DE102022118233A1 - Terminal for connecting an electrical cable - Google Patents

Abstract

A connection terminal (1) for connecting an electrical line (2) comprises a housing (10) which has a plug-in opening (101) into which the electrical line (2) can be inserted for connection to the connection terminal (1). Arranged on the housing (10) are contact elements (11) for electrical contact with the electrical line (2) and a spring element (12) which has a clamping leg (120) for acting on the electrical line (2) in order to secure the electrical line (2) to bring into contact with the contact element (11). An actuating element (14) can be adjusted to adjust the clamping leg (120) from a non-actuated position into an actuated position. The connection terminal has a triggering element (13) which is mounted in a linearly displaceable manner on the housing (10) and which has a triggering body (130) and an active section (132). The actuating element (14) is locked in the actuated position relative to the housing (10). The triggering element (10) can be displaced relative to the housing (10) by the interaction of the triggering leg (130) with the electrical line (2) when it is inserted into the plug-in opening (100).

Description

The invention relates to a connection terminal for connecting an electrical line according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such a connection terminal includes a housing that has a plug-in opening into which the electrical line can be inserted for connecting to the connection terminal. A contact element for electrical contact with the electrical line is arranged on the housing. A spring element is also arranged on the housing and has a clamping leg which is designed to act on the electrical line in order to bring the electrical line into contact with the contact element when the electrical line is inserted into the plug-in opening. An actuating element can be actuated by a user to adjust the clamping leg. For this purpose, the actuating element can be adjusted from a non-actuated position to an actuated position, for example using a tool, in order to close the clamping leg in the actuated position, for example to make it easier to insert the electrical cable into the plug-in opening or to remove the electrical cable from the plug-in opening adjust.

By using the spring element, such a connection terminal realizes a spring-loaded connection, in which the electrical line is clamped in the connected position with the contact element under the elastic spring action of the spring element and is therefore electrically connected to the contact element.

At one of the DE 10 2019 127 464 B3 In the known connection terminal, a spring element in the form of a tension spring is provided, which pulls a connected electrical line into contact with an associated contact element by elastic spring action and thus creates a clamping connection between the electrical line and the contact element. For this purpose, the electrical line is pushed through an opening in the clamping leg when it is attached and clamped in the connected position between the clamping leg and the contact element.

At the connection terminal DE 10 2019 127 464 B3 A locking device is provided, via which the clamping leg is locked in a release position relative to the housing. When the electrical cable is inserted, the latching device is triggered and the latching is thus released, so that the clamping leg is moved out of the release position and the electrical cable is thereby jammed with the contact element. In order to move the clamping leg into the release position, in particular to enable the electrical line to be attached or to detach a connected electrical line from the connection terminal, a tool, for example a screwdriver, can be placed on the connection terminal and thereby exert a force on the clamping leg become.

While at the DE 10 2019 127 464 B3 Adjusting the clamping leg directly using a tool is possible DE 10 2019 135 203 A1 and the DE 10 2020 104 140 A1 Known connection terminals each have an actuating element in the form of a so-called pusher, which can be pressed into the housing of the connection terminal in order to act on the clamping leg and to move the clamping leg into its release position. The actuating element is spring-biased relative to the housing of the connecting terminal via a tension spring in the form of a compression spring. At the from the DE 10 2019 135 203 A1 Known connection terminal, an actuating lug is arranged on the actuating element, which is hooked to a fastening section of a holding element in the actuated position of the actuating element.

The object of the present invention is to provide a connection terminal which makes it possible in a simple manner to hold the clamping leg of the spring element in a release position and to move it into a clamping position when an electrical cable is inserted.

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

Accordingly, the connection terminal has a triggering element which is mounted in a linearly displaceable manner on the housing and which has a triggering body and an active section, wherein the actuating element is locked in the actuated position relative to the housing, so that the actuating element is held in position relative to the housing in the actuated position . The triggering element can be displaced relative to the housing by the interaction of the triggering body with the electrical line when it is inserted into the plug-in opening. The active section is designed to act on the actuating element when the triggering element is displaced in order to release the actuating element from the actuated position.

