EP0908965B1 - Automatic clamping connection terminal - Google Patents

Automatic clamping connection terminal Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0908965B1
EP0908965B1 EP98402430A EP98402430A EP0908965B1 EP 0908965 B1 EP0908965 B1 EP 0908965B1 EP 98402430 A EP98402430 A EP 98402430A EP 98402430 A EP98402430 A EP 98402430A EP 0908965 B1 EP0908965 B1 EP 0908965B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
hollow body
spring blade
terminal according
fixing
limb
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP98402430A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0908965A1 (en
Inventor
Marcel Daccord
Jean-Guy Sazerat
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Legrand SNC
Legrand France SA
Original Assignee
Legrand SNC
Legrand France SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Legrand SNC, Legrand France SA filed Critical Legrand SNC
Publication of EP0908965A1 publication Critical patent/EP0908965A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0908965B1 publication Critical patent/EP0908965B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R4/00—Electrically-conductive connections between two or more conductive members in direct contact, i.e. touching one another; Means for effecting or maintaining such contact; Electrically-conductive connections having two or more spaced connecting locations for conductors and using contact members penetrating insulation
    • H01R4/28—Clamped connections, spring connections
    • H01R4/48—Clamped connections, spring connections utilising a spring, clip, or other resilient member
    • H01R4/4809—Clamped connections, spring connections utilising a spring, clip, or other resilient member using a leaf spring to bias the conductor toward the busbar
    • H01R4/4846—Busbar details
    • H01R4/485—Single busbar common to multiple springs
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R4/00—Electrically-conductive connections between two or more conductive members in direct contact, i.e. touching one another; Means for effecting or maintaining such contact; Electrically-conductive connections having two or more spaced connecting locations for conductors and using contact members penetrating insulation
    • H01R4/28—Clamped connections, spring connections
    • H01R4/48—Clamped connections, spring connections utilising a spring, clip, or other resilient member
    • H01R4/4809—Clamped connections, spring connections utilising a spring, clip, or other resilient member using a leaf spring to bias the conductor toward the busbar
    • H01R4/48185—Clamped connections, spring connections utilising a spring, clip, or other resilient member using a leaf spring to bias the conductor toward the busbar adapted for axial insertion of a wire end
    • H01R4/4819—Clamped connections, spring connections utilising a spring, clip, or other resilient member using a leaf spring to bias the conductor toward the busbar adapted for axial insertion of a wire end the spring shape allowing insertion of the conductor end when the spring is unbiased
    • H01R4/4821—Single-blade spring

