DE202010014382U1 - Terminal for printed circuit boards - Google Patents

Abstract

Connection terminal (1), in particular print terminal (2), for electrical contacting and for attachment to a printed circuit board (3) for at least one electrical conductor (6),
with an alignable or block-shaped insulating housing (4), wherein the insulating housing (4) at least one conductor insertion opening (5) for introducing an electrical conductor (6), at least one actuating opening (7) for inserting an actuating tool (8) for actuating a screw element (9), at least one receiving space (10) for a contact insert (11) and at least one passage opening (12) for a contact pin (13) of the contact insert (11),
with at least one spring force element (14) consisting of a leg spring (16) punched out and shaped from a metal strip (15) for clamping at least one electrical conductor (6), and
comprising at least one contact insert (11) consisting of a bus bar (18) punched out and formed from an electrically conductive material strip (17), the bus bar (18) having at least one contact pin (13) for connection to at least one printed circuit board bore (18),
characterized,
that the contact insert ...

Description

The present invention relates generally to the field of basic electrical structural assemblies. Structural assemblies of a plurality of mutually insulated interconnecting elements particularly adapted for printed circuits, the structural assembly being a component of an electrical connection between two or more direct-contact conductive members using a spring actuated by a screw. Such a connection, in particular from the area of the terminals, represents the electrical terminal. The terminal serves as a link in the PCB connection technology for reliable supply of industrial electronics and economic single wiring on printed circuits and is referred to, for example as a print terminal.

The terminal, in particular printed circuit terminal for electrical contacting and for attachment to a printed circuit board for at least one electrical conductor, there are, as known in the prior art, in many construction versions, for example in single-pole or multi-pole design, with a bayed or arranged in block insulating material wherein the insulating material housing has a conductor insertion opening for insertion of an electrical conductor, an actuating opening for insertion of an actuating tool for actuating a screw element, and a receiving space for the contact insert and passage opening for contact pins. The print terminal is further equipped with a spring force element, wherein the leaf spring of the spring force element was punched and formed for clamping the electrical conductor of a strip of material. The spring force element generates a contact pressure and thus presses the electrical conductor against the contact insert, wherein the contact insert consists of an electrically conductive strip of material. The stamped out from the strip of material and shaped contact insert forms the busbar, wherein the busbar contact pins for connecting the holes contained in circuit boards has.

Such print terminals are well known from the prior art and can, for example, the product catalog "Circuit Board COMBICON 2005" TNR 5169412 / 31.12.2004 - 00 the company Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co KG are removed, where there are such PCB terminals in Schraubanschluss- and Federkraftanschlusstechnik. Two concepts are known for the spring-loaded connection technology, the tension-spring technology and the torsion-spring technology, which ensure high clamping safety. The conductor connection by leg spring is quick and easy, d. H. rigid conductors, or flexible conductors with wire end ferrule can be inserted directly into the terminal point without actuating a lever opener and contact there independently according to "plug'n play" or "push in technology". On a clamp with tension spring technology, on the other hand, the clamping space must first be opened by means of a tool. To connect a conductor in a screw terminal, the screw that applies the clamping force must be tightened with a corresponding torque.

The other disadvantages of the pure screw connection technology and the tension spring technology are well known. Such print terminals make u. a. the connection between the periphery (sensor, actuator) and the field of measurement and control technology within the scope of automation technology. Normally, PCB terminal blocks are a mass-produced product that must ensure effective and reliable operation at low production costs. In particular, it must be possible with the least possible space required a quick and non-interchangeable conductor connection and also the release of the electrical conductors.

From the DE 43 32 969 C1 is known a terminal in which the leg spring technology is not equipped with a screw, but with a clamping member. Disadvantage of this design is that the large space requirement and the principle with the clamping member relate only to the tension spring technology.

The reduction in the space requirement is indeed by in the DE 203 15 605 U1 reached described terminal. Another disadvantage, however, is that the principle with the clamping member refers only to the tension spring technology.