In the connection terminal, the electrical line is electrically contacted with the electrical contact element in that the clamping leg acts on the electrical line when the electrical line is inserted into the plug-in opening and this is resiliently loaded in the direction of contact with the contact element. In order to make it easier to plug in the electrical cable, the clamping leg of the spring element can be deflected elastically by actuating the actuating element in order to move the clamping leg into a release position in which a space inside the housing in the area of the plug-in opening is released and thus the electrical cable can be inserted into the plug opening in a substantially powerless manner or (alternatively) a connected electrical cable can be easily removed from the connection terminal. The actuating element can, for example, be designed in the manner of a pusher and pressed into the housing by user operation in order to act on the clamping leg and to adjust the clamping leg in the direction of the release position.

The actuating element, which is adjustably arranged on the housing, is locked in the actuated position relative to the housing. In the actuated position, the actuating element is thus held in position relative to the housing, so that the clamping leg of the spring element is also held in its release position, in which a simple attachment of an electrical line to the connection terminal is possible or a connected line in a substantially can be removed from the connection terminal in a forceless manner.

By actuating the actuating element, the clamping leg can be adjusted relative to the housing and moved into a release position, so that in particular a simple insertion of an electrical cable into the plug-in opening of the housing for connecting the cable to the connection terminal is possible. The triggering element, which is slidably mounted on the housing, serves to trigger the actuating element from the actuated position in order to automatically release the actuating element from the actuated position when the electrical cable is inserted into the plug-in opening and thus to transfer the clamping leg into a clamping position in which it is inserted into the plug-in opening plugged-in electrical cable is electrically contacted with the contact element of the connection terminal. For this purpose, the triggering element has a triggering body which is designed to interact with the electrical line when inserted into the plug-in opening. Through interaction of the electrical line with the trigger body, the trigger element is moved to the housing, so that the trigger element acts on the actuating element via the active section, so that the latching of the actuating element is canceled and the actuating element is thus released from the actuated position.

After the locking has been released, the actuating element can, in particular, automatically adjust itself, preferably under spring preload, back towards the non-actuated position. A spring preload on the actuating element can be effected, for example, via the clamping leg, which is elastically deflected in the actuated position and, after the actuating element has been released, acts spring-mechanically on the actuating element to transfer the actuating element from the actuated position towards the non-actuated position. However, a preload can also be provided via an additional preload element, for example an additional spring.

Because the triggering element is moved to the housing when the electrical cable is inserted and thereby acts on the actuating element in order to release it from the latching position in the actuated position, the connecting terminal closes automatically when the electrical cable is inserted. This results in a simple connection process, with reliable contact of the electrical line with the contact element through the clamping effect of the clamping leg.

In one embodiment, the housing defines a receiving space into which the electrical line can be inserted by inserting it into the plug-in opening. The trigger body is arranged in the receiving space to interact with the electrical line. In particular, the electrical line can be inserted into the plug-in opening along a plug-in direction, wherein the triggering element is guided in a displaceable manner in the receiving space along the plug-in direction and can therefore be displaced along the plug-in direction together with the line in the receiving space when an electrical line is inserted. The triggering element is slidably guided on the housing via the triggering body, so that when interacting with the electrical line, the triggering body is moved out of a starting position and the triggering element is thereby adjusted to act on the actuating element.

In one embodiment, the trigger element has a first guide device. The housing has a second guide device. The first guide device and the second guide device work together to displaceably guide the trigger element on the housing. One of the guide devices can be formed, for example, by a guide link directed linearly along the insertion direction, while the other of the guide devices is formed, for example, by a guide pin which engages in the guide link, so that is provided via a linear guide of the trigger element on the housing.

In an advantageous embodiment, first guide devices are formed on two side surfaces of the trigger element that are located at a distance from one another and face opposite housing walls. Complementary to the first guide devices, second guide devices are formed on the opposite side walls of the housing, on which the first guide devices are guided. The trigger element is therefore guided on both sides of the housing.

If the connection terminal is designed to be lined up with further connection terminals, a second guide device can also be formed on a side wall of the housing and a further second guide device can be arranged on a rear wall of an adjacent connection terminal that is parallel to the side wall of the housing.

In one embodiment, the spring element is designed as a tension spring. In this case, the clamping leg of the spring element is designed to pull the electrical line into contact with the contact element by spring force. For example, an opening can be formed on the clamping leg through which the electrical line can be passed when inserted into the plug-in opening of the housing in order to pull the electrical line into clamping contact with the contact element after the clamping leg has been released from the release position.

Alternatively, the spring element can be designed as a compression spring. In this case, the clamping leg is designed to press the electrical line into contact with the contact element by spring force. When inserted into the plug-in opening, the electrical line enters a space between the clamping leg and the contact element, whereby after the clamping leg is released from the release position, the clamping leg acts on the electrical line and presses it into contact with the contact element.

