EP0893845B1 - Insulation displacement terminal for instance connecting block or module and terminal block with an insulation displacement terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

The contact arrangement includes a contact spring (12) with two springy contact thighs (20) which define a contact slot (30), and an U-shaped spring (14) which is formed as a component separate from the contact spring. The U-shaped spring has thighs (28) which surround, and proceed largely vertically to cutting- and isolating areas of the contact thighs. The contact thighs are preferably bent in an area (24) remote from their end (22) in such a way, that they proceed, at least in a section largely parallel to each other with the help of the spring when opening the contact slot. The U-shaped spring comprises largely disk-shaped thighs, which surround the cutting- and isolating areas of the contact thighs over a longer area.

Description

Technical field

The invention relates to an insulation displacement contact, which in the Connection technology used to connect two copper wires is, as well as a terminal block or a connection module and a terminal block with at least one insulation displacement contact.

IDC contacts are generally used to connect electrical conductors, what by penetrating one Isolation and subsequent contacting of the wire core of the leader is reached. Especially when the the conductors or wires to be connected are comparatively thick, are responsible for the penetration and contacting described Wire core of the veins comparatively high forces and thus a stable design of the insulation displacement contact required.

On the other hand, it is for a compact design Terminal desired, the division, that is the measure between two contacts to make it as small as possible. While for Ensuring sufficient action on the conductor Force to penetrate the insulation and make contact the wire core is a stable and therefore large one Contact is required to achieve a small The pitch of the insulation displacement contact is as compact as possible become.

State of the art

In this area there are generally insulation displacement contacts known the special measures to support the Represent the clamping effect of a contact. So is in the DE-GM 87 11 376 describes an electrical connection terminal, whose contact slot is delimited by two plates on their outer edges supported by bent sidewalls become. However, this attachment is of a size that not for use in compact connection elements suitable.

This also applies to the insulation displacement clamp according to the DE-GM 86 04 746, which has two contact slots, the each be limited by a pair of contact legs. An over-spring is provided for power support. This results in a complex design of the Contact, which is also through the use of four Contact legs to limit two contact slots is comparatively large.

A so-called front wiring terminal is in the DE 195 41 137 A1 discloses and has pivotable contact clips to which in a complex way a comparative narrow, with her thighs parallel to the Contact legs extending over-spring to support the Clamp can be attached. The arrangement shown is however, due to the pivotable attachment of the Contact bracket complicated and moreover due to the moving elements prone to failure.

Arrangements are also known in the prior art, at which a contact spring a power support by Chamber experiences in a housing in which the contact spring is recorded. Leave for such a housing section suitable resilient properties of the Represent housing chambers only with difficulty, and so it is not possible, the deformation characteristics of the Design contact spring appropriately.

Presentation of the invention

Given these disadvantages, the prior art Known insulation displacement contacts, the invention is the The task is to create an insulation displacement contact that has a small width in the direction of division and at the same time for a reliable penetration of the Isolation of the connected conductors and contacting the Wire soul provides. The insulation displacement contact should be reliable work and moreover in a simple way in one Housing can be installed. Furthermore, a terminal block, a Connection module and a terminal block with at least one Insulation displacement contact to be created, the previous one Meets requirements.

This task is solved by an insulation displacement contact achieved with the features of claims 1 or 4.

Accordingly, the insulation displacement contact according to the invention has a contact spring with two resilient contact legs, that limit a contact slot. As one of the The contact spring separate component is a U-shaped force spring intended. This can, unlike some in the stand Embodiments known in the art, the material of the Contact leg and the material of the power spring ideal for the requirements placed on these components be adjusted. In particular, for the contact legs a material with good electrical conductivity be used. For the power spring is more advantageous Way used a material with good spring properties. As a result, the contact can be made compact overall be made comparatively small by making the contact legs be designed, which is possible because the to Contact required force from the disconnected Force spring is applied. This can be designed and be arranged so that due to the intended good Spring properties the contact leg in the direction of Contact slot squeezes that a reliable Functionality is ensured.

The use of a separate power spring also provides significant advantages in terms of manufacturing the so-called contact spring, which the two contact legs contains. The contact slot between the two Contact legs can namely with relatively coarse Manufacturing tolerances are made by punching. This results, for example, in contrast to one Cutting the sheet by cutting, neatly trained Edge. The width of the contact slot essentially becomes controlled by the force applied by the power spring and is less dependent on manufacturing tolerances. The power spring pushes the contact legs out of one Starting position together to a certain extent, so that a desired width of the contact slot is established.

