DE102022105325A1 - Terminal arrangement - Google Patents

Abstract

A terminal arrangement for connecting electrical conductors, comprising: a first terminal device (3A) with a first housing (5A) and a second clamp device (3B) with a second housing (5B), the first housing (5A) and the second housing (5B ) each have at least one conductor connection opening (7A, 9A), the conductor connection opening (7A) in the first housing (5A) being offset from the conductor connection opening (9A) in the second housing (5B) relative to a base area (11) of the housing (5A , 5B), wherein the first housing (5A) and the second housing (5B) are designed to be arranged in a row, and in a row direction (R) of the first and second clamping devices (3A, 3B) have the same contour (K). Arranging similar attachments on the first housing (5A) and on the second housing (5B).

Description

The invention relates to a terminal arrangement for connecting electrical conductors according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such a terminal arrangement comprises a first terminal device with a first housing and a second terminal device with a second housing, the first housing and the second housing each having at least one conductor connection opening, the conductor connection opening in the first housing being offset relative to the conductor connection opening in the second housing to a base area of the housing is arranged.

Terminal arrangements have been known for a long time in a wide variety of designs. They are put together by the user on a mounting base, usually a mounting rail, to form function blocks, for example a function block for supplying energy to consumers. The individual terminal devices are therefore often designed as distribution blocks and, depending on the intended application, can be designed with different numbers of poles and mounting types. For example, in the EP 3743961 A1 such a terminal arrangement is described.

In the prior art, differently designed terminal devices, which, for example, often have different conductor connection directions, such as horizontal or vertical conductor connection directions, and which are also often all intended for the same nominal cross-section of the conductors, are strung together for a specific application, for example strung together on a mounting rail.

However, these different types of terminal devices known from the prior art have the disadvantage that differently designed and dimensioned housings are often used for the different terminal devices. Therefore, special accessories for fastening, marking, strain relief, etc. must be provided for each specific design.

The object of the present invention is to provide a clamp arrangement with various types of clamp devices that can be used together, while at the same time reducing the use of specific attachments, which are often also referred to as accessories.

This task is solved by an object with the features of claim 1.

Accordingly, the first housing and the second housing are designed to be arranged in a row and have the same contour in a row direction of the first and second clamp devices for arranging similar attachments on the first housing and on the second housing.

An electrical conductor can be referred to herein as an at least partially insulated, flexible or rigid, wire-shaped conductor, which can be introduced with a stripped end into the effective area of a terminal device through a conductor connection opening in the housing of the terminal device. The stripped end area can be brought directly into the effective range of the clamp device, or can be provided with a wire end sleeve before the end area is brought into the effective area of the clamp device.

The conductor connection opening can be provided as a recess, in particular a circular recess, in the material of the housing and enable the electrical conductor, or the stripped end region of the electrical conductor, to come into contact with a contact element, such as a clamping leg, of the electrical conductor . Each housing has at least one conductor connection opening. In examples, however, the housings can also have more than just one conductor connection opening and more than two terminal devices with respective housings can also be used in the terminal arrangement.

The conductor connection opening in the first housing is arranged offset from the conductor connection opening in the second housing relative to a base area of the housing. For example, the conductor connection opening of the first housing can run vertically relative to the base area and the conductor connection opening of the second housing can run horizontally relative to the base area. In examples, the conductor connection openings can also run diagonally offset from one another.

The area of the housing with which the housing can be arranged on a surface, such as a mounting rail, can be referred to as the base area. Therefore, the base area can also be referred to as the floor area or the bottom of the housing.

According to the invention, the first housing and the second housing are designed to be arranged in a row. Such an arrangement can be understood to mean that the housings can be arranged next to one another; for example, surfaces of the housings can be connected to one another for this purpose. Furthermore, the housings point in a row direction of the terminal devices has the same contour.