In one embodiment, the clamping leg is elastically adjustable relative to the housing by actuating the actuating element into a release position and is held in the release position relative to the housing by the actuating element which is locked in the actuated position. The clamping leg is thus locked in the release position relative to the housing, so that the clamping leg remains in the release position after the actuation element has been actuated.

The spring element can, for example, have a support leg, via which the spring element is supported on the housing and held in position on the housing. The clamping leg can be deflected elastically relative to the support leg, with the clamping leg being deflected in the release position in such a way that the spring element is elastically tensioned and the clamping leg is moved out of the release position in an elastically prestressed manner after being released from the release position.

In one embodiment, the actuating element has a pass-through opening through which the spring element reaches. The spring element can be formed, for example, by a curved sheet metal spring, in which the clamping leg can be deflected along an adjustment plane relative to the support leg. The spring element extends through the passage opening of the actuating element, for example around a housing section of the housing, so that the spring element is supported via the support leg on the housing on a first side of the actuating element and the clamping leg protrudes from the actuating element on a second side facing away and when adjusting the actuating element is adjusted together with the actuating element. This results in a space-efficient arrangement of the actuating element and the spring element, with effective introduction of force into the spring element when transferring the actuating element from the non-actuated position to the actuated position and also from the spring element into the actuating element when returning the actuating element from the actuated position due to the spring preload of the spring element.

In one embodiment, the actuating element is mounted on the housing in a linearly displaceable manner and has an actuating section for actuation by a user and an active section for acting on the clamping leg. While the actuating section is accessible from outside the housing, for example by a user using a tool, for example a screwdriver, or alternatively can act on the actuating section manually, the active section is in operative connection with the clamping leg of the spring element. By adjusting the actuating element, an adjusting force is exerted on the clamping leg via the active section, so that, in particular when the actuating element is adjusted from the non-actuated position to the actuated position, the clamping leg is taken along and thus moved in the direction of the release position.

In one embodiment, the actuating element has a latching section for latching with a latching element of the housing in the actuated position. The latching section can, for example, be arranged at an end of the actuating element facing away from the actuating section. Via the locking section, the actuating element is locked in the actuated position with an associated locking element of the housing, so that the actuating element is held in the actuated position, but can be released from the actuated position in a simple, reliable manner by triggering the triggering element when the electrical cable is plugged in can.

In one embodiment, the latching section of the actuating element is elastically adjustable relative to the actuating section. The latching section can be formed, for example, by an elastic finger which extends linearly from the actuation section, for example along an actuation direction along which the actuation element is displaceable relative to the housing. The latching section can, in one embodiment, be adjusted, for example, transversely to the actuation direction relative to the actuating section, in order to snap into engagement with the latching element of the housing by elastic deflection when the actuating element is transferred into the actuated position, whereby the action of the triggering element on the latching section causes this Actuating element can be released again from the actuated position.

If a pass-through opening is formed in the actuating element, through which the spring element engages, the pass-through opening can extend into the area of the latching section, so that a material weakening is produced in the area of the latching section and this is therefore flexurally elastic, in particular transversely to the actuation direction relative to the actuating section can be deformed.

In one embodiment, the latching element of the housing is formed by an engagement projection projecting from a housing wall of the housing. The engagement projection can in particular be rigidly formed on the housing, so that the engagement projection cannot be deflected relative to the housing wall. Elasticity for producing the latching connection of the actuating element in the actuated position is thus provided via the latching section of the actuating element, which engages in a latching manner with the engagement projection of the latching element when the actuating element is transferred into the actuated position and is disengaged to release the actuating element from the actuated position can be brought by the engagement projection.

The engagement projection projects from the housing wall and preferably forms an undercut for locking with the locking section of the actuating element. The engagement projection can, for example, be formed on a side wall of the housing, wherein in one embodiment two engagement projections can be provided on opposite side walls spaced apart transversely to the direction of actuation for locking with the locking section of the actuating element in the actuated position. If the connection terminal is designed to be lined up with further connection terminals, a second engagement projection can also be arranged on a rear wall of an adjacent connection terminal that is parallel to the side wall of the housing of the present connection terminal.

In one embodiment, the active leg is designed to act on the locking section when the trigger element is pivoted in order to lift the locking section away from the engagement projection. The active leg can, for example, be extended approximately at a right angle to the trigger leg. When the trigger element is pivoted, caused by an electrical line on the trigger leg, the active leg is pivoted and thereby acts on the locking section of the actuating element, for example to lift it transversely to the actuating direction from the locking element formed by the engagement projection. The locking of the locking section with the locking element is thus released.