Definitions

  • the present invention generally relates to connection terminals of the type used in electrical appliances for their connection to the electrical conductors of the electric cable proper to their power supply.
  • connection terminal according to the preamble of claim 1 is known from the document EP-0 037 758 .
  • connection terminals which are commonly called automatic clamping, that is to say those whose connection to an electrical conductor is by simply plugging the end, previously stripped, thereof , without the intervention of any tool.
  • the present invention is directed to those automatic clamping connection terminals which comprise, on the one hand, a hollow body made of conductive material which, for the insertion of an electrical conductor, opens on the outside by at least one engagement inlet, having, on either side thereof, two opposite walls, one lower, the other upper, and, secondly, a leaf spring, which has at least two branches connected continuously to one another by a rounded bend, namely, a fixing branch, which extends outside the hollow body, in contact with the lower wall of the latter; ci, being duly attached to this lower wall, and a connecting arm, which intervenes freely, in an elastically deformable manner, in the hollow body, extending generally obliquely with respect to the engagement input of this body hollow, in the direction of its upper wall, the intermediate elbow re between these two branches bypassing the front edge of the bottom wall of this hollow body.
  • the leaf spring is secured to the lower wall of the hollow body by its fastening branch, and, by its connecting branch, it ensures the tightening of the electrical conductor against the upper wall of this body hollow.
  • connection terminal of this type is particularly described in the French patent which, filed April 4, 1980, under the No 80 07675 , was published as No 2,480,037 .
  • the intermediate bend between the two branches of the leaf spring extends at a distance from the front edge of the relevant wall of the hollow body, forming, in practice, in front of this front edge, a loop which extends over more than 180 °.
  • the leaf spring carries, by another bend, on the inner face of the relevant wall of the hollow body, and on the outer face of this wall, it extends flat against this one, without any contact with its front slice.
  • connection branch which, in some applications, at least, is satisfactory, in particular because it allows a support of buttressing of the connecting branch of the leaf spring on the inner surface of the relevant wall of the hollow body and because it leads to a high elasticity for this connection branch, may, in other applications, be less satisfactory, because the axis of rotation according to which this connection branch flexes when a driver is engaged electrical is indeterminate and it follows that, this connection branch then taking a more or less random position, the mechanical strength provided, that is to say the resistance offered by the electric conductor when a pull is untimelyly exerted on him, is itself more or less uncertain.
  • German No 82 32 135.3 which, moreover, does not exactly concern a connection terminal of the same type in the measurement, at least, where, on the one hand, the elbow of the leaf spring is located on the opposite side to the engagement input of the hollow body, and where, on the other hand, it has only one wall, the clamping of the electrical conductor being on the inner surface of this wall, the spring blade is in contact with one of the slices of this wall by its elbow, in this case its rear slice.
  • the present invention generally relates to a provision to avoid these disadvantages.
  • an automatic clamping connection terminal of the kind comprising, on the one hand, a hollow body, made of conductive material, which opens on the outside by at least one engagement input, presenting , on either side of it, two opposite walls, one lower, the other upper, and, secondly, a leaf spring, which has at least two branches connected continuously one of to the other by a rounded bend, namely, a fixing branch, which extends outside the hollow body, in contact with the lower wall thereof, being duly secured to this lower wall, and a connecting branch, which intervenes freely, in an elastically deformable manner, in the hollow body, extending generally obliquely with respect to the engagement input of this hollow body, in the direction of the upper wall thereof , the intermediate elbow between these two branches bypassing the edge before e the lower wall of this hollow body,
  • this connection terminal being generally characterized in that the leaf spring, which is in contact with the front edge of the bottom wall of the hollow body by its elbow, bears against this slice before the lower edge thereof, which lower edge
  • the axis of rotation according to which the connecting branch of the leaf spring flexes when an electrical conductor is engaged is advantageously well determined, since it is materialized by the lower edge of the lower wall of the hollow body, to the benefit of the working conditions of this branch of connection, and in particular to the benefit of the mechanical strength it provides with respect to the electrical conductor.
  • connection terminal 10 comprises, on the one hand, on the one hand, a hollow body 11, made of conductive material, which opens to the outside through minus one engagement input 12, presenting, on either side thereof, two opposite walls 13, 14, one lower, forming a floor, the other upper, forming a roof, and, on the other hand, on the one hand, a leaf spring 15, which has at least two branches 16, 18 continuously connected to each other by a rounded bend 19, namely, a branch 16, which extends to the outside the hollow body 11, in contact with the bottom wall 13 thereof, being duly attached to the bottom wall 13 in accordance with arrangements described in more detail later, and a connecting arm 18, which intervenes freely, elastically deformable manner , in the hollow body 11, extending generally at an angle to the entrance e engagement 12 of this hollow body 11, towards the top wall 14 thereof, the elbow 19 intermediate between the two branches 16, 18 bypassing the front edge 22 of the bottom wall 13 of the hollow body 11.
  • the leaf spring 15 which is in contact with the front edge 22 of the bottom wall 13 of the hollow body 11 by its elbow 19 bears against this front edge 22 only by the lower edge 23 thereof.
  • the hollow body 11 comprises, parallel to one another, for the same lower wall 13, two engagement entries 12, the width of which is less than half that of this lower wall. 13, and which are thereby separated from one another by a slot 24.
  • the hollow body 11 For each of the engagement inputs 12, the hollow body 11 has an individual upper wall 14.
  • the hollow body 11 comprises, coming as a single piece from its bottom wall 13, two side walls 26, which extend substantially parallel to one another, and, in practice, substantially perpendicularly to the bottom wall 13, and its upper walls 14 themselves form returns, which, directed inwardly, each come, respectively, in one piece of these side walls 26.
  • the upper walls 14 of the hollow body 11 are bent, substantially in an arc, with their concavity facing the bottom wall 13.
  • the side walls 26 are very largely indented by a recess 28, which results that they leave unobstructed the rear portion 29 of the longitudinal edges 30 of the bottom wall 13.
  • this lower wall 13 of the hollow body 11 is extended, at the rear, by a contact tab 31, provided, projecting, with a contact bump 32.
  • the hollow body 11 raises, generally, a regulated surface of which all the generatrices are parallel to each other, in the manner of a tubular body.
  • the leaf spring 15 comprises, parallel to each other, for one and the same attachment branch 16, two connecting branches 18, which respectively correspond to the two engagement inputs 12 of the body. 11, and which are separated from one another by a slot 34.
  • This width L2 is very much smaller than the width L1 of the slot 24 separating the two engagement entries 12 from the hollow body 11.
  • the two connecting branches 18 form, each, laterally along this slot 34, a tongue 35 which, folded substantially parallel to the attachment branch 16, protrudes on their part. running on the same side as this attachment branch 16, and by which they are each respectively able to bear on the free edge of the return 27 of the corresponding upper wall 14 of the hollow body 11.
  • this tongue 35 is rounded, with its concavity turned towards the bottom wall 13 of the hollow body 11.
  • the return 27 of the upper walls 14 of the hollow body 11 has, in correspondence, a notch 36, which, in a complementary manner, is itself rounded.
  • the tongue 35 of each of the connecting branches 18 extends transversely beyond the return 27 of the corresponding upper wall 14 of the hollow body 11, and, overflowing thus in the slot 24 of it, it is accessible through this slot 24.
  • connection legs 18 of the leaf spring 15 extend substantially rectilinearly from the bend 19 which connects them to the attachment branch 16.
  • the spring blade 15 thus formed can very simply be made using a steel spring strip suitably cut, shaped and treated.
  • the hollow body 11 For securing the leaf spring 15 to its bottom wall 13 the hollow body 11 comprises, in the embodiments shown, at least one bracket 38 which, integral with the bottom wall 13, is folded in U in contact with the fastening branch 16 of this leaf spring 15.
  • the hollow body 11 comprises two fastening lugs 38, which, each intervening respectively along the two longitudinal edges 30 of its bottom wall 13, generally grip transversely the attachment branch. 16 of the leaf spring 15.
  • these two fastening lugs 38 come from a single piece of the bottom wall 13 of the hollow body 11 in favor of the rear portion 29 disengaged from the longitudinal edges 30 thereof.
  • the two fastening tabs 38 extend substantially parallel to each other, and the same is true of the portions 39, at least, of the longitudinal edges 40 of the fastening branch 16 of the leaf spring 15 concerned. by these brackets 38.
  • the two fastening tabs 38 formed by the hollow body 11 extend generally obliquely relative to each other, diverging relative to each other in the opposite direction to the engagement entries 12 of this hollow body 11, and it is the same portions 39, at least, of the longitudinal edges 40 of the fastening branch 16 of the leaf spring 15 concerned by these fixing lugs 38.
  • indexing means are provided between the fastening branch 16 of the leaf spring 15 and the hollow body 11, for better position control of this leaf spring 15 with respect to this hollow body 11 during assembly.
  • indexing means comprise, on the fastening branch 16 of the leaf spring 15, at least one shoulder 41, which extends transversely with respect to its longitudinal edges 40, and by which this attachment arm 16 bears on the front lateral edge of the corresponding fastening lug 38 of the body hollow 11.
  • the indexing means result very simply dovetail assembly provided by the brackets 38 due to their obliquity with respect to each other.
  • this dovetail assembly advantageously requires less precision in manufacture.
  • the attachment branch 16 of the leaf spring 15 and the hollow body 11 are also provided retaining means, to prevent this leaf spring 15 can escape the hollow body 11 if it comes to be the object of traction.
  • these retaining means comprise, on the fastening branch 16 of the leaf spring 15, at least one shoulder 43, which extends transversely with respect to its longitudinal edges 40, and by which this fastening branch 16 bears on the edge rear side of the corresponding fixing lug 38 of the hollow body 11.
  • the shoulder 41 belonging to the indexing means and the shoulder 43 belonging to the retaining means are formed by the lateral edges of the same notch 44 through which the fastening branch 16 of the leaf spring 15 is engaged with the corresponding fastening tab 38 of the hollow body 11.
  • the fastening branch 16 of the leaf spring 15 thus has a notch 44 on each of its longitudinal edges 40 in this embodiment and the portion 39 thereof concerned by the fastening tabs 38 of the hollow body 11 in the form of background.
  • the fastening branch 16 of the leaf spring 15 has, therefore, laterally, on its longitudinal edges 40, in this embodiment, two notches 44 by which it is engaged with the fastening tabs 38 that forms in correspondence the body hollow 11.
  • the retaining means provided according to the invention comprise, on the hollow body 11, a pin 45, and on the fastening branch 16 of the leaf spring 15, a recess 46 through which this fastening branch 16 is engaged with the pin 45 of the hollow body 11.
  • the pin 45 has a circular contour, and it is the same, in a complementary manner, the recess 46.
  • the portion 39 of the longitudinal edges 40 of the securing branch 16 of the leaf spring 15 continues freely until the free end of this securing arm 16 recessed relative to the portion current of these longitudinal edges 40.
  • the retaining means provided according to the invention result, as the previous indexing means, dovetail assembly provided by the fastening lugs 38 of the hollow body 11.
  • holding means are also provided between the leaf spring 15 and the hollow body 11, to avoid possible biasing of the leaf spring 15 relative to the hollow body 11 when only one of its connecting branches 18 is sought.
  • these holding means comprise, on the hollow body 11, a lug 47, which protrudes from the front edge 22 of its bottom wall 13, in the median zone thereof, extending into the extension of this lower wall 13, and, on the elbow 19 of the leaf spring 15, at the root of the slot 34 separating from one another the two connection legs 18 of the leaf spring 15, a recess 48 by which this leaf spring 15 is engaged with the lug 47 of the hollow body 11.
  • the lug 47 has a quadrangular contour, and, for example, rectangular, and the recess 48 has a circular contour.
  • the lug 47 of the hollow body 11 has a trapezoidal contour, tapering towards its free end, which advantageously favors holding the leaf spring 15 along the plane of symmetry of the hollow body 11.
  • the recess 48 has a quadrangular contour, and, for example, square, which, by the shoulders that result, advantageously allows to limit the play of the leaf spring 15 perpendicular to the bottom wall 13 of the hollow body 11 .
  • the spring leaf 15 is, by construction, abutting, by its bend 19, against the lower edge 23 of the front edge 22 of the bottom wall 13 of the hollow body 11.
  • connection legs 18 of the leaf spring 15 carry by their tongue 35 on the return 27 of the corresponding upper wall 14 of the hollow body 11, while their free end extends in the immediate vicinity of the upper wall 14 without however to be necessarily in contact with it.
  • an electrical conductor 50 the end 51 has previously been stripped, is engaged in one of the engagement inputs 12 of the hollow body 11, being duly guided by it, the electrical conductor 50 comes to bear on the free end of the corresponding connection branch 18 of the leaf spring 15, and if its engagement movement is continued, it pushes back this connecting branch 18, forcing it to flex, as shown schematically by the arrow F2 on the figure 4 .
  • the connecting branch 18 concerned of the leaf spring 15 pivots about an axis of rotation which, according to the invention, and as it appears from the Figures 4 and 5 , is materialized by the lower edge 23 of the front edge 22 of the bottom wall 13 of the hollow body 11.
  • the stripped end 51 of the electrical conductor 50 then engages between the free end of the connection branch 18 of the leaf spring 15 and the corresponding upper wall 14 of the hollow body 11, and, because of the elasticity of this connecting branch 18, it is automatically clamped between it and the upper wall 14 of the hollow body 11.
  • two electrical conductors 50 may be engaged in parallel in the hollow body 11, one by engagement input 12 thereof.

Abstract

Spring strip slides into position in the wire holder so that it is held firmly in place when wiring is applied to the upper spring section.