The row direction can be understood, for example, as a direction in which the clamp devices are arranged in a row along a length of a mounting rail or another surface on which the clamp devices are arranged.

A contour can be understood here as a side elevation of the housings in the direction of the row or an outline of the side surfaces of the housings in the direction of the row.

The same contour in a row direction of the first and second clamp devices serves to arrange similar attachments on the first housing and on the second housing. A similar attachment can be understood to mean an attachment that can be arranged both on the first housing and on the second housing. Furthermore, the attachment can have connecting means that are suitable both for attachment to the first housing and for attachment to the second housing. For this purpose, the first and second housings can also have similarly designed, corresponding connecting means due to the same contour. This eliminates the need to use different types of connecting means on the attachments or the use of different types of attachments.

Such a design of the housing, with the same contour, advantageously enables the use of a modular system with common attachments or accessories, which can be used both for the first clamp device and for the second clamp device. The use of additional attachments, which must be designed specifically for the housing, for sole use with a specific type of housing, can therefore be eliminated and costs can be saved.

In one example, the at least one conductor connection opening of the first housing extends vertically relative to the base area and the at least one conductor connection opening of the second housing extends horizontally relative to the base area.

Terminal devices for horizontal and vertical conductor connection directions can therefore advantageously be used together in a terminal arrangement.

In one example, the first housing has a further conductor connection opening, wherein the further conductor connection opening runs vertically relative to the base area and is arranged on an upper side of the first housing together with the conductor connection opening, and wherein the first terminal device is designed to accommodate electrical conductors which can be arranged in the conductor connection opening and to be electrically connected to one another in the further conductor connection opening of the first housing.

The top side of the housing can be understood here as a side of the housing that is opposite the base area. The conductor connection openings can, for example, be arranged next to one another and spaced apart from one another on the top side.

The first terminal device can therefore advantageously be designed as a modular terminal with vertical conductor connection directions.

In one example, the first housing has a plurality of conductor connection openings which run vertically relative to the base surface and are arranged together on the top side of the first housing, and the first terminal device is designed to electrically connect electrical conductors to one another so that they can be arranged in the conductor connection openings of the first housing .

The first terminal device can also advantageously be designed as a clamping block and can electrically connect a large number of connected electrical conductors to one another. The conductor connection openings can, for example, be arranged in two rows running in the direction of a row on the top of the housing.

In one example, the second housing has a further conductor connection opening, wherein the further conductor connection opening runs horizontally relative to the base area and is arranged on one side of the second housing opposite the conductor connection opening, and wherein the second terminal device is designed to accommodate electrical conductors in the conductor connection opening and to be electrically connected to one another in the further conductor connection opening of the second housing.

The second terminal device can therefore also advantageously be designed as a modular terminal with horizontal conductor connection directions.

In one example, the second housing has a plurality of conductor connection openings extending horizontally relative to the base surface, which are arranged on opposite surfaces of the second housing, and wherein the second terminal device is configured to electrically connect electrical conductors to one another in such a way that they can be arranged in the conductor connection openings of the second housing .

The first terminal device can advantageously also be designed as a clamping block and connect a large number of connected electrical conductors to one another.

In one example, the housings each have corresponding connecting means, in particular corresponding tongue-and-groove connecting means, on side surfaces adjacent in the row direction.

The housings can advantageously be connected to one another by means of the connecting means, for example plugged together, in order to create a secure mechanical connection of the housings before the clamping device is fastened to the base or mounting rail.

In one example, the first and second terminal devices are each adapted to connect electrical conductors with the same nominal cross section.

This advantageously eliminates the need to use additional accessories and saves costs. In alternative examples, individual conductor connection openings can also be made larger or smaller in order to accommodate individual conductors with smaller or larger nominal cross sections.

In one example, the terminal arrangement has at least one spring element and at least one actuating element, wherein the spring element is arranged in the first and/or second clamp device for locking and electrically contacting the electrical conductor in the conductor connection opening, and wherein the actuating element is for transferring the spring element between one Clamping position and a release position is adapted.