In one embodiment, the triggering element has a run-up slope which is designed to act on the locking section to release the actuating element from the actuated position when the triggering element is displaced. The casserole is in particular directed obliquely to the insertion direction. If the triggering element is displaced relative to the housing when an electrical cable is inserted into the plug-in opening of the housing, the run-up slope runs onto the locking section and forces it out of engagement with the locking element of the housing. By running onto the ramp, the locking of the locking section of the actuating element with the locking element of the housing is thus released, so that the actuating element is released from the actuated position.

The run-up slope is spatially arranged, viewed along a transverse direction transverse to the plug-in direction, offset from the locking element on the housing, so that the run-up slope can be moved past the locking element. Two locking elements in the form of engagement projections are provided on opposite walls of the housing hen, the ramp slope is arranged between the locking elements and can be moved between the locking elements.

In one embodiment, the triggering element has a further, second run-up slope, which is directed obliquely to the actuation direction of the actuating element (for example parallel to the plug-in direction) and enables the locking section to run onto the triggering element when the actuating element is actuated for transfer into the actuated position, so that the locking section is deflected in cooperation with the triggering element even when the actuating element is actuated to transfer it into the actuated position. As a result, the latching section can be brought into latching engagement with the latching element of the housing in a simple manner by lifting the latching section over the latching element and after passing it can snap into engagement with the latching element.

In one embodiment, the actuating element has a guide surface which is guided in a linearly displaceable manner on a guide section of the housing. The actuating element is accommodated, for example, in an actuation opening of the housing and is guided in the actuation opening in a linearly displaceable manner along an actuation direction which is directed, for example, parallel to the plug-in direction. One or more guide surfaces can be formed, for example, by one or more flat walls of the actuating element. In contrast, guide sections on the housing can be formed, for example, by delimiting walls of the actuation opening of the housing, which extend along the actuation direction and provide a guide for the actuation element on a displacement path in the housing.

In one embodiment, the connection terminal has a biasing element that is different from the spring element and is designed to elastically bias the actuation element relative to the housing in the direction of the non-actuated position. The biasing element can, for example, be arranged between a support section of the actuation element and an associated housing section and in this way bias the actuation element relative to the housing. When the actuating element is actuated in the direction of the actuated position, the pretensioning element is tensioned, so that the pretensioning element provides a pretensioning force against the actuation direction in the direction of the non-actuated position on the actuation element. The biasing element can be designed, for example, by a mechanical spring, for example a compression spring, which is tensioned into the actuated position when the actuating element is actuated.

By using a biasing element additional to the spring element, it can be achieved that the actuating element is placed back into a defined position corresponding to the non-actuated position after the latching has been released, which can be easily recognized by a user. A user thus receives reliable information that the connection terminal has tripped, so that the risk of incorrect operation is counteracted.

In particular, the prestressing element can be designed so that the actuating element always reaches the same position due to the prestressing effect of the prestressing element, regardless of a line cross section of a line to be connected, as soon as the actuating element is released from the actuated position. After being released from the actuated position with the cable connected, the actuating element thus assumes a defined position relative to the housing and can therefore serve as a reliable indicator for the triggering of the connection terminal when an electrical cable is connected. Due to the prestressing effect of the prestressing element, the actuating element is thus adjusted between two discrete positions, corresponding to the actuated position and the non-actuated position, and does not assume any undefined intermediate positions between these defined positions.

• 1A eine Ansicht eines Ausführungsbeispiels einer Anschlussklemme, in einer nicht betätigten Stellung eines Betätigungselements;
• 1B eine Seitenansicht der Anordnung gemäß 1A;
• 2A eine Ansicht der Anschlussklemme, in einer betätigten Stellung des Betätigungselements;
• 2B eine Seitenansicht der Anordnung gemäß 2A;
• 3A eine Ansicht der Anschlussklemme, bei Zusammenwirken einer elektrischen Leitung mit einem Auslöseelement;
• 3B eine Seitenansicht der Anordnung gemäß 3A;
• 4A eine Ansicht der Anschlussklemme, nach Einstecken der elektrischen Leitung und Freigabe des Betätigungselements aus der betätigten Stellung; und
• 4B eine Seitenansicht der Anordnung gemäß 4A;
• 5A eine gesonderte Ansicht eines Gehäuses der Anschlussklemme;
• 5B eine Seitenansicht des Gehäuses;
• 6A eine gesonderte Ansicht des Betätigungselements der Anschlussklemme;
• 6B eine Seitenansicht des Betätigungselements;
• 7A eine gesonderte Ansicht des Auslöseelements der Anschlussklemme;
• 7B eine Seitenansicht des Auslöseelements;
• 8A eine gesonderte Ansicht eines Federelements der Anschlussklemme;
• 8B eine Seitenansicht des Federelements;
• 9A eine gesonderte Ansicht eines Vorspannelements der Anschlussklemme; und
• 9B eine Seitenansicht des Vorspannelements.