Description

La présente invention concerne d'une manière générale les bornes de connexion du type de celles équipant les appareils électriques pour leur raccordement aux conducteurs électriques du câble électrique propre à leur alimentation.The present invention generally relates to connection terminals of the type used in electrical appliances for their connection to the electrical conductors of the electric cable proper to their power supply.

Une borne de connexion selon le préambule de la revendication 1 est connue du document EP-0 037 758 .A connection terminal according to the preamble of claim 1 is known from the document EP-0 037 758 .

Elle vise plus particulièrement celles de ces bornes de connexion qui sont communément dites à serrage automatique, c'est-à-dire celles dont le raccordement à un conducteur électrique se fait par simple enfichage de l'extrémité, préalablement dénudée, de celui-ci, sans intervention d'un quelconque outil.It is more particularly those of these connection terminals which are commonly called automatic clamping, that is to say those whose connection to an electrical conductor is by simply plugging the end, previously stripped, thereof , without the intervention of any tool.

Plus particulièrement, encore, la présente invention vise celles de ces bornes de connexion à serrage automatique qui comportent, d'une part, un corps creux, en matière conductrice, qui, pour l'enfichage d'un conducteur électrique, ouvre sur l'extérieur par au moins une entrée d'engagement, en présentant, de part et d'autre de celle-ci, deux parois opposées, l'une inférieure, l'autre supérieure, et, d'autre part, une lame de ressort, qui présente au moins deux branches reliées en continu l'une à l'autre par un coude arrondi , à savoir, une branche de fixation, qui s'étend à l'extérieur du corps creux, au contact de la paroi inférieure de celui-ci, en étant dûment assujettie à cette paroi inférieure, et une branche de connexion, qui intervient librement, de manière élastiquement déformable, dans le corps creux, en s'étendant globalement en biais par rapport à l'entrée d'engagement de ce corps creux, en direction de sa paroi supérieure, le coude intermédiaire entre ces deux branches contournant la tranche avant de la paroi inférieure de ce corps creux.More particularly, again, the present invention is directed to those automatic clamping connection terminals which comprise, on the one hand, a hollow body made of conductive material which, for the insertion of an electrical conductor, opens on the outside by at least one engagement inlet, having, on either side thereof, two opposite walls, one lower, the other upper, and, secondly, a leaf spring, which has at least two branches connected continuously to one another by a rounded bend, namely, a fixing branch, which extends outside the hollow body, in contact with the lower wall of the latter; ci, being duly attached to this lower wall, and a connecting arm, which intervenes freely, in an elastically deformable manner, in the hollow body, extending generally obliquely with respect to the engagement input of this body hollow, in the direction of its upper wall, the intermediate elbow re between these two branches bypassing the front edge of the bottom wall of this hollow body.

Dans les bornes de connexion de ce type, la lame de ressort est solidaire de la paroi inférieure du corps creux par sa branche de fixation, et, par sa branche de connexion, elle assure le serrage du conducteur électrique contre la paroi supérieure de ce corps creux.In the connection terminals of this type, the leaf spring is secured to the lower wall of the hollow body by its fastening branch, and, by its connecting branch, it ensures the tightening of the electrical conductor against the upper wall of this body hollow.

Une borne de connexion de ce type se trouve notamment décrite dans le brevet français qui, déposé le 4 avril 1980, sous le No 80 07675 , a été publié sous le No 2 480 037 .A connection terminal of this type is particularly described in the French patent which, filed April 4, 1980, under the No 80 07675 , was published as No 2,480,037 .

Dans ce brevet français, le coude intermédiaire entre les deux branches de la lame de ressort s'étend à distance de la tranche avant de la paroi concernée du corps creux, en formant, en pratique, en avant de cette tranche avant, une boucle qui s'étend sur plus de 180°.In this French patent, the intermediate bend between the two branches of the leaf spring extends at a distance from the front edge of the relevant wall of the hollow body, forming, in practice, in front of this front edge, a loop which extends over more than 180 °.

En pratique, également, dans ce brevet français, la lame de ressort porte, par un autre coude, sur la face intérieure de la paroi concernée du corps creux, et, sur la face extérieure de cette paroi, elle s'étend à plat contre celle-ci, sans aucun contact avec sa tranche avant.In practice, also, in this French patent, the leaf spring carries, by another bend, on the inner face of the relevant wall of the hollow body, and on the outer face of this wall, it extends flat against this one, without any contact with its front slice.

Cette disposition, qui, dans certaines applications, au moins, donne satisfaction, notamment parce qu'elle permet un appui d'arc-boutement de la branche de connexion de la lame de ressort sur la surface intérieure de la paroi concernée du corps creux et parce qu'elle conduit à une grande élasticité pour cette branche de connexion, peut, dans d'autres applications, être moins satisfaisante, parce que l'axe de rotation suivant lequel cette branche de connexion fléchit lors de l'engagement d'un conducteur électrique est indéterminé et qu'il en résulte que, cette branche de connexion prenant alors une position plus ou moins aléatoire, la tenue mécanique assurée, c'est-à-dire la résistance offerte par le conducteur électrique lorsqu'une traction est intempestivement exercée sur lui, est elle-même plus ou moins incertaine.This arrangement, which, in some applications, at least, is satisfactory, in particular because it allows a support of buttressing of the connecting branch of the leaf spring on the inner surface of the relevant wall of the hollow body and because it leads to a high elasticity for this connection branch, may, in other applications, be less satisfactory, because the axis of rotation according to which this connection branch flexes when a driver is engaged electrical is indeterminate and it follows that, this connection branch then taking a more or less random position, the mechanical strength provided, that is to say the resistance offered by the electric conductor when a pull is untimelyly exerted on him, is itself more or less uncertain.

Dans le modèle d'utilité allemand No 82 32 135.3 , qui, par ailleurs, ne concerne pas exactement une borne de connexion de même type dans la mesure, au moins, où, d'une part, le coude de la lame de ressort se situe du côté opposé à l'entrée d'engagement du corps creux, et où, d'autre part, celui-ci ne comporte qu'une paroi, le serrage du conducteur électrique se faisant sur la surface intérieure même de cette paroi, la lame de ressort est au contact d'une des tranches de cette paroi par son coude, en l'espèce sa tranche arrière.In the utility model German No 82 32 135.3 , which, moreover, does not exactly concern a connection terminal of the same type in the measurement, at least, where, on the one hand, the elbow of the leaf spring is located on the opposite side to the engagement input of the hollow body, and where, on the other hand, it has only one wall, the clamping of the electrical conductor being on the inner surface of this wall, the spring blade is in contact with one of the slices of this wall by its elbow, in this case its rear slice.

Plus précisément, la lame de ressort porte au repos sur la totalité de cette tranche.More precisely, the spring leaf bears at rest on the whole of this slice.

Mais, du fait même que le coude de la lame de ressort se situe ainsi du côté opposé à celui suivant lequel se fait l'engagement d'un conducteur électrique, la branche de fixation de la lame de ressort est inévitablement l'objet d'une flexion lors d'un tel engagement, par pivotement autour de la zone par laquelle elle est assujettie à la paroi du corps creux, et son coude s'écarte alors de la tranche correspondante de cette paroi.But, by the very fact that the elbow of the leaf spring is thus on the opposite side to that which is made the commitment of a driver electrical, the securing arm of the leaf spring is inevitably bending during such engagement, by pivoting around the area by which it is secured to the wall of the hollow body, and its elbow s' then move away from the corresponding slice of this wall.

Il en résulte que, comme précédemment, l'axe de rotation de la branche de connexion de la lame de ressort est indéterminé, avec les inconvénients que cela implique.As a result, as before, the axis of rotation of the connecting branch of the leaf spring is undetermined, with the disadvantages that entails.

La présente invention a d'une manière générale pour objet une disposition permettant d'éviter ces inconvénients.The present invention generally relates to a provision to avoid these disadvantages.