From the DE 103 01 577 A1 , Which is considered as the closest prior art, a terminal of the aforementioned type is known. It is a terminal block for mounting on mounting rails in control cabinets for connecting peripherals and control, which already combines the principle of screw element and spring element in one terminal. But here too, the spring element is a tension spring, also referred to as encompassing element, which contains a recess or opening by the tension spring technology, through which the electrical conductor is guided. The subsequent clamping of the electrical conductor can only be carried out with the help of a screwdriver. The disadvantage of this embodiment of terminal block is that no rapid automatic clamping of the electrical conductor, as known from the leg spring technology, can take place.

The invention is therefore an object of the invention to provide a terminal of the type mentioned above, which avoids the aforementioned disadvantages of the known arrangements and to provide a technical solution that makes it possible to produce a cost-effective, equipped with simple functional geometry and small size PCB terminal block for printed circuit board connections.

According to the invention this problem is solved by a terminal with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and modifications of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims and the description below.

In order to produce a terminal block equipped with these features of the present invention and reduced in size for a fast, safe and universal clamping connection, taking into account the wiring requirements of the device manufacturer and printed circuit board processor, the invention proposes to provide a printed circuit terminal, on the one hand the electrical contact safely on the other hand allows a quick detachable connection of the electrical conductor. In this case, rigid conductors or flexible conductors with ferrules without actuating an auxiliary, z. B. a lever opener or a screw to be connected directly by means of "push in technology".

The universal usability of the print terminal refers both to the vertical and to the horizontal direction of insertion of the electrical conductor to be connected to the circuit board. The fast, secure clamping connection should be made by the spring-loaded connection technology, which is located in the fast connection of the electrical conductor without special tools.

Another requirement is to reduce the size of one of the known screw terminals, in which the connection direction and the actuation direction are identical. To reduce it is necessary to prevent the existing to release the clamp connection large lever openers and their disadvantages of the force on actuation of the tracks and replace them with suitable means. This object is achieved in that a print terminal has been developed, which combines the advantages of the spring-loaded connection technology and Schraubanschlusstechnik, the size of the insulating material is reduced to keep up with the miniaturization of the components on the circuit board and which in vertical and horizontal design in the known grid sizes suitable for connection to printed circuit boards.

According to the invention, a contact insert has been developed to reduce the size of the insulating material of a printed circuit board, which ensures the connection between the conductor on a circuit board with an electrical conductor to be connected, wherein the contact insert acts as a busbar. In order to meet the requirement of vertical and horizontal connection, the contact pins are arranged on the busbar in the insertion direction or perpendicular to the direction of insertion of the electrical conductor to be connected. For the contact pins, the insulating material housing on the narrow sides corresponding through holes, wherein the free, not required by contact pins through-openings can be used as Prüfabgriffsöffnungen for receiving a probe.

Another inventive advantage is achieved in that the contact insert of the new print terminal, according to the teachings of the invention, is formed with a tab containing a threaded bore hole. The threaded passage is adapted to receive a screw member. The screw member acts in conjunction with the tab of the contact insert and the spring element as a clamping device.

The terminal point for the electrical conductor is formed by a second, arranged on the contact insert tab, which serves as the connecting electrical conductor as a contact and contact surface and a spring force element, which consists of a leg spring. The pressure required at the clamp connection of the electrical conductor to the tab is generated by the leg spring through the screw member, wherein the one-piece leg spring is formed of two legs, which are spaced by a U-shaped loop.