The idea underlying the invention will be explained in more detail below using the exemplary embodiments shown in the figures. Show it:

• 1A a view of an exemplary embodiment of a connection terminal, in a non-actuated position of an actuating element;
• 1B a side view of the arrangement 1A ;
• 2A a view of the connection terminal, in an actuated position of the actuating element;
• 2 B a side view of the arrangement 2A ;
• 3A a view of the connection terminal, when an electrical line interacts with a trigger element;
• 3B a side view of the arrangement 3A ;
• 4A a view of the connection terminal after inserting the electrical cable and releasing the actuating element from the actuated position; and
• 4B a side view of the arrangement 4A ;
• 5A a separate view of a housing of the connection terminal;
• 5B a side view of the housing;
• 6A a separate view of the actuating element of the connecting terminal;
• 6B a side view of the actuator;
• 7A a separate view of the trigger element of the connection terminal;
• 7B a side view of the trigger element;
• 8A a separate view of a spring element of the connection terminal;
• 8B a side view of the spring element;
• 9A a separate view of a biasing element of the connection terminal; and
• 9B a side view of the prestressing element.

1A , 1B until 4A , 4B show an exemplary embodiment of a connection terminal 1, which forms a housing 10 with a plug-in opening 100 formed therein for plugging in an electrical line 2 along a plug-in direction E.

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

The spring element 12 has a support leg 121, which is supported on a wall of the housing 10, so that the spring element 12 is attached to the housing 10 and fixed to the housing 10. The clamping leg 120 can be deflected elastically relative to the support leg 121, in particular in such a way that the clamping leg 120 is in an in 4A , 4B shown clamping position acts clampingly on an electrical line 2 connected to the connection terminal 1 and presses it into contact with the contact element 11 under elastic prestress and thus electrically contacts the line 2 with the contact element 11 via its conductor end 20.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, an actuating element 14 is mounted on the housing 10 so as to be displaceable along an actuation direction B. The actuating element 14 is slidably accommodated in an actuating opening 102 of the housing 10 and can be displaced in a linearly guided manner relative to the housing 10 along the actuating direction B pointing parallel to the plug-in direction E in order to thereby act on the clamping leg 120 of the spring element 12 and place it between the To adjust the clamping position and a release position.

This in 6A , 6B Actuating element 14 shown in separate views has an actuating section 141, which is accessible from outside the housing 10 via the actuating opening 102 and can therefore be actuated by a user, for example using a tool. The actuation section 141 is accommodated in the actuation opening 102 and is guided displaceably by contacting outer guide surfaces 140 on delimiting walls of the actuation opening 102.

The actuating element 14 is in operative connection with the clamping leg 120 of the spring element 12. This applies to this 8A , 8B Spring element 12 shown in separate views has a pass-through opening 142 within the actuating element 14 such that the spring element 12 engages with an intermediate section 122 around a peg-shaped housing section 104 of the housing 10. The support leg 121 projects out of the opening 142 on a first side and is supported on the housing 10. The clamping leg 120, on the other hand, protrudes from the actuating element 14 on a remote, second side and is so extended within the receiving space 101 in the area of the plug-in opening 100 that the spring element 12 extends via the clamping leg 120 onto an electrical line 2 inserted into the plug-in opening 100 for contacting purposes with the contact element 11 and can also act for mechanical locking.

The connection terminal 1 has an in 7A , 7B illustrated trigger element 13, which is slidably mounted on the housing 10. The triggering element 13 has a triggering body 130, which is arranged in the interior 101 of the housing 10 in an area aligned with the plug-in opening 100 so that when an electrical line 2 is inserted, it hits the triggering body 130 with a conductor end 20 and thus the triggering element 13 acts. Guide devices 131 in the form of lateral guide slots are formed on both sides of side surfaces of the trigger body 130 that lie apart from one another along a transverse direction transverse to the plug-in direction E and cooperate Guide devices 106 in the form of inwardly projecting guide pins of the housing 10 for the displaceable guidance of the trigger element 13 on the housing 10 (the housing is closed to the outside via a cover which extends parallel to the wall 105 and is spaced from the wall 105 transversely to the plug-in direction E; Guide devices 106 in the form of guide pins are arranged on the wall 105 and on the cover, which guide the trigger body 130 on its two outer side surfaces).

