pressed in the closing direction Z until the actuating leg 110 engages with the locking projections 102 on the side walls 100 of the housing 10 via its locking lugs 114 arranged on the end section 113. In this way, the spring leg 112 comes into clamping contact with the shield conductor 20 and is elastically tensioned so that the shield conductor 20 is pressed into contact with the earthing section 3 with sufficient contact force.

If the electrical line 2 is to be removed from the grounding section 3, a user can use a suitable tool, for example a screwdriver, to reach into an opening 135 on the body 130 of the lever element 13 and then into a tool recess 115 in the form of an opening on the end section 113 of the actuating leg 110, in order to release the locking of the actuating leg 110 with the housing 10 by (elastic) bending of the end section 113. Due to the pre-tension of the spring leg 112, the spring element 11 jumps out of its clamped position, so that the contacting device 1 is opened and the housing 10 can be removed from the grounding section 3 and the electrical line 2 can be removed from the housing 10.

2 shows an embodiment of a contacting device 1 again in different sizes, which with regard to the lever element 13 and the spring element 11 are functionally identical to the embodiment according to 1 is.

In contrast to the embodiment according to 1 the housing 10 of the contacting device 1 in the embodiment according to 2 a C-shape in which a base 104 is connected to a bottom 105 via a side wall 100, but the housing 10 is open on a side opposite the side wall 100, so that a line 2 can be inserted in an insertion direction E pointing along the pivot axis S into the receiving space 12 enclosed by the housing 10.

The contacting device 1 can be connected to a grounding section 3, for example the wall of an electrical system, for example a control cabinet, by means of the base 105. A contacting section 106 is formed on the base 105, with which the shield conductor 20 of an electrical line 2, which is arranged in the receiving space 12 enclosed by the housing 10, can be connected. is taken, is pressed into a clamping position in order to electrically connect the shield conductor 20 to the contacting section 106 and thus via the housing 10 to the earthing section 3.

In a 6 In the illustrated embodiment of a contacting device 1, again shown in different sizes, the bearing points 103 on the side walls 100 of the housing 10 are open towards the front, i.e. in the direction of the locking projections 102 on the front of the side walls 100, which can facilitate the assembly of the lever element 13 for pivotable mounting on the housing 10.

With regard to the lever element 13 and the spring element 11, the embodiment according to 6 functionally equivalent to the embodiment according to 1 , so reference should be made to the preceding statements.

In a 7 In the illustrated embodiment of a contacting device 1, again shown in different sizes, the bearing points 103 are open towards the rear, i.e. towards a side facing away from the locking projections 102 on the front side of the side walls 100. This again results in a simplified assembly of the lever element 13 for pivotable mounting on the housing 10.

With regard to the function of the lever element 13 and the spring element 11, reference is again made to the explanations of the embodiment according to 1 referred to.

In a 8th The embodiment shown has a contacting device 1 (which in 8th in different sizes) has a housing 10 which is formed by side walls 100 extending parallel to one another and connected to one another via a base 104 and is open at the bottom. Analogous to the embodiment according to 1 As described, an electrical line 2 can thus be inserted from below into a receiving space 12 of the housing 10 formed between the side walls 100, wherein the contacting device 1 can be attached via recesses 101 on the side walls 100 to an earthing section 3 in the form of a busbar or an edge of a housing wall of an electrical system, for example a control cabinet.

In the embodiment according to 8th a lever element 13 is pivotally mounted via bearing pins 131 in bearing points 103 in the form of inclined slots on bearing sections 107 of the side walls 100. The lever element 13 is loosely connected to a spring element 11, which, for example, as in 11 shown and has an actuating leg 110 and a clamping leg 112 connected to the actuating leg 110 via a curved section 118. The lever element 13 covers the actuating leg 110 in such a way that the actuating leg 110 in the 8th shown clamping position is arranged between the lever element 13 and the base 104 of the housing 10, so that in the clamping position the spring element 11 on the actuating leg 110 is held in position relative to the housing 10 via the lever element 13.

In the 8th In the embodiment shown, the lever element 13 has a locking lug 136 at a front end, which serves to lock with a front edge of the base 104 in the clamping position. In the embodiment according to 8th the lever element 13 is thus locked in the clamping position with the housing 10, so that the lever element 13 and the spring element 11 are held in position.

Because the lever element 13 can be moved to the housing 10 via the bearing points 103 in the form of the elongated holes by an adjustment path defined by the elongated holes, when the contacting device 1 is closed, the lever element 13 can be brought into engagement with the front edge of the base 104 with the locking lug 136 in order to lock the lever element 13 in this way. In the clamping position, the lever element 13 is elastically loaded via the actuating leg 110 of the spring element 11 due to an elastic deflection on the clamping leg 112 and thus in the 8th shown upper position at the bearing points 103 formed by the elongated holes, so that the locking lug 136 is held in engagement with the front edge of the base 104.

To release the locking mechanism, a user can press on the lever element 13 to move the bearing pins 131 in the bearing points 103 downward and forward, thereby disengaging the locking lug 136 from the front edge of the base 104.

9 shows an embodiment of a contacting device 1, which with regard to the lever element 13 and the spring element 11 is functionally identical to the embodiment according to 8th is.

In the embodiment according to 9 However, the housing 10 has a C-shape, with a base 104, a bottom 105 and a side connecting the base 104 to the bottom 105 wall 100 and is thus open at the side so that an electrical line 2 - analogous to the embodiment according to 2 described - can be inserted laterally into the receiving space 12 enclosed by the housing 10. The housing 10 can be placed flat against an earthing section 3 via the base 105 and connected to the earthing section 3 via this. In the clamped position, the electrical line 2 is pressed in a clamped position with a contact section 106 on the inside of the base 105, so that the shield conductor 20 of the electrical line 2 is contacted with the housing 10 and via this with an associated earthing section 3.