Advantageously, at least one electrical conductor can be introduced into a conductor connection opening according to the push-in principle and locked in the conductor connection opening and electrically contacted.

In one example, the first and/or second terminal device is designed as a screw terminal.

At least one of the terminal devices can advantageously also be designed as screw terminals.

In one example, the base area of the first and/or second housing is designed to be able to be arranged, in particular snapped onto, onto a mounting rail.

This advantageously enables rapid arrangement on a mounting rail.

In an alternative example, the clamp arrangement has at least one adhesive, arranged on the base surface of the first and/or second housing for sticking to a substrate.

Advantageously, at least one clamp device can also be simply glued to a surface using an adhesive.

In one example, a contact leg extends from the base area of the first and/or second housing for electrically contacting at least one electrical conductor introduced into a conductor connection opening.

At least one terminal device can advantageously also be arranged on a circuit board.

In a further example, the terminal arrangement has a bridge element which can be arranged between the first and second clamp devices in order to electrically connect electrical conductors introduced into the respective conductor connection openings of the first clamp device and the second clamp device to one another.

Advantageously, all electrical conductors introduced into the conductor connection openings of the first and second terminal devices can be electrically connected to one another by means of such a bridge element.

In one example, the clamp arrangement has at least one attachment, in particular a fastening element, a marking element, or a strain relief element, wherein the attachment can be arranged on the first housing and on the second housing.

For example, similarly designed fastening elements, such as locking feet or fastening flanges, can be used on the first housing as well as on the second housing.

The housings can advantageously be used with a modular system of add-on parts or accessories. The attachments can be used both for the first clamp device and for the second clamp device.

• 1 eine Ansicht einer Klemmenanordnung zum Anschließen elektrischer Leiter mit aneinandergereihten Klemmeneinrichtungen gemäß einer Ausführungsform;
• 2 eine Ansicht einer Klemmenanordnung zum Anschließen elektrischer Leiter mit separat voneinander dargestellten Klemmeneinrichtungen; und
• 3A-3C eine Draufsicht und Seitenansichten der Klemmenanordnung.

The idea underlying the invention will be explained below with reference to the figures illustrated embodiments will be explained in more detail. Show it:

• 1 a view of a terminal arrangement for connecting electrical conductors with terminal devices arranged in a row according to one embodiment;
• 2 a view of a terminal arrangement for connecting electrical conductors with terminal devices shown separately from one another; and
• 3A-3C a top view and side views of the terminal assembly.

1 shows a view of a terminal arrangement 1 with terminal devices 3A, 3B arranged in a row according to one embodiment. Both terminal devices 3A, 3B have housings 5A, 5B, which in the embodiment shown are designed as plastic injection-molded housings.

The first housing 5A of the first terminal device 3A shown has six conductor connection openings 7A-7N, which run vertically relative to the base surface 11 and are arranged on a top side 13 of the first housing 5A. As shown, the conductor connection openings 7A-7N extend in two rows extending in the row direction R on the top 13 of the first housing 5A. In embodiments not shown, more or fewer conductor connection openings 7A-7N can also be arranged on the top 13 than the conductor connection openings shown. The first terminal device 3A is designed as a clamping block and connects a large number of connected electrical conductors (not shown) to one another.

The second housing 5B of the second terminal device 3B shown also has six conductor connection openings 9A-9N which extend horizontally relative to the base 11 and which are arranged on opposite surfaces 15A, 15B of the second housing 5B. In embodiments not shown, more or fewer than the shown conductor connection openings 9A-9N can also be arranged on opposite surfaces 15A, 15B of the second housing 5B. The second terminal device 3B is also designed as a clamping block and connects a large number of connected electrical conductors to one another.

