DE102020133311A1 - Housing and connecting element with such a housing - Google Patents

Abstract

The subject matter of the invention is a housing (100) for a connection element (400), with at least one shaft (110) formed in the housing (100) for receiving a screw (300), the at least one shaft (110) being defined by a wall ( 111) of the housing (100), the wall (111) having an inner surface (112) pointing in the direction of the shaft (110), on which an anti-loss device (115) is formed and the wall (111) having one of the shaft (110) has an outer surface (113) directed away, the outer surface (113) being designed inclined to the inner surface (112) at least in an insertion area (114) of the shaft (110).

Description

The invention relates to a housing for a connection element, such as a connection terminal. The invention further relates to a connection element with such a housing.

If the connection element for connecting an electrical conductor is designed as a screw connection terminal, the housing of the connection element usually has a shaft in which the screw for connecting and disconnecting an electrical conductor inserted into the housing of the connection element is guided. The shaft has a wall that delimits the shaft and is part of the housing. The wall has an inner surface facing towards the well and an outer surface facing away from the well. The inner surface and outer surface usually run parallel to one another, particularly in the insertion area of the shaft, via which the screw is inserted into the shaft and via which the screw can be actuated using a tool, so that the wall in the insertion area has a constant thickness. In particular, the wall also extends around the shaft in the insertion area, so that the wall forms a ring shape and also encloses the shaft in the insertion area. On the inner surface of the wall, there is a screw-loss protection, for example in the form of a circumferential retaining rib, in order to be able to prevent the screw from being loosened or slipping out of the shaft unintentionally.

The housing is usually injection molded from a thermoplastic material. In order to enable demoulding from the injection molding tool, the plastic must have sufficient flexibility in such a design of the housing to enable demoulding. The plastics used therefore usually have an elongation at break > 5%.

The invention is based on the object of providing a housing and a connection element which enable screws to be secured even when using brittle plastics for a housing.

The object is achieved according to the invention with the features of the independent claims. Expedient configurations and advantageous developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

The housing according to the invention has at least one shaft formed in the housing for receiving a screw, the at least one shaft being delimited by a wall of the housing, the wall having an inner surface pointing in the direction of the shaft, on which a screw loss prevention device is formed and wherein the wall has an outer surface directed away from the chute, the outer surface being inclined relative to the inner surface at least in an insertion region of the chute.

According to the invention, it is now provided that, at least in the insertion area of the shaft, the inner surface and the outer surface of the wall no longer run parallel to one another, but rather the outer surface runs inclined to the inner surface. The outer surface thus runs obliquely to the inner surface. The outer surface is preferably inclined in relation to the inner surface in such a way that the wall tapers in the direction of an upper side or front edge of the wall in the insertion area of the shaft. In the direction of the front edge of the wall, the outer surface thus runs towards the inner surface. This inclined arrangement of the outer surface of the wall, at least in the area of the insertion area of the wall, can make demolding from the injection mold much easier without the material of the housing having to be particularly flexible. When removing the mold from the tool, in particular when the tool stamp is pulled out, faster demolding can take place on the outer surface than on the inner surface due to the inclined arrangement of the outer surface. In the last area of demolding, the outer surface can thus already be released from the tool punch, so that during demolding in the area of the inner surface in the last area of demolding, the wall can deviate radially outwards when the tool punch presses against the inner surface, without the tool punch still presses against the outer surface of the wall. This makes it possible to use a brittle plastic material for the housing, since the shape of the wall itself can create the necessary flexibility without the material of the wall or of the housing itself having to have the flexibility. The housing can have several such shafts, each with such a wall. The protection against loss of screws can be designed, for example, in the form of a retaining rib or retaining lug pointing in the direction of the shaft, which is formed on the inner surface of the wall. The screw retention device is preferably formed on the wall in the insertion area of the shaft. Particularly preferably, the screw loss prevention device is formed close to or directly adjacent to the front edge of the wall on the inner surface.

The outer surface of the wall is preferably in the insertion area of the shaft Inner surface of the wall inclined such that an acute angle c is formed between the outer surface and the inner surface. This alignment of the outer surface with respect to the inner surface enables particularly good demoulding from the injection molding tool. The angle c between the outer surface and the inner surface of the wall can be, for example, 5°≦c≦45°, preferably 7°≦c≦35°, particularly preferably 10°≦c≦20°.