The fact that the power spring, so to speak, the contact legs compressing against their spring force is to deform the Back against the force of the power spring their initial state is a comparatively small force required so that thin wires can be contacted, without the risk that they will be cut. However, if comparatively thick wires are contacted should also be thicker for the severing trained insulation required a high force that after spreading the contact legs over their Initial state through the power spring and in one is applied to a certain extent by the contact spring. In The contact according to the invention thus advantageously has a special spring characteristic and is for a large one Range of veins of thinner and thicker training usable.

According to a first embodiment of the invention Insulation displacement contacts run the legs of the power spring, which can also be called feather legs, largely perpendicular to insulation displacement areas of the Contact legs and embrace them. This will completely novel way an advantageous combination of a the contact leg formed contact spring and one separate power spring reached. For example, the Contact leg and the power spring so designed and be arranged so that the contact edges of the contact legs, which form a contact slot, even when the Contacts, for example when connecting wires, in parallel stay together. This is done by targeting the Leg of the power spring perpendicular to the direction of the Contact leg reached. Designed in this orientation the connection of the contact and the Power spring for transferring the spring forces is particularly easy.

It is for the described first embodiment advantageous if the contact legs in one of their ends distant area are angled. It should be noted that the contact legs on the contact spring usually are integrally formed. In a way, they're in one Place that is away from their ends with each other connected so that at this point the by the Contact leg limited contact slot ends. If now in the contact according to the invention in the area between the front end of the contact legs and their connection point an angle, preferably by approximately 90 °, is provided, so the power spring with its perpendicular to the Contact legs extending legs on the front Areas of the contact legs are attached such that the contact slot when the Contact leg opens.

While with non-angled contact legs at Pushing a wire into the contact slot largely V-shaped opening of the contact leg takes place at the described embodiment a V-shaped opening only for the area between the described Angle and the junction of the contact legs in front. If the contact leg between the bend and their front ends at an angle of about 90 ° to that above range, there is a Opening movement of the contact legs, which at a largely parallel arrangement of the two contact legs he follows.

If, moreover, according to the invention, the power spring on this front area of the contact leg is attached in such a way that her legs are largely perpendicular to the Contact legs run, so there is a good one Support the opening movement of the contact legs in that this is largely parallel alignment diverge. This is particularly advantageous if two conductors at the same time, i.e. in one contact slot one behind the other or one above the other. With yourself V-shaped opening contact causes the closer to conductor arranged at the end of the contact leg is less strong being clamped and contacted while for the bottom conductor the danger is that his wire soul is too strong is cut. These drawbacks are seen in described embodiment of the invention Insulation displacement contact avoided in that the Contact slot opens largely parallel, so that the opening of the contact slot and thus the clamping of the respective Wire is largely the same for both wires.

For the embodiment described above preferred that the U-shaped power spring largely has plate-shaped legs, which the insulation displacement areas the contact leg over a longer area with In other words, over a certain amount of time Reach around the contact slot extending width. In this Embodiment can be a particularly stable and even distributed force support of the contact spring reached become.

A second embodiment of the invention is correct the trained separately from the contact legs Force spring with the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, the legs of the power spring however largely parallel to the contact legs, the Contact leg between the legs of the power spring like this continued to penetrate the power spring. This allows a particularly compact design of the Insulation displacement contact can be achieved. This points especially only two contact legs and is firm arranged. In addition, the contact legs themselves or the component on which they are formed with good electrical conductivity.

The for the reliable contacting of the wires required force is generated by the separate power spring applied with a material with good spring properties, these in a space-saving manner on the contact legs is appropriate. The legs of the U-shaped power spring run, so to speak, directly on the outer edges of the Contact legs and are transverse to the contact legs aligned. The legs of the power spring can also be used here at least partially penetrated by the contact legs his. This penetration is especially for the floor, So the area between the legs, the power spring in front. As a result, the U-shaped power spring requires just as much as the first embodiment in a direction to the side of the Outside edges of the contact legs little space, so that a low pitch for terminals with such Insulation displacement contact can be achieved. For one reliable contacting of inserted wires can separate power spring made of a suitable material Provide the necessary force.