As can be seen from the separate views of the housing 10 5A , 5B As can be seen, in the illustrated embodiment, a locking element 103 is formed on the side wall 105 in the form of a rigid engagement projection, which serves to lock the actuating element 14 in the actuated position relative to the housing 10. The actuating element 14 has a latching section 143 in the form of an elastic latching finger with a latching head 145 formed thereon, which extends linearly along the actuation direction B from the actuating section 141 and in the area of which the through opening 142 also extends, through which the spring element 12 engages . The latching section 143 can be deflected elastically to the actuating section 141 transversely to the actuation direction B and can thereby latch with the latching element 103 on the housing 10 (the housing 10 is secured to the housing 10 by a cover parallel to the side wall 105). 2A , 2 B closed on the front side, locking elements 103 can be formed both on the side wall 105 and on the lid, so that the locking section 143 is locked on one side on the side wall 105 and on the other side on the lid). In an actuated position, shown in 2A , 2 B the actuating element 14 is locked relative to the housing 10 and is thus held in position relative to the housing 10 in the actuated position.

The triggering element 13 serves to cooperate with an electrical line 2 inserted into the plug-in opening 100 in order to automatically connect the electrical line 2 to the connecting terminal 1 by triggering the clamping leg 120. The triggering element 13 has an active section 132, which is designed to cooperate with the locking section 143 when the triggering element 13 is moved along the plug-in direction E and thus to release the actuating element 14 from the locking in the actuated position. When the triggering element 13 is moved under guidance via the guide devices 106, 131, the active section 132 acts on the locking section 143 in order to lift it from the locking element 103 transversely to the actuation direction B and thus cancel the locking, so that the actuating element 14 counteracts the actuation direction B the housing 10 can be reset.

For this purpose, the trigger element 13 has on its active section 132 a ramp 133 which extends obliquely to the insertion direction E, as shown, for example, in the side view 2 B is visible. If an electrical cable 2 is inserted into the plug-in opening 100 of the housing 10 along the plug-in direction E and the cable 2 thereby acts with its conductor end 20 in the plug-in direction E on the triggering element 13, the active section 132 runs with the ramp 133 onto the locking head 145 on the latching section 143 of the actuating element 14 and pushes it upwards transversely to the insertion direction E, so that the latching head 145 is lifted out of engagement with the latching element 103 and thus the latching of the actuating element 14 is released.

The actuating element 14 is via a biasing element 15 in the form of a separate views in 9A , 9B The compression spring shown is biased relative to the housing 10. The biasing element 15 acts between a housing section and a support section 146 on the locking section 143 of the actuating element 14. When the actuating element 14 is actuated into the actuated position, the biasing element 15 is tensioned, so that the biasing element 15 exerts a restoring biasing force against the actuation direction B on the actuation element 14 exercises.

The result is the following functionality:

In a starting position with the actuating element 14 not actuated, the actuating element 14 and the triggering element 13 are in the in 1A , 1B apparent position.

If the actuating element 14 is actuated in the actuating direction B and thereby moved into the housing 10, the actuating element 14 takes the clamping leg 120 of the spring element 12 with it via an active section 144 and thereby adjusts the clamping leg 120 into an in 2A , 2 B Release position shown. In the release position, the clamping leg 120 releases an area within the receiving space 101 that is aligned with the plug-in opening 100 along the plug-in direction E, so that an electrical line 2 is inserted unhindered from the clamping leg 120 into the plug-in opening 100 and thus in a substantially powerless manner to the connecting terminal 1 can be connected.

When the actuating element 14 is moved into the housing 10, the detent occurs head 145 on a ramp 134 on a side of the trigger element 13 facing opposite to the actuation direction B, as can be seen from the transition from 1A , 1B towards 2A , 2 B follows. The latching section 143 is thus deflected transversely to the actuation direction B and is lifted over a highest point of the active section 132 and also over the latching element 103 formed on the housing 10, so that the latching head 145 snaps into latching engagement with the latching element 103 after passing through the latching element 103, as is the case out of 2A , 2 B is visible. The actuating element 14 is thus locked in the actuated position.