In a 10 and 11 In the embodiment of a contacting device 1 shown, a housing 10 has side walls 100 which form a receiving space 12 between them into which an electrical line 2 - analogous to the embodiment according to 1 has been described - can be inserted from below. Recesses 101 are formed on the side walls 100, via which the housing 10 can be attached to an associated earthing section 3 in the form of a busbar or an edge of a housing wall, again analogous to how this is done for the embodiment according to 1 has been described.

In the 10 and 11 In the embodiment shown, a lever element 13 is mounted via bearing pins 131 at bearing points 103 on bearing sections 107 of the side walls 100 of the housing 10 and can thus pivot about a pivot axis S relative to the housing 10. At an end facing away from the pivot axis S, the lever element 13 has locking legs 137 on which locking lugs 136 are formed for locking with locking projections 102 on the side walls 100 of the housing 10.

In the 10 In the clamping position shown, the locking lugs 136 engage behind the locking projections 102 on the side walls 100 of the housing, so that the lever element 13 locks with the housing 10 and the spring element 11 (see 11 ) to the housing 10.

To release the locking mechanism, a user can act on the locking legs 137 and deflect them inwards, so that the locking connection of the locking projections 102 with the locking lugs 136 is thereby canceled and the lever element 13 can be pivoted to open the contacting device 1.

In all embodiments, the spring element 11 can be manufactured as a stamped and bent part from a metal material, in particular a spring steel.

In addition, in all embodiments, the lever element 13 can be made of a metal material, for example using a die-casting process, for example as a zinc die-cast part.

The idea underlying the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but can also be implemented in a completely different way.

The contacting device provided can be simple in design and use only a few components. The spring element can be simple in design and inexpensive to manufacture.

The contacting device can also provide a low-cost, reliable, consistent contact force for electrically contacting a shield conductor with a grounding section. The contacting device can be simple and intuitive to use and can also enable a contact to be released.

The contacting device can in principle also be designed differently than described here. For example, the housing can have a different shape.

List of reference symbols

1

Contacting device

10

Housing

100

side walls

101

Recess

102

Locking projection

103

Storage location

104

Base

105

Floor

106

Contact section

107

Storage section

11

Spring element

110

Actuating arm

111

Positioning opening

112

Clamping leg

113

End section

114

Locking lugs

115

Tool intervention

116

Investment section

116A, 116B

Subsection

117

End edge

118

Curvature section

119

Connection opening

12

Recording room

13

Lever element

130

Body

131

Bearing journal

132

inside

133

Positioning pin

134

Support section

135

opening

136

locking lug

137

leg

138

Connecting element

2

Line

20

Shield conductor

21

Sheathing

22

Cable wires

3

Grounding section

E

Insertion direction

L

Longitudinal axis

S

Swivel axis

Z

Closing direction

Claims (11)

Contacting device (1) for contacting a shield conductor (20) of an electrical line (2), with a housing (10) which encloses a receiving space (12) into which an electrical line (2) extending along a longitudinal axis (L) with a shield conductor (20) can be inserted in an insertion direction (E) pointing transversely to the longitudinal axis (L), with a spring element (11) which is adjustably arranged on the housing (10) and which has an actuating leg (110) and a clamping leg (112) pointing into the receiving space (12) and which can be adjusted from an open position into a clamping position in order to act in the clamping position with the clamping leg (112) on a shield conductor (20) of an electrical line (2) inserted into the receiving space (12), and with a lever element (13) which covers the actuating leg (110) at least in sections and is mounted on the housing (10) so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis (S) that the Spring element (11) is adjustable by pivoting the lever element (13) towards the housing (10), wherein the lever element (13) has a connecting element (138) for positive connection with the actuating leg (110), wherein the connecting element (138) is arranged on an inner side (132) of the lever element (13) facing the actuating leg (110), and wherein the actuating leg (110) has a locking device for locking connection to the housing (10) in the clamping position, characterized in that the actuating leg (110) has at least one locking lug (114) on an end section (113) remote from the clamping leg (112) for locking connection to at least one locking projection (102) of the housing (10) in the clamping position, wherein a tool engagement (115) for releasing of the spring element (11) from the clamping position. Contacting device (1) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the spring element (11) is designed as a stamped and bent part made of spring steel. Contacting device (1) according to Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the lever element (13) is made of a metal material or a plastic material. Contacting device (1) according to one of the Claims 1 until 3 , characterized in that the lever element (13) is manufactured by a metal die-casting process. Contacting device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lever element (13) is firmly connected to the actuating leg (110). Contacting device (1) according to one of the Claims 1 until 5 , characterized in that the connecting element (138) is designed as a hook protruding from the inner side (130) for engagement in a connecting opening (119) of the actuating leg (110). Contacting device (1) according to one of the Claims 1 until 6 , characterized in that the lever element (13) has a positioning pin (133) arranged on the inner side (130) and spaced from the connecting element (138) for engaging in a positioning opening (111) of the actuating leg (110). Contacting device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spring element (11) has a curved section (118) which connects the clamping leg (112) to the actuating leg (110), and that the lever element (13) has a curved support portion (134) on which the curved portion (118) of the spring element (11) is supported. Contacting device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the clamping leg (112) has a contact section (116) curved about the pivot axis (S), wherein the spring element (11) is designed to come into contact with the shield conductor (20) of the electrical line (2) inserted into the receiving space (12) via the contact section (116) in the clamping position. Contacting device (1) according to Claim 9 , characterized in that the contact section (116) has two partial sections (116A, 116B), each of which is arranged at an angle to the pivot axis (S). Contacting device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lever element (13) has a locking device for locking connection to the housing (10) in the clamping position.

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