In the invention is also important that the U-shaped loop of the leg spring is guided around an axis arranged in the insulating housing axis. The advantage lies in the fact that, according to the invention, one limb comes into contact with the lug of the contact insert, while the other limb of the limb spring takes over the clamping of the electrical conductor. The clamping is done by the outgoing leg spring, which clamps the contact pressure by screwing the screw member which acts on the adjusting leg, immediately on the clamping leg and thus the electrical conductor to be connected. The conductor insertion opening or the clamping point is designed such that a reliable clamping in the entire conductor cross-sectional area from zero clamping to the corresponding nominal conductor size is ensured, with a fast and secure clamping connection is formed by the spring force element. Regardless of the diameter of the electrical conductor to be connected If necessary, the screw element of the clamping device can be screwed in as far as the end of the threaded passage in order to always produce a secure clamping connection.

Furthermore, the advantage according to the invention when connecting different conductor cross sections via the clamping device is that the contact pressure force can be steplessly adjusted to the electrical conductor by means of the screw element. D. h., An electrical conductor is inserted into the terminal point and is pressed by the spring element against the busbar, the clamping force can be continuously increased or decreased by the clamping device according to the invention on the electrical conductor. For easy release of the electrical conductor from the terminal point, the screw element in the clamping device is to be unscrewed with the actuating tool until the adjusting leg comes into contact with the tab of the clamping device.

The entire arrangement according to the invention, consisting of the insulating housing, the contact insert, the spring force element and the screw has the advantage that a terminal, especially PCB terminal, is provided with a screw-operated leg spring clamp, which combines as a link the advantages of Federkraftanschluss- and screw connection technology together and meets the specified requirements, with a reduction in the size of the insulating material is achieved and a fast, secure and universal clamping connection is formed.

An embodiment of the invention is shown schematically in the drawings and will be described in more detail below. It shows

1 a perspective view of a stackable print terminal with a circuit board and

2 a contact insert according to the invention with screw element for the vertical contact terminal of an electrical conductor and

3 a contact insert according to the invention with a screw element for the horizontal contact connection of an electrical conductor.

In 1 is a perspective view of an advantageous embodiment of a terminal according to the invention 1 in complete form after the generic type of a PCB terminal block 2 in a miniaturized version of the insulating material housing 4 which is for connection to printed circuit boards 3 in block construction (not shown) or in a stackable design with latching knobs 40 suitable is. Furthermore, in perspective view, the clamping device according to the invention, consisting of the combination of the elements of a contact insert 11 , a spring element 14 and a screw element 9 in which insulating material formed from insulating material 4 , with an inserted electrical conductor 6 and an operating tool 8th shown. The detailed description of the clamping device is the 2 refer to.

The insulating material housing 4 is provided with a plurality of openings, wherein the openings here from the receiving space 10 for the contact insert 11 a lead insertion opening at the front for insertion of the electrical conductor 6 , an actuating opening 7 , also on the front for insertion of the operating tool 8th , and several openings 12 on the narrow sides, for those on the power rail 18 arranged contact pins 13 , are formed, causing the insulating material 4 in vertical (after 1 ) and horizontal (see 3 ) Connection and insertion direction can be used. For closing the opening of the receiving space 10 At the end of a stackable terminal row, a side panel or terminal is required. The insulating material housing 4 is furthermore with an axis 31 trained, the leg spring 16 serves for fixing and deflecting the force.

For the implementation of the electrical conductor 6 is the conductor insertion opening 5 provided, the longitudinal direction of the nip between the clamping leg 31 the thigh feather 16 and the tab 20 the busbar 18 of the contact insert 11 is aligned. The conductor entry can be made with rigid electrical conductors 6 done without the aid of a tool. To release the electrical conductor 6 is parallel to the conductor entry opening 5 an actuating opening 7 into which by means of an operating tool 8th the clamping leg 31 the thigh feather 16 from the electrical conductor 6 can be lifted, thus the clamping of the electrical conductor 6 repealed.

2 shows a perspective view of an advantageous embodiment of a clamping device according to the invention 36 consisting of a contact insert 11 , a spring element 14 and a screw element 9 , wherein the contact insert 11 and the spring element 14 from a strip of material 15 . 17 are formed. The contact insert made in stamping and bending technology 11 fulfills several functions, the contact insert 11 is formed such that these two tabs 20 . 21 has and the two tabs 20 . 21 90 degrees from the one-piece strip of material 17 are angled and point in the same direction.