The row direction R is in the 1 shown as a double-headed arrow, since the housings 5A, 5B used in the embodiment shown can be arranged together in both directions along the arrow. For this purpose, the housings 5A, 5B each have corresponding connecting means 19A, 19B on side surfaces 17A, 17B adjacent in the row direction R, which are shown as corresponding tongue-and-groove connecting means in order to connect the housings 5A, 5B to one another, in which the housings 5A , 5B can be easily put together.

Furthermore, it is shown that the first housing 5A and the second housing 5B have the same contour K in the row direction R of the first and second clamp devices 3A, 3B.

In the embodiment shown, the first and second terminal devices 3A, 3B are each adapted to connect electrical conductors with the same nominal cross section. In alternative embodiments (not shown), individual conductor connection openings can also be made larger or smaller in order to be able to accommodate individual electrical conductors with smaller or larger nominal cross sections.

Furthermore, the terminal devices 3A, 3B shown are shown as push-in terminals; for this purpose, the terminal devices 3A, 3B shown each have a spring element (not shown) in each of the conductor connection openings 7A-7N, 9A-9N shown, for locking and electrically contacting the electrical conductor in the conductor connection openings 7A-7N, 9A-9N. The spring elements can be transferred between a clamping position and a release position by means of actuating elements. In alternative exemplary embodiments (not shown), the terminal devices can also be designed as screw terminals.

The 2 shows a view of the previously in 1 shown terminal arrangement 1 for connecting electrical conductors, wherein in 2 the terminal devices 3A, 3B are shown separately from one another in order to be able to show the corresponding connecting means 19A, 19B more clearly. As shown, the housings 5A, 5B each have corresponding connecting means 19A, 19B on adjacent side surfaces 17A, 17B in the row direction R, which are shown as corresponding tongue-and-groove connecting means in order to connect the housings 5A, 5B to one another, in which the Housing 5A, 5B can simply be plugged together.

The 3A shows a top view of the previously in 1 Terminal arrangement shown 1. In the 3A It is made clear that the conductor connection openings 7A-7N in the first housing 5A are arranged offset from the conductor connection openings in the second housing 5B. In the top view shown, the vertical conductor connection openings 7A-7N of the first terminal device 3A can be seen.

The 3B shows a side view of the one previously in 1 Terminal arrangement shown 1. In the In the side view shown, the conductor connection openings 9A-9N of the second terminal device 3B, which run horizontally relative to the base surface 11, can be seen.

The 3C shows another side view of the one previously in 1 Clamp arrangement shown 1. The housings are arranged one behind the other in the side view shown, the row direction runs in the direction of view, so that only the side surface 17A of a clamp device can be seen and the same contours K of the clamp devices.

Also in the 3C shown that the base surfaces 11 of the housing are designed to be able to be arranged on a mounting rail. In alternative embodiments, the clamp arrangement may have at least one adhesive which can be arranged on the base of the first and/or second housing for gluing the clamp arrangement to a substrate.

Reference symbol list

1

Terminal arrangement

3A, 3B

Terminal device

5A, 5B

First case, second case

7A-7N, 9A-9N

Conductor connection opening

11

Floor space

13

Top

15A, 15B

Opposite surfaces

17A, 17B

Adjacent side surfaces

19A, 19B

Corresponding connecting means

R

Row direction

K

contour

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents listed by the applicant was 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

• EP 3743961 A1 [0003]

Claims (15)