When latching, the triggering element 13 is also displaced counter to the plug-in direction E within the housing 10 by the action of the latching head 145 on the run-up slope 133 of the active section 132, as in the comparison of 1B and 2 B is visible. The triggering element 13 is thus brought into a position in the interior 101 of the housing 10, in which the triggering element 13 can trigger the locking of the actuating element 14 when an electrical line 2 is inserted.

While the trigger element 13 in the in 1A , 1B position shown assumes a first end position defined by the guide devices 106, 131 and shifted in the insertion direction E, the trigger element 13 assumes the position according to 2A , 2 B a second end position defined by the guide devices 106, 131 and shifted against the plug-in direction E, from which the trigger element 13 can be moved to cancel the locking of the actuating element 14 by the action of an electrical line 2.

If an electrical line 2 with a stripped conductor end 20 is inserted into the plug-in opening 100 and thereby inserted into the receiving space 101 in the plug-in direction E while the actuating element 14 is in the actuated position and thus the clamping leg 120 is in the release position, the line arrives 2 in contact with the trigger body 130 of the trigger element 13 and thereby moves the trigger element 13 in the plug-in direction E within the housing 10. As a result, the active section 132 is adjusted relative to the locking section 143 of the actuating element 14, so that the active section 132 over the ramp 133 on the Locking section 143 acts and forces the locking section 143 out of engagement with the locking element 103 on the housing 10 under elastic deformation, as shown in FIG 3A , 3B and 4A , 4B is shown. The actuating element 14 is thus released from the actuated position.

Due to the run-up slope 133 extending obliquely to the insertion direction E, a force transmission is effected for deflecting the locking section 143 to release the actuating element 14 from the actuated position. Due to the comparatively small angle of inclination of the run-up slope 133 relative to the insertion direction E, it results that a small force with which the line 2 acts on the triggering element 13 is sufficient to deflect the locking section 143 by running onto the run-up slope 133 and disengage it from it Bring locking element 103.

By designing the ramp 133, the force transmission on the trigger element 13 can be suitably dimensioned and adapted for a conductor 2 to be connected to the connection terminal 1.

After the locking is released, the actuating element 14 comes out of the actuated position due to the elastic preload on the clamping leg 120 and also via the additional preload of the pretensioning element 15 and is reset in the opposite direction to the actuation direction B, as shown 4A , 4B is visible. The clamping leg 120 comes into clamping contact with the electrical line 2 and thereby presses the conductor end 20 into contacting contact with the contact element 11, so that the line 2 is electrically connected to the connection terminal 1 and is also mechanically locked.

Due to the prestressing effect of the prestressing element 15, the actuating element 14 is reset to a defined position corresponding to the non-actuated position. Due to the prestressing effect of the prestressing element 15, the actuating element 14 thus assumes a defined position relative to the housing 10 in the triggered position of the connecting terminal 1, regardless of a conductor cross section of a connected line 2, in which the actuating section 141 protrudes from the housing 10, so that a The user receives information in a reliable manner that the connection terminal 1 has tripped.

Because the actuating element 14 is automatically moved out of the actuated position after the latching is released, a user can safely and reliably recognize that the connection terminal 1 has tripped and the electrical line 2 is therefore connected to the connection terminal 1. The risk of incorrect operation is therefore reduced.

Should the electrical line 2 come from the in 4A , 4B disconnected in the connected position shown and disconnected from the connection terminal 1 can be removed, the actuating element 14 can again be in the actuated position according to 2A , 2 B be transferred so that the clamping leg 120 is brought out of contact with the line 2. The line 2 can thereby be removed from the connection terminal 1 in a substantially powerless manner.

The idea on which the invention is based is not limited to the exemplary embodiment described above, but can also be implemented in other ways.

The triggering element can be mounted displaceably on the housing or on a component stationary to the housing via guide devices. The triggering element can, for example, be elastically biased towards the starting position via a prestressing element, for example a spring, so that the triggering element automatically returns to its starting position after the actuating element has been triggered. But this is not mandatory.

The actuating element can be biased towards the non-actuated position by the action of the clamping leg of the spring element. An additional biasing element, which biases the actuation element against the actuation direction in the direction of the non-actuated position relative to the housing, can be provided, but is not mandatory. Such a biasing element can be designed, for example, by a compression spring or another mechanical spring.