A function of the contact insert 11 It is optimally an electrical conductor 6 with a trace on a circuit board 3 to connect and thus as a busbar 18 to serve. A high electrical conductivity of the busbar 18 is achieved by the use of an electrically conductive metal, preferably a copper alloy. The connection between the electrical conductor 6 and the track is achieved by that on the power rail 19 on the one hand contact pins 13 for connection to the printed circuit board 3 and on the other hand a tab 20 for the electrical conductor 6 is arranged. The tab 20 is in the insertion direction of the electrical conductor to be connected 6 arranged, with the inside 22 the tab 20 the electrical conductor 6 as an attachment 26 and contact surface 23 serves. As a contact surface 23 in that sense, because on the inside 22 the tab 20 the electrical conductor 6 by the spring force element 14 consisting of a strip of material 15 , preferably spring steel, punched and formed leg spring 16 , against the tab 20 is clamped. This represents another function, uzw. the clamping. To fulfill another function is the contact insert 11 with an additional tab 21 educated. The additional tab 21 is perpendicular and spaced from the tab 20 arranged. The inside 24 the tab 21 serves the thigh 25 the thigh feather 16 as a contact surface 27 , where the tab 21 also perpendicular to the actuating opening 7 of the insulating material housing 4 stands and is arranged in its area.

The tab 21 is inventively provided with an opening, preferably in the form of a bore 28 , where the bore 28 with a thread passage 29 equipped to receive a screw element 9 suitable is. The screw element 9 consists of a screw 30 For example, from a hexagonal, cylinder with hexagon socket, or cylinder with Phillips screw, preferably from a cylinder screw with longitudinal slot ( DIN 84 ) with screw head, shaft and thread, wherein the thread may be formed as a metric ISO or Whitworth thread, preferably of metric fine thread.

The screw 30 is on the opposite side of the contact surface 27 the tab 21 in the thread passage 29 inserted and protrudes with the screw head 33 in the operating opening 7 of the insulating material housing 4 the print terminal 2 , The screw 30 is called a screw element 9 used in the clamping device not as a fastening screw, but as a motion screw. The motion screw 30 converts the rotational movement into a translatory movement, whereby the translational movement of the screw 30 a rotational movement of the leg 25 the thigh feather 16 entails.

By screwing in or out, from a screw 30 existing screw element 9 becomes the thigh 25 the thigh feather 16 deflected. Length of a way of the maximum deflection of a thigh 25 on the one hand by the contact surface 27 the tab 21 and on the other hand by the thread length on the screw 30 certainly. The larger the thread length, the greater the deflection of the leg 25 respectively. The thigh feather 16 is from two thighs 25 . 31 formed, the shape of the leg spring 16 in about a large rectangular "L" with two legs of equal length 25 . 31 equivalent. In the area of the right angle are the two thighs 25 . 31 with a U-shaped loop 34 connected. The U-shaped loop 34 the molded leg spring 16 serves on the one hand the deflection of the force and on the other hand, the transmission of the rotational movement of the leg 25 on the thigh 31 , where the U-shaped loop 34 around the axis 32 of the insulating material housing 4 is guided around for fixation (see 1 ).

Is located in a first embodiment of the print terminal 2 no electrical conductor 6 in the nip 35 , or is no electrical conductor 6 at the contact surface 26 the tab 20 on, is by screwing in or out of the screw 30 the rotational movement of the leg 25 on the thigh 31 transferred by deflection, causing the thigh 31 is deflected or likewise performs a rotational movement.