The chute preferably has a central axis extending along the length of the chute, the inner surface being oriented at an angle a to the central axis and the outer surface being oriented at an angle b to the central axis, the angle b preferably being greater than the angle a is. Such a ratio of the angle b to the angle a can promote faster demolding of the wall from the injection mold in the area of the outer surface in relation to the inner surface. The ratio between angle b and angle a can be, for example, b/a=1.5/1, in particular b/a=2/1. The outer surface runs obliquely to the central axis of the shaft in the insertion area of the shaft. The outer surface of the wall is inclined in such a way that the outer surface runs towards the central axis in the direction of the front edge of the wall.

In addition to the outer surface, the inner surface in the insertion area of the shaft can also be aligned inclined to the central axis. The angle a is preferably a≦60°, in particular a≦45°. The inner surface of the wall is then just not parallel to the central axis of the shaft. The inner surface can then be inclined in such a way that the inner surface runs towards the central axis in the direction of the front edge of the wall. However, it is also possible for the inner surface to run parallel to the central axis of the shaft.

If the inner surface of the wall is designed to be inclined relative to the center axis of the shaft, the angle a is preferably 10°≦a≦35°, particularly preferably 15°≦a≦30°.

The angle b preferably has a size of b≦80°. The outer surface of the wall is preferably inclined in such a way that b≦60°, particularly preferably b≦50°.

Provision is particularly preferably made for the wall to be segmented at least in the insertion area of the shaft. The wall is then preferably not completely circumferential in the insertion area, but the wall is interrupted in the insertion area. With such a segmented design of the wall in the insertion area, the flexibility of the wall can be increased without the material of the wall itself having to have greater flexibility. As a result, the demoulding behavior can be further improved when demolding from an injection molding tool. Due to the segmentation, the wall can be divided into separate sections in the insertion area of the shaft.

The wall can preferably be segmented into at least two mutually separate segments. The wall then has two gaps in the insertion area, which separates the wall into the two segments. However, the wall can also be divided into more than two segments in the insertion area of the shaft. The segments preferably each have the same size, so that the segments preferably each extend around a circumferential surface of the shaft of the same size.

If the segmentation is formed by two segments that are separate from one another, the segmentation can be formed by segments each forming a quadrant, with the two segments being able to be arranged opposite one another. The two gaps for separating the wall into the two segments are then preferably also each the size of a quadrant. In the insertion area of the shaft, the wall then only extends over half the circumference of the shaft. A particularly high degree of flexibility of the wall in the insertion area of the shaft is possible with such a configuration.

The housing is preferably made of a plastic material which has an elongation at break of ≦3%. The plastic material of the housing is therefore preferably particularly brittle. The plastic material of the housing particularly preferably has an elongation at break of approximately 2%. The housing is therefore not made of the plastic materials that are otherwise commonly used, which have an elongation at break of >5%.

The plastic material of the housing can have a glass fiber content, for example. The strength and stability of the housing can be increased by the glass fiber content, which also increases the brittleness of the housing.

The object according to the invention is also achieved by means of a connection element for connecting an electrical conductor, which has a current bar, a screw for clamping the conductor to be connected against the current beacon, and a housing in which the current bar and the screw are arranged, the housing trained and trained as described above. The connecting element is in front preferably a terminal, for example a printed circuit board terminal.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the attached drawings using preferred embodiments.

• 1 eine schematische Darstellung eines Anschlusselements gemäß der Erfindung in einer teilweise geschnittenen Ansicht,
• 2 eine schematische Darstellung eines Ausschnitts im Bereich eines Einführbereichs eines Schachts des in 1 gezeigten Anschlusselements,
• 3 eine schematische Schnittdarstellung des 1 gezeigten Anschlusselements,
• 4A und 4B eine schematische Schnittdarstellung eines Entformungsvorgangs aus einem Spritzgusswerkzeug eines wie in 1 gezeigten Gehäuses eines Anschlusselements, und
• 5A und 5B eine schematische Schnittdarstellung eines Entformungsvorgangs aus einem Spritzgusswerkzeug eines Gehäuses eines weiteren Anschlusselements gemäß der Erfindung.

Show it

• 1 a schematic representation of a connection element according to the invention in a partially sectioned view,
• 2 a schematic representation of a section in the area of an insertion area of a shaft of the in 1 connection element shown,
• 3 a schematic sectional view of the 1 connection element shown,
• 4A and 4B a schematic sectional view of a demolding process from an injection mold as in 1 shown housing of a connection element, and
• 5A and 5B a schematic sectional view of a demolding process from an injection mold of a housing of a further connection element according to the invention.