Terminal arrangement for connecting electrical conductors, comprising: a first terminal device (3A) with a first housing (5A) and a second clamp device (3B) with a second housing (5B), the first housing (5A) and the second housing (5B) each have at least one conductor connection opening (7A, 9A), the conductor connection opening (7A) in the first housing (5A) being offset from the conductor connection opening (9A) in the second housing (5B) relative to a base surface (11) of the housing (5A, 5B) is arranged, characterized in that the first housing (5A) and the second housing (5B) are designed to be arranged in a row, and in a row direction (R) of the first and second clamp devices (3A, 3B) have the same contour (K) have for arranging similar attachments on the first housing (5A) and on the second housing (5B). Terminal arrangement according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the at least one conductor connection opening (7A) of the first housing (5A) runs vertically relative to the base surface (11) and the at least one conductor connection opening (9A) of the second housing (5B) runs horizontally relative to the base surface (11). . Terminal arrangement according to Claim 2 , characterized in that the first housing (5A) has a further conductor connection opening (7B), the further conductor connection opening (7B) extending vertically relative to the base surface (11) and on a top side (13) of the first housing (5A) together with the conductor connection opening (7A) is arranged, and wherein the first terminal device (3A) is designed to electrically connect electrical conductors to one another so that they can be arranged in the conductor connection opening (7A) and in the further conductor connection opening (7B) of the first housing (5A). Terminal arrangement according to Claim 3 , characterized in that the first housing (5A) has a plurality of conductor connection openings (7A-7N) which run vertically relative to the base surface (11) and which are arranged together on the top side (13) of the first housing (5A), and wherein the first terminal device (3A) is designed to electrically connect electrical conductors to one another so that they can be arranged in the conductor connection openings (7A-7N) of the first housing (5A). Terminal arrangement according to one of the Claims 2 until 4 , characterized in that the second housing (5B) has a further conductor connection opening (9B), the further conductor connection opening (9B) extending horizontally relative to the base surface (11) and on one side of the second housing (5B) opposite the conductor connection opening (9A ) is arranged, and wherein the second terminal device (3B) is designed to electrically connect electrical conductors to one another so that they can be arranged in the conductor connection opening (9A) and in the further conductor connection opening (9B) of the second housing (5B). Terminal arrangement according to Claim 5 , characterized in that the second housing (5B) has a plurality of conductor connection openings (9A-9N) which extend horizontally relative to the base surface (11) and which are arranged on opposite surfaces (15A, 15B) of the second housing (5B), and wherein the second terminal device (3B) is designed to electrically connect electrical conductors to one another so that they can be arranged in the conductor connection openings (9A-9N) of the second housing (5B). Clamp arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housings (5A, 5B) each have corresponding connecting means (19A, 19B), in particular corresponding tongue-and-groove connecting means, on side surfaces (17A, 17B) adjacent in the row direction (R). Terminal arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first and second terminal devices (3A, 3B) are each adapted to connect electrical conductors with the same nominal cross section. Terminal arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one spring element and at least one actuating element, wherein the spring element is arranged in the first and / or second terminal device (3A, 3B) and is adapted to lock and electrically contact the electrical conductor in the conductor connection opening (7A-7N, 9A-9N), and wherein the actuating element is adapted to transfer the spring element between a clamping position and a release position. Terminal arrangement according to one of the Claims 1 until 8th , characterized in that the first and/or second terminal device is designed as a screw terminal. Clamp arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base surface (11) of the first and/or second housing (5A, 5B) is designed to be able to be arranged, in particular snapped onto, on a mounting rail. Terminal arrangement according to one of the Claims 1 until 10 , characterized by an adhesive arranged on the base surface (11) of the first and / or second housing (5A, 5B) for sticking to a surface. Terminal arrangement according to one of the Claims 1 until 10 , characterized by a contact leg, wherein the contact leg extends from the base surface (11) of the first and/or second housing (5A, 5B) for electrically contacting at least one electrical conductor which can be arranged in a conductor connection opening (7A-7N, 9A-9N). Terminal arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a bridge element, wherein the bridge element can be arranged between the first and the second terminal devices (3A, 3B) in order to arrange electrical conductors in the respective conductor connection openings (7A-7N, 9A-9N) of the first clamp device (3A) and the second terminal device (3B) to be electrically connected to one another. Clamp arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by an attachment, in particular a fastening element, a marking element, or a strain relief element, which can be arranged on the first housing (5A) and on the second housing (5B).

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