Is an electrical conductor 6 in the nip 35 introduced, or is an electrical conductor 6 at the contact surface 27 the tab 20 The generated by screwing the screw 30 deflected thighs 25 Force on the thigh 31 , wherein the power transmission from a leg 25 on the other thigh 31 by deflection of the U-shaped loop 34 the molded leg spring 16 he follows. The deflection of the movement and the force takes place due to a in Isolierstoffgehäuse 4 arranged axis 32 , uzw. in that one leg 25 the thigh feather 16 through the screw 30 is deflected and the other leg 31 the thigh feather 16 thus in the direction of the electrical conductor to be connected 6 is moved and the electrical conductor 6 against the tab 20 the current-conducting contact insert 11 stuck.

In a further embodiment of the print terminal 2 is the leg spring 16 already by the clamping device 36 biased, ie, the screw member 9 already a certain path length is screwed in, and the thigh 25 the thigh feather 16 is no longer on the contact surface 27 the tab 21 at. Depending on which electrical conductor 6 , either from the conductor cross-section or the type of execution, for example, rigid (single or stranded), as well as flexible (fine or finely stranded) is used, the clamping force can be adjusted differently. The rotational movement of the spring force element 14 thus results from the path length of the leg 25 and corresponds to the Path length of the thigh 31 This is up to the contact surface 26 the tab 20 can cover, causing the thigh 31 the thigh feather 16 with the tab 20 comes into contact. In this position of the spring force element 14 (not shown) corresponds to the PCB terminal 2 the advantage of the spring-loaded connection technology in the fast connection of the electrical conductor 6 without special tools. By applying the Schraubanschlusstechnik the release of the clamping connection on the unscrewing of the screw element 9 respectively.

Of the 3 is a perspective view of a further advantageous embodiment of the clamping device according to the invention 36 , in a modified form of a contact insert 11 to remove the type in question of a print terminal. The clamping device 36 exists, as already in 2 described, from a contact insert 11 , a spring element 14 and a screw element 9 , In the 3 illustrated construction of a contact insert according to the invention 11 with the screw element 9 is for the horizontal contact connection of an electrical conductor 6 in the front of a print terminal 2 educated. The conductor entry opening 5 for the electrical conductor 6 and the operation opening 7 for the operating tool 8th in insulating material 4 thereby run horizontally to the PCB surface, whereby a horizontal conductor connection is possible. The contact insert 11 is therefore designed such that the contact pins 13 the busbar 18 perpendicular to the direction of insertion of the electrical conductor to be connected 6 are arranged, while in the vertical construction of the print terminal 2 or their contact insert 11 to 2 the conductor connection can be made vertically to the circuit board surface, because the contact pins 13 in the insertion direction of the electrical conductor to be connected 6 run. The passage openings 12 for the contact pins 13 are located on the narrow sides of the insulating material 4 , The clamping device 36 in 3 with the screw element 9 , the spring force element 14 and the arranged tab 21 of the contact insert 11 is identical to the clamping device 36 the in 2 described in detail execution.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

terminal

2

PCB terminal

3

circuit board

4

Insulated

5

Conductor insertion opening

6

electrical conductor

7

actuating opening

8th

operating tool

9

screw element

10

accommodation space

11

contact insert

12

Through opening

13

pin

14

Spring element

15

Material strip (to 14 )

16

Leg spring

17

Material strip (to 18 )

18

Busbar (to 11 )

19

PCB Hole

20

Tab (electrical conductor)

21

Tab (screw element)

22

Inside (to 20 )

23

Contact surface (to 20 )

24

Inside (to 21 )

25

Thigh (to 31 )

26

Contact surface (to 20 )

27

Contact surface (to 21 )

28

drilling

29

threaded passage

30

screw

31

Thigh (to 6 )

32

axis

33

screw head

34

U-shaped loop

35

nip

36

clamping device

37

Free

38

Free

38

Free

40

Verrastnoppen

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

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

Cited patent literature

• DE 4332969 C1 [0005]
• DE 20315605 U1 [0006]
• DE 10301577 A1 [0007]

Cited non-patent literature

• DIN 84 [0028]

Claims (12)