De manière plus précise, elle a pour objet une borne de connexion à serrage automatique du genre comportant, d'une part, un corps creux, en matière conductrice, qui ouvre sur l'extérieur par au moins une entrée d'engagement, en présentant, de part et d'autre de celle-ci, deux parois opposées, l'une inférieure, l'autre supérieure, et, d'autre part, une lame de ressort, qui présente au moins deux branches reliées en continu l'une à l'autre par un coude arrondi, à savoir, une branche de fixation, qui s'étend à l'extérieur du corps creux, au contact de la paroi inférieure de celui-ci, en étant dûment assujettie à cette paroi inférieure, et une branche de connexion, qui intervient librement, de manière élastiquement déformable, dans le corps creux, en s'étendant globalement en biais par rapport à l'entrée d'engagement de ce corps creux, en direction de la paroi supérieure de celui-ci, le coude intermédiaire entre ces deux branches contournant la tranche avant de la paroi inférieure de ce corps creux, cette borne de connexion étant d'une manière générale caractérisée en ce que la lame de ressort, qui est au contact de la tranche avant de la paroi inférieure du corps creux par son coude, ne porte contre cette tranche avant que par l'arête inférieure de celle-ci, laquelle arête inférieure définit un axe de rotation suivant lequel la branche de connexion fléchit lors de l'engagement d'un conducteur électrique dans l'entrée d'engagement.More specifically, it relates to an automatic clamping connection terminal of the kind comprising, on the one hand, a hollow body, made of conductive material, which opens on the outside by at least one engagement input, presenting , on either side of it, two opposite walls, one lower, the other upper, and, secondly, a leaf spring, which has at least two branches connected continuously one of to the other by a rounded bend, namely, a fixing branch, which extends outside the hollow body, in contact with the lower wall thereof, being duly secured to this lower wall, and a connecting branch, which intervenes freely, in an elastically deformable manner, in the hollow body, extending generally obliquely with respect to the engagement input of this hollow body, in the direction of the upper wall thereof , the intermediate elbow between these two branches bypassing the edge before e the lower wall of this hollow body, this connection terminal being generally characterized in that the leaf spring, which is in contact with the front edge of the bottom wall of the hollow body by its elbow, bears against this slice before the lower edge thereof, which lower edge defines an axis of rotation according to which the connecting branch bends during the engagement of an electrical conductor in the engagement input.

Grâce à cette disposition, l'axe de rotation suivant lequel la branche de connexion de la lame de ressort fléchit lors de l'engagement d'un conducteur électrique est avantageusement bien déterminé, puisqu'il se trouve matérialisé par l'arête inférieure de la paroi inférieure du corps creux, au bénéfice des conditions de travail de cette branche de connexion, et, notamment, au bénéfice de la tenue mécanique qu'elle assure à l'égard du conducteur électrique.With this arrangement, the axis of rotation according to which the connecting branch of the leaf spring flexes when an electrical conductor is engaged is advantageously well determined, since it is materialized by the lower edge of the lower wall of the hollow body, to the benefit of the working conditions of this branch of connection, and in particular to the benefit of the mechanical strength it provides with respect to the electrical conductor.

Les caractéristiques et avantages de l'invention ressortiront d'ailleurs de la description qui va suivre, à titre d'exemple, en référence aux dessins schématiques annexés sur lesquels :

  • la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'une borne de connexion suivant l'invention, vue de l'avant ;
  • la figure 2 est une vue en perspective du corps creux que comporte cette borne de connexion, vu de l'arrière ;
  • la figure 3 est une vue en perspective de sa lame de ressort, vue de l'arrière;
  • la figure 4 est une vue partielle en coupe longitudinale de l'ensemble, suivant la ligne IV-IV de la figure 1 ;
  • la figure 5 reprend, à échelle supérieure, le détail de la figure 4 repéré par un encart V sur cette figure 4 ;
  • la figure 6 est une vue partielle de dessous de la borne de connexion suivant l'invention, suivant la flèche VI de la figure 1 ;
  • la figure 7 est une vue en perspective qui, analogue à celle de la figure 1, se rapporte à une autre borne de connexion suivant l'invention ;
  • la figure 8 est une vue en perspective du corps creux de cette autre borne de connexion, vu de l'avant ;
  • la figure 9 est une vue en perspective de sa lame de ressort, vue de l'arrière;
  • la figure 10 est une vue partielle de dessous qui, analogue à celle de la figure 6, se rapporte à une autre borne de connexion suivant l'invention ;
  • la figure 11 est une vue partielle de dessous, qui, analogue à celle de la figure 10, se rapporte à une variante de réalisation ;
  • la figure 12 est une vue partielle en coupe longitudinale de cette variante de réalisation, suivant la ligne XII-XII de la figure 11 ;
  • la figure 13 est une vue en perspective de la lame de ressort correspondante.
The characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the following description, by way of example, with reference to the appended diagrammatic drawings in which:
  • the figure 1 is a perspective view of a connection terminal according to the invention, seen from the front;
  • the figure 2 is a perspective view of the hollow body that includes this connection terminal, seen from the rear;
  • the figure 3 is a perspective view of its leaf spring, seen from the rear;
  • the figure 4 is a partial view in longitudinal section of the whole, along line IV-IV of the figure 1 ;
  • the figure 5 resumes, on a larger scale, the detail of the figure 4 spotted by an insert V on this figure 4 ;
  • the figure 6 is a partial view from below of the connection terminal according to the invention, according to the arrow VI of the figure 1 ;
  • the figure 7 is a perspective view that, similar to that of the figure 1 , relates to another connection terminal according to the invention;
  • the figure 8 is a perspective view of the hollow body of this other connection terminal, seen from the front;
  • the figure 9 is a perspective view of its leaf spring, seen from the rear;
  • the figure 10 is a partial view from below which, similar to that of the figure 6 , relates to another connection terminal according to the invention;
  • the figure 11 is a partial view from below, which, similar to that of the figure 10 , relates to an alternative embodiment;
  • the figure 12 is a partial view in longitudinal section of this embodiment, along the line XII-XII of the figure 11 ;
  • the figure 13 is a perspective view of the corresponding leaf spring.

Tel qu'illustré sur ces figures, et de manière connue en soi, la borne de connexion 10 suivant l'invention comporte, globalement, d'une part, un corps creux 11, en matière conductrice, qui ouvre sur l'extérieur par au moins une entrée d'engagement 12, en présentant, de part et d'autre de celle-ci, deux parois 13, 14 opposées, l'une inférieure, formant plancher, l'autre supérieure, formant toit, et, d'autre part, une lame de ressort 15, qui présente au moins deux branches 16, 18 reliées en continu l'une à l'autre par un coude 19 arrondi, à savoir, une branche de fixation 16, qui s'étend à l'extérieur du corps creux 11, au contact de la paroi inférieure 13 de celui-ci, en étant dûment assujettie à cette paroi inférieure 13 suivant des dispositions décrites plus en détail ultérieurement, et une branche de connexion 18, qui intervient librement, de manière élastiquement déformable, dans le corps creux 11, en s'étendant globalement en biais par rapport à l'entrée d'engagement 12 de ce corps creux 11, en direction de la paroi supérieure 14 de celui-ci, le coude 19 intermédiaire entre ces deux branches 16, 18 contournant la tranche avant 22 de la paroi inférieure 13 de ce corps creux 11.As illustrated in these figures, and in a manner known per se, the connection terminal 10 according to the invention comprises, on the one hand, on the one hand, a hollow body 11, made of conductive material, which opens to the outside through minus one engagement input 12, presenting, on either side thereof, two opposite walls 13, 14, one lower, forming a floor, the other upper, forming a roof, and, on the other hand, on the one hand, a leaf spring 15, which has at least two branches 16, 18 continuously connected to each other by a rounded bend 19, namely, a branch 16, which extends to the outside the hollow body 11, in contact with the bottom wall 13 thereof, being duly attached to the bottom wall 13 in accordance with arrangements described in more detail later, and a connecting arm 18, which intervenes freely, elastically deformable manner , in the hollow body 11, extending generally at an angle to the entrance e engagement 12 of this hollow body 11, towards the top wall 14 thereof, the elbow 19 intermediate between the two branches 16, 18 bypassing the front edge 22 of the bottom wall 13 of the hollow body 11.