Preferred developments of the invention are in the others Described claims.

Preferred are the insulation displacement contact according to the invention the contact legs and the legs of the power spring positively connected. This results in in the interaction of the power spring with the contact spring a simple and at the same time for the application of the necessary forces appropriate attachment.

A particularly simple design of the connection point between the power spring and the contact legs can be in Form a recess of the contact legs on their Realize outer edges. In these recesses can Engage the legs of the power spring and for the positive Provide connection.

Special advantages can be obtained if the power spring can be snapped onto the contact spring. This allows before Inserting a unit, so to speak, in a housing are trained in this state under conditions that are not cramped by the housing can be.

In other applications, it is preferred that the Force spring and the contact spring are loose from each other, i.e. that it is not intended to be outside of a housing be firmly connected. In this case, the Force and the contact spring with regard to their position by a Housing or a housing chamber functional positioned. The fact that in this embodiment Cutouts on the outer edges of the contact legs and the areas of the interacting with these recesses Force spring can be omitted, the construction of the two Elements particularly simple. The required location assignment is guaranteed by areas of the housing in which the Force and the contact spring are introduced.

For certain applications, it can be advantageous if the contact legs with respect to a direction perpendicular to offset and / or twisted in their planar extent are arranged to each other. A transfer means in this connection that the two contact legs on slightly spaced apart locations along the Length of an inserted wire. Under twisting is too understand that the respective sheet metal surfaces of the Contact legs are not in a common plane. Rather, they are at an angle to each other due to the rotation. If necessary, the two contact legs can both be offset as well as twisted to each other.

For the introduction of the veins, it can be used especially for the Use of stranded wires can be beneficial if this are funnel-shaped and "soft", ie in the form of a Insertion funnel are formed, the no cutting edges having. The cutting edges, which are the severing of the Isolation are rather only in the further course of Contact leg trained. This will largely avoided that the outer stranded conductor damaged or be separated.

For other applications, it is preferred that the Contact legs have an insertion opening that with Cutting edges is provided. This is so-called pre-cutting edges that do not contact the Wire soul serve, but the insulation already at Partially tear open the wires. Using Corresponding cores can have advantages on the reliability of insulation penetration and the contacting of the wire core can be obtained.

The above object is also achieved by objects described in claims 12 and 13, that is a terminal block, a connection module and a terminal block with at least one insulation displacement contact in one of the above-mentioned embodiments.

Brief description of the drawings

In the following, the invention is illustrated by way of example in FIGS Drawings illustrated embodiments explained in more detail.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer ersten Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Schneidklemm-Kontakts;

Fig. 2

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines erfindungsgemäßen Schneidklemm-Kontakts in einer zweiten Ausführungsform;

Fig. 3

eine schematische Draufsicht der in Fig. 1 dargestellten Ausführungsform;

Fig. 4

eine schematische Querschnittsansicht von zueinander versetzt liegenden Kontaktschenkeln;

Fig. 5

eine schematische Querschnittsansicht von zueinander verdreht angeordneten Kontaktschenkeln; und

Fig. 6

eine schematische Querschnittsansicht von versetzt und verdreht zueinander angeordneten Kontaktschenkeln.

Show it:

Fig. 1

a perspective view of a first embodiment of an insulation displacement contact according to the invention;

Fig. 2

a perspective view of an insulation displacement contact according to the invention in a second embodiment;

Fig. 3

is a schematic plan view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4

a schematic cross-sectional view of mutually offset contact legs;

Fig. 5

a schematic cross-sectional view of mutually rotated contact legs; and

Fig. 6

is a schematic cross-sectional view of staggered and rotated contact legs.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention

As shown in Fig. 1, there is the inventive Contact 10 from a so-called contact spring 12 on the one hand and a separate power spring 14 on the other hand. at the example shown extend from one Base section 16 of the contact spring 12 in front of a first Bending 18 two largely parallel to each other Contact leg 20. These two contact legs 20 are in their course up to their front ends 22 again angled. In the area between the second bend 24 and the front end 22 are the two contact legs 20 gripped laterally by the U-shaped power spring 14. to Form a positive connection between the Contact legs 20 and the power spring 14 have the two Contact leg 20 each have a recess on its outer edge 26 in which the stepped ends of the two legs 28 of the power spring 14 are used. This results in a positive connection between the power spring 14 and the contact spring 12.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is concerned is the embodiment of the invention in which the Contact legs 20 largely perpendicular to the legs 28 the power spring 14 run. As can be seen from the figure is, the areas of the contact legs 20 that are between the bend 24 and the front end 22 are largely aligned horizontally. In contrast the legs 28 of the force spring 24 extend for this purpose largely vertical. When introducing a vein in the Contact slot 30 at the front ends 22 of the Contact leg 20 becomes a force on the two Exercised contact leg 20, which spreads this outwards. This spread must be against the spring force of the contact legs 28 take place, which compresses the contact legs 20.