1 shows a terminal 400 for connecting an electrical conductor, not shown here. The connection terminal 400 has a housing 100 in which a current bar 200 and a screw 300 for clamping the conductor to be connected against the current bar 200 are arranged. The housing 100 has a shaft 110 within which the screw 300 is guided.

The shaft 110 is delimited by a wall 111 of the housing 100 . The wall 111 has an inner surface 112 pointing in the direction of the shaft 110 and an outer surface 113 pointing away from the shaft 110 .

On the inner surface 112 of the wall 111 in an insertion area 114 of the shaft 110 there is a screw retention device 115 . The screw retention device 115 is designed in the form of a retaining lug or retaining rib projecting in the direction of the shaft 110 . The screw retention device 115 is formed directly adjacent to a front edge 116 of the wall 111 on the inner surface 112 of the wall 111 .

The insertion area 114 of the shaft 110 is the area via which the screw 300 is inserted into the shaft 110 when the connection element 400 is assembled and via which in an assembled state, as shown in FIG 1 As shown, an operating tool, such as a screwdriver, may be inserted into shaft 110 to operate screw 300. FIG.

The connection element 400 here has a number of connection points for conductors to be connected, so that a number of conductors can be connected at the same time. The connection points are arranged side by side. Each connection point has a well 110 within which a screw 300 is arranged to clamp a conductor against a current bar 200 . A boundary wall 117 of the housing 100 is arranged between the individual connection points in order to separate the connection points from one another. The delimiting wall 117 is arranged at a distance from the respective shaft 110 so that the delimiting wall 117 does not form a wall for delimiting the shaft 110 .

The wall 111 is formed at least in the insertion area 114 of the shaft 110 in such a way that the outer surface 113 is arranged inclined to the inner surface 112 . The thickness of the wall 111 thus tapers in the direction of the front edge 116 of the wall 111. In the direction of the front edge 116 of the wall 111, the outer surface 113 thus runs towards the inner surface 112, as in particular also in the detailed section of FIG 2 can be seen.

The outer surface 113 of the wall 111 is inclined in the insertion area 114 of the shaft 110 to the inner surface 112 of the wall 111 that between the outer surface 113 of the wall 111 and the inner surface 112 of the wall 111 an acute angle c is formed.

In the sectional view of the 3 a central axis M of the shaft 110 is located. The central axis M forms a longitudinal axis of the shaft from 110. The outer surface 113 of the wall 111 runs obliquely to the central axis M of the shaft 110, so that an angle b is formed between the outer surface 113 of the wall 111 and the central axis M of the shaft 110. The angle b is here b ≤ 45°.

The inner surface 112 of the wall 111 also runs obliquely to the central axis M of the shaft 110, so that an angle a is formed between the inner surface 112 of the wall 111 and the central axis M of the shaft 110. The inner surface 112 of the wall 111 thus does not extend parallel to the central axis M of the shaft 110.

The angle a is smaller than the angle b (a < b). The angle a can, for example, have a size between 10°≦a≦35°.

The wall 111 does not extend in an annular manner around the shaft 110 over the entire length of the shaft 110, but in the insertion region 114 of the shaft 110 the wall 111 is segmented, ie divided into partial regions.

In the embodiment shown here, the wall 111 has, as is particularly the case in 1 and 2 can be seen, two segments 118a, 118b. The two segments 118a, 118b are arranged opposite one another. The two segments 118a, 118b have the same size, so that the segments 118a, 118b each extend around a peripheral surface of the shaft 110 of the same size.

In the embodiment shown here, the two segments 118a, 118b each form an approximately quadrant shape. The two segments 118a, 118b are separated from one another by two gaps 119a, 119b. Due to their separate arrangement, the two segments 118a, 118b form a type of separate insertion tabs of the wall 111, which can have a certain flexibility without the material of the housing 110 itself having to have flexibility. The screw retention device 115 is formed on these segments 118a, 118b.

Below the insertion area 114 of the shaft 110, in which the screw 300 is seated in the assembled state, as in FIG 1 and 3 as can be seen, the wall 111 is closed all the way round and is no longer divided into segments.