Suivant l'invention, et ainsi qu'il est mieux visible sur les figures 4 et 5, la lame de ressort 15, qui est au contact de la tranche avant 22 de la paroi inférieure 13 du corps creux 11 par son coude 19, ne porte contre cette tranche avant 22 que par l'arête inférieure 23 de celle-ci.According to the invention, and as it is better visible on the Figures 4 and 5 , the leaf spring 15, which is in contact with the front edge 22 of the bottom wall 13 of the hollow body 11 by its elbow 19 bears against this front edge 22 only by the lower edge 23 thereof.

Dans les formes de réalisation représentées, le corps creux 11 comporte, parallèlement l'une à l'autre, pour une même paroi inférieure 13, deux entrées d'engagement 12, dont la largeur est inférieure à la moitié de celle de cette paroi inférieure 13, et qui sont de ce fait séparées l'une de l'autre par une fente 24.In the embodiments shown, the hollow body 11 comprises, parallel to one another, for the same lower wall 13, two engagement entries 12, the width of which is less than half that of this lower wall. 13, and which are thereby separated from one another by a slot 24.

Soit L1 la largeur de cette fente 24.Let L1 be the width of this slot 24.

Pour chacune des entrées d'engagement 12, le corps creux 11 comporte une paroi supérieure 14 individuelle.For each of the engagement inputs 12, the hollow body 11 has an individual upper wall 14.

Il comporte donc, parallèlement l'une à l'autre, deux parois supérieures 14.It therefore comprises, parallel to each other, two upper walls 14.

Dans les formes de réalisation représentées, le corps creux 11 comporte, venues d'un seul tenant de sa paroi inférieure 13, deux parois latérales 26, qui s'étendent sensiblement parallèlement l'une à l'autre, et, en pratique, sensiblement perpendiculairement à la paroi inférieure 13, et ses parois supérieures 14 forment elles-mêmes des retours, qui, dirigés vers l'intérieur, viennent chacun, respectivement, d'un seul tenant de ces parois latérales 26.In the embodiments shown, the hollow body 11 comprises, coming as a single piece from its bottom wall 13, two side walls 26, which extend substantially parallel to one another, and, in practice, substantially perpendicularly to the bottom wall 13, and its upper walls 14 themselves form returns, which, directed inwardly, each come, respectively, in one piece of these side walls 26.

Dans les formes de réalisation représentées, les parois supérieures 14 du corps creux 11 sont cintrées, sensiblement en arc de cercle, avec leur concavité tournée vers la paroi inférieure 13.In the embodiments shown, the upper walls 14 of the hollow body 11 are bent, substantially in an arc, with their concavity facing the bottom wall 13.

Elles comportent chacune, le long de leur bord libre, un retour 27, qui s'étend en direction de la paroi inférieure 13, parallèlement aux parois latérales 26, et dont la hauteur est réduite par rapport à celle de ces dernières.They each comprise, along their free edge, a return 27, which extends towards the bottom wall 13, parallel to the side walls 26, and whose height is reduced relative to that of the latter.

A l'arrière, les parois latérales 26 sont très largement échancrées par un décrochement 28, dont il résulte qu'elles laissent dégagée la portion arrière 29 des bords longitudinaux 30 de la paroi inférieure 13.At the rear, the side walls 26 are very largely indented by a recess 28, which results that they leave unobstructed the rear portion 29 of the longitudinal edges 30 of the bottom wall 13.

Dans les formes de réalisation représentées, cette paroi inférieure 13 du corps creux 11 se prolonge, à l'arrière, par une patte de contact 31, munie, en saillie, d'un grain de contact 32.In the embodiments shown, this lower wall 13 of the hollow body 11 is extended, at the rear, by a contact tab 31, provided, projecting, with a contact bump 32.

Mais, abstraction faite de cette patte de contact 31, le corps creux 11 relève, globalement, d'une surface réglée dont toutes les génératrices sont parallèles entre elles, à la manière d'un corps tubulaire.But, apart from this contact tab 31, the hollow body 11 raises, generally, a regulated surface of which all the generatrices are parallel to each other, in the manner of a tubular body.

Il peut ainsi très simplement être réalisé par découpe, pliage et mise en forme d'un quelconque feuillard métallique.It can thus very simply be achieved by cutting, folding and shaping any metal strip.

Dans les formes de réalisation représentées, la lame de ressort 15 comporte, parallèlement l'une à l'autre, pour une même branche de fixation 16, deux branches de connexion 18, qui correspondent chacune respectivement aux deux entrées d'engagement 12 du corps creux 11, et qui sont séparées l'une de l'autre par une fente 34.In the embodiments shown, the leaf spring 15 comprises, parallel to each other, for one and the same attachment branch 16, two connecting branches 18, which respectively correspond to the two engagement inputs 12 of the body. 11, and which are separated from one another by a slot 34.

Soit L2 la largeur de cette fente 34.Let L2 be the width of this slot 34.

Cette largeur L2 est très largement inférieure à la largeur L1 de la fente 24 séparant l'une de l'autre les deux entrées d'engagement 12 du corps creux 11.This width L2 is very much smaller than the width L1 of the slot 24 separating the two engagement entries 12 from the hollow body 11.

Mais, par un fractionnement de leur extrémité libre, les deux branches de connexion 18 forment, chacune, latéralement, le long de cette fente 34, une languette 35, qui, pliée sensiblement parallèlement à la branche de fixation 16, fait saillie sur leur partie courante du même côté que cette branche de fixation 16, et par laquelle elles sont chacune respectivement aptes à porter sur le bord libre du retour 27 de la paroi supérieure 14 correspondante du corps creux 11.But, by a fractionation of their free end, the two connecting branches 18 form, each, laterally along this slot 34, a tongue 35 which, folded substantially parallel to the attachment branch 16, protrudes on their part. running on the same side as this attachment branch 16, and by which they are each respectively able to bear on the free edge of the return 27 of the corresponding upper wall 14 of the hollow body 11.

Dans les formes de réalisation représentées, cette languette 35 est arrondie, avec sa concavité tournée vers la paroi inférieure 13 du corps creux 11.In the embodiments shown, this tongue 35 is rounded, with its concavity turned towards the bottom wall 13 of the hollow body 11.

En outre, dans ces formes de réalisation, le retour 27 des parois supérieures 14 du corps creux 11 présente, en correspondance, une encoche 36, qui, de manière complémentaire, est elle-même arrondie.Furthermore, in these embodiments, the return 27 of the upper walls 14 of the hollow body 11 has, in correspondence, a notch 36, which, in a complementary manner, is itself rounded.

Du fait des différences entre les largeurs L1, L2 des fentes 24, 34, la languette 35 de chacune des branches de connexion 18 s'étend transversalement au-delà du retour 27 de la paroi supérieure 14 correspondante du corps creux 11, et, débordant ainsi dans la fente 24 de celui-ci, elle est accessible à la faveur de cette fente 24.Due to the differences between the widths L1, L2 of the slots 24, 34, the tongue 35 of each of the connecting branches 18 extends transversely beyond the return 27 of the corresponding upper wall 14 of the hollow body 11, and, overflowing thus in the slot 24 of it, it is accessible through this slot 24.

Abstraction faite de leur languette 35, les branches de connexion 18 de la lame de ressort 15 s'étendent de manière sensiblement rectiligne à compter du coude 19 qui les relie à la branche de fixation 16.Apart from their tongue 35, the connection legs 18 of the leaf spring 15 extend substantially rectilinearly from the bend 19 which connects them to the attachment branch 16.

Il en est sensiblement de même pour cette dernière.It is essentially the same for the latter.

La lame de ressort 15 ainsi constituée peut très simplement être réalisée à l'aide d'un feuillard en acier à ressort convenablement découpé, conformé et traité.The spring blade 15 thus formed can very simply be made using a steel spring strip suitably cut, shaped and treated.

Pour l'assujettissement de la lame de ressort 15 à sa paroi inférieure 13 le corps creux 11 comporte, dans les formes de réalisation représentées, au moins une patte de fixation 38, qui, solidaire de cette paroi inférieure 13, est repliée en U au contact de la branche de fixation 16 de cette lame de ressort 15.For securing the leaf spring 15 to its bottom wall 13 the hollow body 11 comprises, in the embodiments shown, at least one bracket 38 which, integral with the bottom wall 13, is folded in U in contact with the fastening branch 16 of this leaf spring 15.