Reference symbol list

1

Connection terminal

10

Housing

100

Plug opening

101

Recording room

102

Actuation opening

103

Locking element

104

Housing section

105

Housing wall (bottom)

106

Leadership section

11

Contact element (current bar)

12

Clamping spring

120

clamping leg

121

Support leg

122

Intermediate section

13

Trigger element

130

Trigger body

131

Management facility

132

Effective section

133

casserole slope

134

casserole slope

14

Actuator

140

Guide surface

141

Operating section

142

Access opening

143

Rest section

144

Effective section

145

Locking head

146

Support section

15

Prestressing element

2

Line

20

End of ladder

b

Direction of operation

E

Plugging direction

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

• DE 102019127464 B3 [0004, 0005, 0006]
• DE 102019135203 A1 [0006]
• DE 102020104140 A1 [0006]

Claims (15)

Connection terminal (1) for connecting an electrical line (2), with a housing (10) which has a plug-in opening (101) into which the electrical line (2) can be inserted for connecting to the connection terminal (1), one on which Housing (10) arranged contact element (11) for electrical contact with the electrical line (2), a spring element (12) arranged on the housing (10) which has a clamping leg (120) for acting on the electrical line (2), in order to bring the electrical line (2) into contact with the contact element (11), and an actuating element (14) which is adjustably arranged on the housing (10) and which is used to adjust the clamping leg (120) from a non-actuated position into an actuated position is adjustable, characterized by a linearly displaceable trigger element (13) mounted on the housing (10), which has a trigger body (130) and an active section (132), the actuating element (14) being in the actuated position relative to the housing (10 ) is locked so that the actuating element (14) is held in position in the actuated position in relation to the housing (10), the triggering element (10) being inserted into the plug opening by the interaction of the triggering body (130) with the electrical line (2). (100) is displaceable relative to the housing (10) and the active section (132) is designed to act on the actuating element (14) to release the actuating element (14) from the actuated position when the triggering element (13) is moved. Connecting terminal (1). Claim 1 , characterized in that the housing (10) defines a receiving space (101) into which the electrical line (2) can be inserted by inserting it into the plug opening (100), the trigger body (130) being in the receiving space (101). Cooperation with the electrical line (2) is arranged. Connecting terminal (1). Claim 2 , characterized in that the electrical line (2) can be inserted into the plug-in opening (100) along a plug-in direction (E), the trigger element (13) being displaceable on the housing (10) along the plug-in direction (E). Connecting terminal (1) according to one of the Claims 1 until 3 , characterized in that the triggering element (13) has a first guide device (131) and the housing (10) has a second guide device (106), the first guide device (131) and the second guide device (106) for displaceably guiding the triggering element ( 13) interact on the housing (10). Terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the clamping leg (120) is designed to press or pull the electrical line (2) into contact with the contact element (11) by spring force. Terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the clamping leg (120) is elastically adjustable relative to the housing (10) by actuating the actuating element (14) into a release position and in the release position by the latched in the actuated position Actuating element (14) is held relative to the housing (10). Terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spring element (12) has a support leg (121) which is supported on the housing (10) and to which the clamping leg (120) can be elastically deflected. Terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuating element (14) has a through opening (142) through which the spring element (12) engages. Connection terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuating element (14) is mounted on the housing (10) so that it can be moved linearly and has an actuating section (141) for actuation by a user and an active section (144) for acting on the Has clamping legs (120). Connecting terminal (1). Claim 9 , characterized in that the actuating element (14) has a latching section (143) for latching with a latching element (103) of the housing (10) in the actuated position. Connecting terminal (1). Claim 10 , characterized in that the latching section (143) is elastically adjustable relative to the actuating section (141). Connecting terminal (1). Claim 10 or 11 , characterized in that the actuating element (14) is displaceable along an actuation direction (B) relative to the housing (10), the locking section (143) being elastically adjustable relative to the actuation section (141) transversely to the actuation direction (B). Connecting terminal (1) according to one of the Claims 10 until 12 , characterized in that the latching element (103) of the housing (10) is formed by an engagement projection projecting from a housing wall (105) of the housing (10). Connecting terminal (1) according to one of the Claims 10 until 13 , characterized in that the triggering element (13) has a run-up slope (133) which is designed to act on the locking section (143) to release the actuating element (14) from the actuated position when the triggering element (13) is moved. Terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a biasing element (15) different from the spring element (12), which biases the actuating element (14) elastically relative to the housing (10) in the direction of the non-actuated position.

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