Terminal ( 1 ), in particular print terminal ( 2 ), for electrical contacting and for attachment to a printed circuit board ( 3 ) for at least one electrical conductor ( 6 ), with a stackable or in block design arranged insulating housing ( 4 ), wherein the insulating housing ( 4 ) at least one conductor insertion opening ( 5 ) for introducing an electrical conductor ( 6 ), at least one actuating opening ( 7 ) for insertion of an actuating tool ( 8th ) for actuating a screw element ( 9 ), at least one recording room ( 10 ) for a contact insert ( 11 ) and at least one passage opening ( 12 ) for a contact pin ( 13 ) of the contact insert ( 11 ), with at least one spring force element ( 14 ) consisting of a metal strip ( 15 ) stamped and formed leg spring ( 16 ) for clamping at least one electrical conductor ( 6 ), and with at least one contact insert ( 11 ) consisting of an electrically conductive strip of material ( 17 ) punched and shaped busbar ( 18 ), wherein the busbar ( 18 ) at least one contact pin ( 13 ) for connection to at least one printed circuit board bore ( 18 ), characterized in that the contact insert ( 11 ) is designed such that the contact insert ( 11 ) two tabs ( 20 . 21 ), wherein both tabs ( 20 . 21 ) by about 90 degrees from the integral strip of material ( 17 ) are angled and pointing in the same direction. Terminal ( 1 ) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first tab ( 20 ) in the insertion direction of the electrical conductor to be connected ( 6 ) and the inside ( 22 ) the tab ( 20 ) the electrical conductor ( 6 ) as an attachment- ( 26 ) and contact surface ( 23 ) serves. Terminal ( 1 ) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the second tab ( 21 ) perpendicular and spaced from the first tab ( 20 ) and the inside ( 24 ) of the second tab ( 21 ) the thigh ( 25 ) of the leg spring ( 16 ) as a contact surface ( 27 ), the second tab ( 21 ) perpendicular to the actuating opening ( 7 ) or to the screwing of the screw element ( 9 ) is arranged. Terminal ( 1 ) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the second tab ( 21 ) a hole ( 28 ) with a thread passage ( 29 ) contains. Terminal ( 1 ) according to claim 4, characterized in that the threaded passage ( 29 ) for receiving a screw element ( 9 ) suitable is. Terminal ( 1 ) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the screw element ( 9 ) from a screw ( 30 ) and that by screwing or unscrewing the screw ( 30 ) of the thighs ( 25 ) of the leg spring ( 16 ) is deflected. Terminal ( 1 ) according to claim 6, characterized in that the path of the deflection of the leg ( 25 ) through the thread length of the screw ( 30 ) is determined. Terminal ( 1 ) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that by the screwing in and out of the screw element ( 9 ) of the thighs ( 25 ) the thigh ( 31 ) of the leg spring ( 16 ), insofar as no electrical conductor ( 6 ) at the contact surface ( 23 ) the tab ( 20 ) is present. Terminal ( 1 ) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that by the screwing of the screw element ( 9 ) of the thighs ( 25 ) and thus force on the thigh ( 31 ), insofar as an electrical conductor ( 6 ) at the contact surface ( 27 ) the tab ( 20 ) is present. Terminal ( 1 ) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the power transmission from a leg ( 25 ) on the other leg ( 31 ) by the deflection of the formed leg spring ( 16 ) he follows. Terminal ( 1 ) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the deflection of the movement and the force around a in the insulating housing ( 4 ) arranged axis ( 32 ) takes place when the one leg ( 25 ) of the leg spring ( 16 ) through the screw ( 30 ) and the other leg ( 31 ) of the leg spring ( 16 ) so in the direction of the electrical conductor to be connected ( 6 ) is moved and so the electrical conductor ( 6 ) against the tab ( 20 ) of the current-conducting contact insert ( 11 ) is stuck. Terminal ( 1 ) according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the contact pressure on the electrical conductor ( 6 ) in the nip ( 35 ) is infinitely adjustable.

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