Préférentiellement, et cela est le cas dans les formes de réalisation représentées, le corps creux 11 comporte deux pattes de fixation 38, qui, intervenant chacune respectivement le long des deux bords longitudinaux 30 de sa paroi inférieure 13, enserrent globalement transversalement la branche de fixation 16 de la lame de ressort 15.Preferably, and this is the case in the embodiments shown, the hollow body 11 comprises two fastening lugs 38, which, each intervening respectively along the two longitudinal edges 30 of its bottom wall 13, generally grip transversely the attachment branch. 16 of the leaf spring 15.

Préférentiellement, et tel que représenté, ces deux pattes de fixation 38 viennent d'un seul tenant de la paroi inférieure 13 du corps creux 11 à la faveur de la portion arrière 29 dégagée des bords longitudinaux 30 de celle-ci.Preferably, and as shown, these two fastening lugs 38 come from a single piece of the bottom wall 13 of the hollow body 11 in favor of the rear portion 29 disengaged from the longitudinal edges 30 thereof.

Dans les formes de réalisation plus particulièrement représentées sur les figures 1 à 9, les deux pattes de fixation 38 s'étendent sensiblement parallèlement l'une à l'autre, et il en est de même des portions 39, au moins, des bords longitudinaux 40 de la branche de fixation 16 de la lame de ressort 15 concernées par ces pattes de fixation 38.In the embodiments more particularly represented on the Figures 1 to 9 , the two fastening tabs 38 extend substantially parallel to each other, and the same is true of the portions 39, at least, of the longitudinal edges 40 of the fastening branch 16 of the leaf spring 15 concerned. by these brackets 38.

En variante, figures 10 à 13, les deux pattes de fixation 38 que forme le corps creux 11 s'étendent globalement en biais l'une par rapport à l'autre, en divergeant l'une par rapport à l'autre en direction opposée aux entrées d'engagement 12 de ce corps creux 11, et il en est de même des portions 39, au moins, des bords longitudinaux 40 de la branche de fixation 16 de la lame de ressort 15 concernées par ces pattes de fixation 38.In a variant, Figures 10 to 13 , the two fastening tabs 38 formed by the hollow body 11 extend generally obliquely relative to each other, diverging relative to each other in the opposite direction to the engagement entries 12 of this hollow body 11, and it is the same portions 39, at least, of the longitudinal edges 40 of the fastening branch 16 of the leaf spring 15 concerned by these fixing lugs 38.

Dans l'un et l'autre cas, les portions 39 en cause des bords longitudinaux 40 de la branche de fixation 16 de la lame de ressort 15 sont en retrait par rapport à la partie courante de ces bords longitudinaux 40.In either case, the portions 39 in question of the longitudinal edges 40 of the attachment branch 16 of the leaf spring 15 are set back relative to the current portion of these longitudinal edges 40.

Préférentiellement, et cela est le cas dans les formes de réalisation représentées, des moyens d'indexation sont prévus entre la branche de fixation 16 de la lame de ressort 15 et le corps creux 11, pour un meilleur contrôle de position de cette lame de ressort 15 par rapport à ce corps creux 11 au montage.Preferably, and this is the case in the embodiments shown, indexing means are provided between the fastening branch 16 of the leaf spring 15 and the hollow body 11, for better position control of this leaf spring 15 with respect to this hollow body 11 during assembly.

Dans les formes de réalisation plus particulièrement représentées sur les figures 1 à 9, ces moyens d'indexation comportent, sur la branche de fixation 16 de la lame de ressort 15, au moins un épaulement 41, qui s'étend transversalement par rapport à ses bords longitudinaux 40, et par lequel cette branche de fixation 16 porte sur la tranche latérale avant de la patte de fixation 38 correspondante du corps creux 11.In the embodiments more particularly represented on the Figures 1 to 9 these indexing means comprise, on the fastening branch 16 of the leaf spring 15, at least one shoulder 41, which extends transversely with respect to its longitudinal edges 40, and by which this attachment arm 16 bears on the front lateral edge of the corresponding fastening lug 38 of the body hollow 11.

En pratique, deux épaulements 41 sont prévus, à raison d'un par bord longitudinal 40, et, donc, à raison d'un par patte de fixation 38.In practice, two shoulders 41 are provided, one at each longitudinal edge 40, and therefore at one ratio per bracket 38.

Dans les formes de réalisation représentées sur les figures 10 à 13, les moyens d'indexation résultent très simplement du montage en queue d'aronde assuré par les pattes de fixation 38 en raison de leur obliquité l'une par rapport à l'autre.In the embodiments shown on the Figures 10 to 13 the indexing means result very simply dovetail assembly provided by the brackets 38 due to their obliquity with respect to each other.

De ce point de vue, ce montage en queue d'aronde exige avantageusement moins de précision à la fabrication.From this point of view, this dovetail assembly advantageously requires less precision in manufacture.

Préférentiellement, et cela est le cas dans les formes de réalisation représentées, entre la branche de fixation 16 de la lame de ressort 15 et le corps creux 11 sont également prévus des moyens de retenue, pour éviter que cette lame de ressort 15 puisse échapper au corps creux 11 si elle vient à être l'objet d'une traction.Preferably, and this is the case in the embodiments shown, between the attachment branch 16 of the leaf spring 15 and the hollow body 11 are also provided retaining means, to prevent this leaf spring 15 can escape the hollow body 11 if it comes to be the object of traction.

Dans la forme de réalisation plus particulièrement représentée sur les figures 1 à 6 ces moyens de retenue comportent, sur la branche de fixation 16 de la lame de ressort 15, au moins un épaulement 43, qui s'étend transversalement par rapport à ses bords longitudinaux 40, et par lequel cette branche de fixation 16 porte sur la tranche latérale arrière de la patte de fixation 38 correspondante du corps creux 11.In the embodiment more particularly represented on the Figures 1 to 6 these retaining means comprise, on the fastening branch 16 of the leaf spring 15, at least one shoulder 43, which extends transversely with respect to its longitudinal edges 40, and by which this fastening branch 16 bears on the edge rear side of the corresponding fixing lug 38 of the hollow body 11.

En pratique, deux épaulements 43 sont prévus, à raison d'un par bord longitudinal 40.In practice, two shoulders 43 are provided, one per longitudinal edge 40.

Pour chacun des bords longitudinaux 40 de la branche de fixation 16, l'épaulement 41 appartenant aux moyens d'indexation et celui 43 appartenant aux moyens de retenue sont formés par les bords latéraux d'une même encoche 44 par laquelle la branche de fixation 16 de la lame de ressort 15 est en prise avec la patte de fixation 38 correspondante du corps creux 11.For each of the longitudinal edges 40 of the fastening branch 16, the shoulder 41 belonging to the indexing means and the shoulder 43 belonging to the retaining means are formed by the lateral edges of the same notch 44 through which the fastening branch 16 of the leaf spring 15 is engaged with the corresponding fastening tab 38 of the hollow body 11.

La branche de fixation 16 de la lame de ressort 15 présente donc une encoche 44 sur chacun de ses bords longitudinaux 40 dans cette forme de réalisation et la portion 39 de ceux-ci concernée par les pattes de fixation 38 du corps creux 11 en forme le fond.The fastening branch 16 of the leaf spring 15 thus has a notch 44 on each of its longitudinal edges 40 in this embodiment and the portion 39 thereof concerned by the fastening tabs 38 of the hollow body 11 in the form of background.

La branche de fixation 16 de la lame de ressort 15 présente, donc, latéralement, sur ses bords longitudinaux 40, dans cette forme de réalisation, deux encoches 44 par lesquelles elle est en prise avec les pattes de fixation 38 que forme en correspondance le corps creux 11.The fastening branch 16 of the leaf spring 15 has, therefore, laterally, on its longitudinal edges 40, in this embodiment, two notches 44 by which it is engaged with the fastening tabs 38 that forms in correspondence the body hollow 11.

Dans la forme de réalisation représentée sur les figures 7 à 9, les moyens de retenue prévus suivant l'invention comportent, sur le corps creux 11, un pion 45, et, sur la branche de fixation 16 de la lame de ressort 15, un évidement 46 par lequel cette branche de fixation 16 est en prise avec le pion 45 du corps creux 11.In the embodiment shown on the Figures 7 to 9 , the retaining means provided according to the invention comprise, on the hollow body 11, a pin 45, and on the fastening branch 16 of the leaf spring 15, a recess 46 through which this fastening branch 16 is engaged with the pin 45 of the hollow body 11.