Due to the fact that the contact legs 28 have a certain width, namely in the area of the extension of the respective recess 26, on the outer sides of the Contact leg 20 abut, and due to the fact that the contact legs 20 are angled at the point 24, the contact legs remain in a spread state largely parallel to each other.

If the contact legs 20 were namely in the area of the point 24 connected, they would endeavor to (in seen from the top view) open in a V-shape. In the shown Embodiment takes place such a V-shaped opening however for the contact legs 20 only in the area between the Bend 24 and the point near the second Angle 18 at which the contact slot ends, and the two contact legs 20 in the common base section 16 pass over.

Those areas of the contact leg 20 that are between the bend 24 and the front end 22 remain largely parallel to each other and move at the Opening essentially as far apart as this for the respective point 24 on the contact leg 20 is the case. This applies to the same extent to the same extent along the contact leg 20 between the bend 24 and the front end 22. By applying the external Force by the power spring 14 on the outer edges of the Contact leg in this area becomes the parallel Alignment of the two contact legs 20 in this area further supported each other, so the introduction of two Veins is possible without a problem different opening widths for the one after the other introduced veins, as with a conventional, V-shaped opening would be the case.

It should also be noted that the power spring 14 including their Leg 28 a certain length to form Legs 28 and a connector between the Has legs that are largely plate-shaped. As mentioned, this can result in a widely distributed application the external power support to the two Contact legs 20 are guaranteed. In Fig. 1 is also shown that the ends 22 of the contact legs 20 as Insertion opening for the contact slot 30 is formed obliquely are, so that there is a gentle introduction of veins.

Finally, the contact slot has a narrow area between the end 22 and the bend 24 and one wider area between the bends 24 and 18.

2 is a second embodiment of the insulation displacement contact 10 according to the invention shown. According to the invention, the contact 10 according to FIG. 2 also has one Contact spring 12, which is formed by a separately Force spring 14 is encompassed to a certain extent. The contact spring 12 is regarding the contact slot and the front Ends 22 of the two contact legs 20 to the contact spring 12 designed similarly, with the exception that the contact legs 20 are not angled. Rather, it is located at the Contact spring 12 only a single bend 18 between a base section 16 and the contact legs 20.

According to the invention, the contact spring 12 is more advantageous Way of an electrically highly conductive material trained, which is not necessarily good Has spring properties. To apply the required clamping and contacting force on the inserted The contact legs 20 are from the outside through the veins separate power spring 14 made of a material with good Wrapped around spring properties. In the embodiment of Fig. 2 is the power spring 14 also with a certain Longitudinal extension formed so that both the legs 28th as well as the connection 32 between the two legs 28 are plate-shaped.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, this is Connection area 32 between the two legs 28 of penetrated the contact legs 20. This allows the Force spring 14 saves space in the area of the contact legs 20 arranged and attached and does not interfere in any way the formation of the base section 16. In the shown Embodiment are also in the range of the two Legs 28 of the power spring 14 suitable recesses 34 formed by which the contact leg 20 in the area extend their outer edges.

The slots 34, however, end a certain distance in front of the Top edge of the power spring 14, so that in the end regions of the Contact legs 28 continuous surfaces are formed with which the two contact legs 28 in recesses 26 of Contact legs 20 are connected to these. In particular can the power spring 14 shown by introducing the Contact leg 20 through the connector 32 in the Power spring 14 and pushing down the power spring 14 the contact spring 12 can be snapped on. This results in a unit of an insulation displacement contact that is installed before can be assembled and handled in a housing.

Alternatively, it is conceivable that the two components by the housing without the measures required for locking on the contacts (recess 26) and on the power spring (corresponding areas) are connected. In other words the components are individually in the housing or Housing parts used, and when assembling the housing the necessary location assignment takes place. Otherwise indicates Housing in which the insulation displacement contacts according to the invention are to be used, a slide in which the wires can be inserted so that when you depress the Slider pressed into the respective contact slots 30 become.