4A and 4B show a demolding process during the production of the housing 100 in an injection molding process, in which a die 500 is pulled out of the housing 100 and thus out of the shaft 110. The tool stamp 500 has a first draft angle 510 which bears against the inner surface 112 of the wall 111 of the housing 110 . The tool stamp 500 also has a second draft angle 511 which rests against the outer surface 113 of the wall 111 of the housing 110 . When the tool punch 500 is pulled out, the first draft angle 510 slides along the inner surface 112 of the wall 111 and the second draft angle 511 slides along the outer surface 113 of the wall 111. Due to the inclined arrangement of the outer surface 113 to the inner surface 112, the tool punch 500 with its second draft angle 511 more quickly on the outer surface 113 and thus release the outer surface 113 more quickly, so that during the demolding in the area of the inner surface 112 in the last area of the demolding, the wall 111 can deviate radially outwards when the tool punch 500 presses against the inner surface 112 , without the tool stamp 500 still pressing against the outer surface 113 of the wall 111.

In the 1 until 3 , 4A and 4B a housing 100 is shown, which has an outer wall 120, this outer wall 120 being spaced apart from the shaft 110 and spaced apart from the wall 111 delimiting the shaft 110. A trench 121 is formed between this outer wall 120 and the wall 111 .

At the in 5A and 5B shown embodiment of the housing 100 no such outer wall 120 is provided. Also in 5A and 5B is a demolding process during the production of the housing 100 in an injection molding process, in which a tool punch 500 is pulled out of the housing 100 and thus out of the shaft 110, shown, the demolding process corresponding to that in 4A and 4B corresponds to demolding process shown.

The configuration of the wall 111 of the housing 110 in the insertion area 114 of the shaft 110 now provided according to the invention makes it possible for the clear width between the screw retention device 115 formed on the two segments 118a, 118b to be smaller than the diameter of the screw head 310 of the screw 300 and as a result, the screw 300 can no longer leave the housing 100. Another advantage of the flexibility gained in this way is that the wall 111 in the insertion area 114 of the shaft 110 is not plastically deformed even during the assembly of the screw 300 .

The housing 100 is formed here from a plastic material which is relatively brittle. The plastic material preferably has an elongation at break of ≦3%. The plastic material can have a glass fiber content to reinforce the plastic material and thus the housing 100 .

Reference List

100

Housing

110

shaft

111

wall

112

Inner surface

113

outer surface

114

insertion area

115

screw protection

116

front edge

117

boundary wall

118a, 118b

segment

119a, 119b

gap

120

outer wall

121

dig

200

power bar

300

screw

310

screw head

400

connection element

500

tool stamp

510

First draft angle

511

Second draft angle

M

central axis

a, b, c

angle

Claims (12)

Housing (100) for a connecting element (400), with at least one shaft (110) formed in the housing (100) for receiving a screw (300), the at least one shaft (110) being penetrated by a wall (111) of the housing ( 100), the wall (111) having an inner surface (112) pointing in the direction of the shaft (110), on which a screw retention device (115) is formed and the wall (111) having an outer surface directed away from the shaft (110). (113), the outer surface (113) being inclined relative to the inner surface (112) in at least one insertion area (114) of the shaft (110). Housing (100) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the outer surface (113) to the inner surface (112) is inclined such that between the outer surface (113) and the inner surface (112) an acute angle c is formed. Housing (100) according to claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the shaft (110) has a central axis M extending along the length of the shaft (110), the inner surface (112) being oriented at an angle a to the central axis M and the outer surface (113) being oriented at an angle b is aligned with the central axis M, the angle b being larger than the angle a. Housing (100) according to claim 3 , characterized in that the inner surface (112) in the insertion area (114) of the shaft (110) is aligned inclined to the central axis M of the shaft (110). Housing (100) according to claim 3 or 4 , characterized in that the angle a has a size of 10° ≤ a ≤ 35°. Housing (100) according to one of claims 3 until 5 , characterized in that the angle b is ≤ 80°. Housing (100) according to one of Claims 1 until 6 , characterized in that the wall (111) is segmented at least in the insertion area (114) of the shaft (110). Housing (100) according to claim 7 , characterized in that the wall (111) is segmented into at least two mutually separate segments (118a, 118b). Housing (100) according to claim 8 , characterized in that the segmentation is formed by two segments (118a, 118b) each forming a quadrant, the two segments (118a, 118b) being arranged opposite one another. Housing (100) according to one of Claims 1 until 9 , characterized in that the housing (100) is formed from a plastic material which has an elongation at break ≤ 3%. Housing (100) according to claim 10 , characterized in that the plastic material has a glass fiber content. Connection element (400) for connecting an electrical conductor, with a current bar (200), a screw (300) for clamping the electrical conductor to be connected against the current bar (200), and a housing (100) in which the current bar (200) and the screw (300) are arranged, wherein the housing (100) according to one of Claims 1 until 11 is trained.

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