Par exemple, et tel que représenté, le pion 45 a un contour circulaire, et il en est de même, de manière complémentaire, de l'évidement 46.For example, and as shown, the pin 45 has a circular contour, and it is the same, in a complementary manner, the recess 46.

Corollairement, dans cette forme de réalisation, la portion 39 des bords longitudinaux 40 de la branche de fixation 16 de la lame de ressort 15 se poursuit librement jusqu'à l'extrémité libre de cette branche de fixation 16 en retrait par rapport à la portion courante de ces bords longitudinaux 40.As a corollary, in this embodiment, the portion 39 of the longitudinal edges 40 of the securing branch 16 of the leaf spring 15 continues freely until the free end of this securing arm 16 recessed relative to the portion current of these longitudinal edges 40.

Dans les formes de réalisation représentées sur les figures 10 à 13, les moyens de retenue prévus suivant l'invention résultent, comme les moyens d'indexation précédents, du montage en queue d'aronde assuré par les pattes de fixation 38 du corps creux 11.In the embodiments shown on the Figures 10 to 13 , the retaining means provided according to the invention result, as the previous indexing means, dovetail assembly provided by the fastening lugs 38 of the hollow body 11.

Par ailleurs, dans les formes de réalisation représentées sur les figures 7 à 13, des moyens de maintien sont également prévus entre la lame de ressort 15 et le corps creux 11, pour éviter une éventuelle mise en biais de cette lame de ressort 15 par rapport à ce corps creux 11 lorsque seule une des ses branches de connexion 18 est sollicitée.Moreover, in the embodiments represented on the Figures 7 to 13 , holding means are also provided between the leaf spring 15 and the hollow body 11, to avoid possible biasing of the leaf spring 15 relative to the hollow body 11 when only one of its connecting branches 18 is sought.

Par exemple, et tel que représenté, ces moyens de maintien comportent, sur le corps creux 11, un ergot 47, qui fait saillie sur la tranche avant 22 de sa paroi inférieure 13, dans la zone médiane de celle-ci, en s'étendant dans le prolongement de cette paroi inférieure 13, et, sur le coude 19 de la lame de ressort 15, à la racine de la fente 34 séparant l'une de l'autre les deux branches de connexion 18 de cette lame de ressort 15, un évidement 48 par lequel cette lame de ressort 15 est en prise avec l'ergot 47 du corps creux 11.For example, and as shown, these holding means comprise, on the hollow body 11, a lug 47, which protrudes from the front edge 22 of its bottom wall 13, in the median zone thereof, extending into the extension of this lower wall 13, and, on the elbow 19 of the leaf spring 15, at the root of the slot 34 separating from one another the two connection legs 18 of the leaf spring 15, a recess 48 by which this leaf spring 15 is engaged with the lug 47 of the hollow body 11.

Dans les formes de réalisation représentées sur les figures 7 à 10, l'ergot 47 a un contour quadrangulaire, et, par exemple, rectangulaire, et l'évidement 48 a un contour circulaire.In the embodiments shown on the Figures 7 to 10 , the lug 47 has a quadrangular contour, and, for example, rectangular, and the recess 48 has a circular contour.

En variante, figures 11 à 13, l'ergot 47 du corps creux 11 a un contour trapézoïdal, en allant en s'amincissant en direction de son extrémité libre, ce qui favorise avantageusement un maintien de la lame de ressort 15 suivant le plan de symétrie du corps creux 11.In a variant, Figures 11 to 13 , the lug 47 of the hollow body 11 has a trapezoidal contour, tapering towards its free end, which advantageously favors holding the leaf spring 15 along the plane of symmetry of the hollow body 11.

Corollairement, l'évidement 48 a un contour quadrangulaire, et, par exemple, carré, ce qui, par les épaulements qui en résultent, permet avantageusement de limiter le jeu de la lame de ressort 15 perpendiculairement à la paroi inférieure 13 du corps creux 11.As a corollary, the recess 48 has a quadrangular contour, and, for example, square, which, by the shoulders that result, advantageously allows to limit the play of the leaf spring 15 perpendicular to the bottom wall 13 of the hollow body 11 .

Préférentiellement, enfin, et cela est le cas, au moins, dans les formes de réalisation représentées sur les figure 10 à 13, la lame de ressort 15 est, par construction, en butée, par son coude 19, contre l'arête inférieure 23 de la tranche avant 22 de la paroi inférieure 13 du corps creux 11.Preferably, finally, and this is the case, at least in the embodiments represented on the figure 10 to 13 , the spring leaf 15 is, by construction, abutting, by its bend 19, against the lower edge 23 of the front edge 22 of the bottom wall 13 of the hollow body 11.

Au repos, et ainsi qu'il est mieux visible sur la figure 4, les branches de connexion 18 de la lame de ressort 15 portent par leur languette 35 sur le retour 27 de la paroi supérieure 14 correspondante du corps creux 11, cependant que leur extrémité libre s'étend à proximité immédiate de cette paroi supérieure 14 sans toutefois être nécessairement au contact de celle-ci.At rest, and as it is best seen on the figure 4 , the connection legs 18 of the leaf spring 15 carry by their tongue 35 on the return 27 of the corresponding upper wall 14 of the hollow body 11, while their free end extends in the immediate vicinity of the upper wall 14 without however to be necessarily in contact with it.

Si, tel que schématisé par une flèche F1 sur les figures 1 et 4, un conducteur électrique 50, dont l'extrémité 51 a été au préalable dénudée, est engagé dans l'une des entrées d'engagement 12 du corps creux 11, en étant dûment guidé par celle-ci, ce conducteur électrique 50 vient porter sur l'extrémité libre de la branche de connexion 18 correspondante de la lame de ressort 15, et, si son mouvement d'engagement est poursuivi, il repousse cette branche de connexion 18, en la forçant à fléchir, tel que schématisé par la flèche F2 sur la figure 4.If, as schematized by an F1 arrow on Figures 1 and 4 , an electrical conductor 50, the end 51 has previously been stripped, is engaged in one of the engagement inputs 12 of the hollow body 11, being duly guided by it, the electrical conductor 50 comes to bear on the free end of the corresponding connection branch 18 of the leaf spring 15, and if its engagement movement is continued, it pushes back this connecting branch 18, forcing it to flex, as shown schematically by the arrow F2 on the figure 4 .

Lors de ce fléchissement, la branche de connexion 18 concernée de la lame de ressort 15 pivote autour d'un axe de rotation qui, suivant l'invention, et ainsi qu'il ressort des figures 4 et 5, est matérialisé par l'arête inférieure 23 de la tranche avant 22 de la paroi inférieure 13 du corps creux 11.During this deflection, the connecting branch 18 concerned of the leaf spring 15 pivots about an axis of rotation which, according to the invention, and as it appears from the Figures 4 and 5 , is materialized by the lower edge 23 of the front edge 22 of the bottom wall 13 of the hollow body 11.

L'extrémité dénudée 51 du conducteur électrique 50 s'engage alors entre l'extrémité libre de la branche de connexion 18 de la lame de ressort 15 et la paroi supérieure 14 correspondante du corps creux 11, et, du fait de l'élasticité de cette branche de connexion 18, elle se trouve automatiquement serrée entre elle et la paroi supérieure 14 du corps creux 11.The stripped end 51 of the electrical conductor 50 then engages between the free end of the connection branch 18 of the leaf spring 15 and the corresponding upper wall 14 of the hollow body 11, and, because of the elasticity of this connecting branch 18, it is automatically clamped between it and the upper wall 14 of the hollow body 11.

Pour le desserrage du conducteur électrique 50, en vue, par exemple, de son dégagement du corps creux 11, il suffit d'agir sur la languette 35 de la branche de connexion 18 concernée de la lame de ressort 15, à la faveur de la fente 24 du corps creux 11.For loosening of the electrical conductor 50, in view, for example, of its clearance of the hollow body 11, it suffices to act on the tongue 35 of the connecting branch 18 concerned of the leaf spring 15, in favor of the slot 24 of the hollow body 11.