Regarding the embodiment of FIG. 2, it should also be noted that here the contact leg 20 and the leg 28 of the Force spring 14 extend largely parallel to what is advantageous in certain applications. Here will further by the compact attachment of the power spring 14 on the Contact spring 12 provided for a small size, and by the external power spring 14 can on an inserted wire applied force can be controlled in an advantageous manner.

FIG. 3 additionally shows how the one in FIG. 1 Embodiment shown an opening of the Contact slot 30 with a parallel arrangement of the two Contact leg 20 takes place. The schematic top view shows that those areas of the contact legs 20, the between the bend 18 and shown in Fig. 1 the second bend 24 and run according to the 3 largely perpendicular to Extend the drawing plane, open in a V-shape. The areas of Contact leg 20 in front of the bend 24 follow the Movement of the respective points 24 so that they - with Support by the power spring 14 - parallel to each other stay. Thus, the contact legs 20 largely occur parallel alignment to each other in the direction of arrows A or A 'apart so that for two introduced one after the other Veins 36 have a contact slot 30, which is largely is the same size.

Fig. 4 shows schematically a preferred arrangement of the two Contact legs 20 to each other. In the cross-sectional view is to recognize that the two contact legs 20 with respect a direction B in which an inserted wire runs, are offset from one another. This allows favorable for certain applications Achieve contacting properties.

In Fig. 5, the two contact legs are rotated to each other arranged, which means that they with their flat Extent no exact right angle to Form direction B of an inserted wire, but are a little twisted compared to this orientation. This can also have a favorable contacting effect be achieved. 6, the two can be done beforehand measures mentioned are combined, the two Contact legs 20 are both offset from each other twisted as well. This training can also according to the invention in combination with a separate, external Force spring a reliable contact of imported Cores can be achieved in a comparatively small space.

Claims (13)

1. Insulation displacement contact with

   a contact spring (12) with two spring contact sides (20), bordering a contact slot (30), and characterised by

   a U-shaped power spring (14)

   constructed as a separate component from the contact spring (12) and

   the sides (28) of which run largely perpendicular to insulation displacement regions of the contact sides (20) and encompass them to transfer the spring forces.
2. Insulation displacement contact according to claim 1, characterised in that the contact sides (20) are angled in a region (24) remote from their end (22) in such a way that their contact edges bordering the contact slot run at least partially largely parallel to one another with the aid of the power spring (14), even when the contact slot (30) is opened.
3. Insulation displacement contact according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the U-shaped power spring (14) has largely plate-shaped sides (28), which encompass the insulation displacement regions of the contact sides (20) via a longer region.
4. Insulation displacement contact with

   a contact spring (12) with two reslient contact sides (20), bordering a contact slot (30), and characterised by

   a U-shaped power spring (14)

   constructed as a separate component from the contact spring (12) and

   the sides (28) of which are largely parallel to the contact sides (20) and encompass them to transfer the spring forces, wherein the contact sides (20) run so as to penetrate the power spring (14), at least in the region (32) between the sides (28) of the power spring (14).
5. Insulation displacement contact according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the contact sides (20) and the sides (28) of the power spring (14) are connected by positive locking.
6. Insulation displacement contact according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the contact sides (20) are recessed at their outer edges for engagement with the sides (28) of the power spring (14).
7. Insulation displacement contact according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the power spring (14) can be latched on to-the contact spring (12).
8. Insulation displacement contact according to at least one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the power spring (14) and the contact spring (12) are provided as separate from one another and with respect to their position are positioned suitably for their function-by a housing or a housing chamber.
9. Insulation displacement contact according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the contact sides (20) are arranged as offset and/or twisted with respect to one another with regard to a direction perpendicular to their planar extension.
10. Insulation displacement contact according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the contact sides (20) are constructed with their front ends (22) as funnel-shaped without cutting edges.
11. Insulation displacement contact according to at least one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the contact sides (20) have cutting edges constructed in the region of the opening at their front ends (22).
12. Connecting block or module with at least one insulation displacement contact according to at least one of the preceding claims.
13. Series terminal with at least one insulation displacement contact according to at least one of claims 1 to 11.

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