Tel que schématisé en traits interrompus sur la figure 1, deux conducteurs électriques 50 peuvent être engagés en parallèle dans le corps creux 11, à raison d'un par entrée d'engagement 12 de celui-ci.As schematized in broken lines on the figure 1 two electrical conductors 50 may be engaged in parallel in the hollow body 11, one by engagement input 12 thereof.

Bien entendu, la présente invention ne se limite pas aux formes de réalisation décrites et représentées.Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown.

Claims (24)

  1. A connecting terminal with automatic clamping of the kind comprising on the one hand a hollow body (11) of conductive material which opens to the exterior by way of at least one engagement entry (12), having on respective sides thereof two opposite walls (13, 14), one being a lower wall and the other being an upper wall, and, on the other hand, a spring blade (15) which has at least two limbs (16, 18) which are continuously connected together by a rounded elbow (19), namely a fixing limb (16) which extends on the outside of the hollow body (11) in contact with the lower wall (13) thereof, being appropriately fixed to said lower wall (13), and a connecting limb (18) which is operatively disposed freely in elastically deformable fashion in the hollow body (11), extending generally in inclined relationship with respect to the engagement entry (12) of said hollow body (11) in the direction of the upper wall (14) thereof, the elbow (19) which is intermediate between said two limbs (16, 18) extending around the front end face (22) of the lower wall (13) of said hollow body (11), characterised in that the spring blade (15) which is in contact with the front end face (22) of the lower wall (13) of the hollow body (11) with its elbow (19) bears against said front end face (22) only by way of the lower edge (23) thereof, which lower edge (23) defines an axis of rotation along which the connecting limb (18) flexes upon engagement of an electrical conductor into the engagement entry (12).
  2. A connecting terminal according to claim 1 characterised in that, for fixing the spring blade (15) to its lower wall (13), the hollow body (11) comprises at least one fixing lug (38) which, being fixed with respect to said lower wall (13), is bent in a U-shape in contact with the fixing limb (16) of said spring blade (15).
  3. A connecting terminal according to claim 2 characterised in that the hollow body (11) comprises two fixing lugs (38) which overall transversely embrace the fixing limb (16) of the spring blade (15).
  4. A connecting terminal according to claim 3 characterised in that the two fixing lugs (3 8) are in one piece with the lower wall (13) of the hollow body (11).
  5. A connecting terminal according to either one of claims 3 and 4 characterised in that the two fixing lugs (38) extend substantially parallel to each other and likewise for portions (39) at least of the longitudinal edges (40) of the fixing limb (16) of the spring blade (15) involved with said fixing lugs (38).
  6. A connecting terminal according to either one of claims 3 and 4 characterised in that the two fixing lugs (38) extend generally in inclined relationship with each other, one diverging with respect to the other in a direction opposite to the engagement entry (12) of the hollow body (11), and likewise for portions (39) at least of the longitudinal edges (40) of the fixing limb (16) of the spring blade (15) involved with said fixing lugs (38).
  7. A connecting terminal according to claim 6 characterised in that the spring blade (15) is in butting relationship by its elbow (19) against the lower edge (23) of the front end face (22) of the lower wall (13) of the hollow body (11).
  8. A connecting terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 7 characterised in that indexing means are provided between the fixing limb (16) of the spring blade (15) and the hollow body (11).
  9. A connecting terminal according to claims 2 and 8 in combination characterised in that the indexing means provided between the fixing limb (16) of the spring blade (15) and the hollow body (11) comprise, on the fixing limb (16) of the spring blade (15), at least one shoulder (41) which extends transversely and by way of which said fixing limb (16) bears against the lateral front face of the corresponding fixing lug (3 8) of the hollow body (11).
  10. A connecting terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 9 characterised in that retaining means are provided between the fixing limb (16) of the spring blade (15) and the hollow body (11).
  11. A connecting terminal according to claims 2 and 10 in combination characterised in that the retaining means provided between the fixing limb (16) of the spring blade (15) and the hollow body (11) comprise, on the fixing limb (16) of the spring blade (15), at least one shoulder (43) which extends transversely and by way of which said fixing limb (16) bears against the lateral rear face of the corresponding fixing lug (38) of the hollow body (11).
  12. A connecting terminal according to claims 9 and 11 in combination characterised in that the shoulder (41) belonging to the indexing means and the shoulder (43) belonging to the retaining means are formed by the lateral edges of the same notch (44) by way of which the fixing limb (16) of the spring blade (15) is in engagement with the corresponding fixing lug (38) of the hollow body (11).
  13. A connecting terminal according to claims 3 and 12 in combination characterised in that the fixing limb (16) of the spring blade (15) has a notch (44) on each of its longitudinal edges (40).
  14. A connecting terminal according to claim 10 characterised in that the retaining means provided between the fixing limb (16) of the spring blade (15) and the hollow body (11) comprise on the hollow body (11) a projection (45) and on the fixing limb (16) of the spring blade (15) an opening (46) by which said fixing limb (16) is in engagement with the projection (45) on the hollow body (11).
  15. A connecting terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 14 characterised in that, from the elbow (19) which connects it to the fixing limb (16), the connecting limb (18) of the spring blade (15) extends substantially rectilinearly.
  16. A connecting terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 15 characterised in that the upper wall (14) of the hollow body (11) comprises a return portion (27) extending in the direction of its lower wall (13) and the connecting limb (18) of the spring blade (15) laterally forms a tongue portion (35), by way of which it is capable of bearing against the free edge of said return portion (27).
  17. A connecting terminal according to claim 16 characterised in that the tongue portion (35) that the connecting limb (18) of the spring blade (15) laterally forms is rounded with its concavity directed towards the lower wall (13) of the hollow body (11).
  18. A connecting terminal according to either one of claims 16 and 17 characterised in that the return portion (27) of the upper wall (14) of the hollow body (11) has a notch (36) in corresponding relationship with the tongue portion (35) that the connecting limb (18) of the spring blade (15) laterally forms.
  19. A connecting terminal according to any one of claims 16 to 18 characterised in that the tongue portion (35) that the connecting limb (18) of the spring blade (15) laterally forms extends transversely beyond the return portion (27) of the upper wall (14) of the hollow body (11).
  20. A connecting terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 19 characterised in that the hollow body (11) comprises two engagement entries (12) in mutually parallel relationship for the same lower wall (13) and the spring blade (15) comprises in mutually parallel relationship for the same fixing limb (16) two connecting limbs (18) which each respectively correspond to the two engagement entries (12) of the hollow body (11) and which are separated from each other by a slot (34).
  21. A connecting terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 20 characterised in that holding means are provided between the spring blade (15) and the hollow body (11).
  22. A connecting terminal according to claim 21 characterised in that the holding means provided between a spring blade (15) and the hollow body (11) comprise on the hollow body (11) a detent projection (47) which projects on the front end face (22) of its lower wall (13), extending in line with said lower wall (13), and, on the elbow (19) of the spring blade (15), at the base of the slot (34) separating the two connecting limbs (18) from each other, an opening (48), by way of which said spring blade (15) is in engagement with the detent projection (47) of the hollow body (11).
  23. A connecting terminal according to claim 22 characterised in that the detent projection (47) of the hollow body (11) is of a trapezoidal contour, narrowing in the direction of its free end.
  24. A connecting terminal according to either one of claims 22 and 23 characterised in that the opening (48) in the spring blade (15) is of a quadrangular contour.
EP98402430A 1997-10-06 1998-10-02 Automatic clamping connection terminal Expired - Lifetime EP0908965B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR9712416A FR2769411B1 (en) 1997-10-06 1997-10-06 CONNECTION TERMINAL WITH AUTOMATIC TIGHTENING
FR9712416 1997-10-06

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0908965A1 EP0908965A1 (en) 1999-04-14
EP0908965B1 true EP0908965B1 (en) 2008-05-28

Family

ID=9511857

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP98402430A Expired - Lifetime EP0908965B1 (en) 1997-10-06 1998-10-02 Automatic clamping connection terminal

Country Status (8)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0908965B1 (en)
AT (1) ATE397305T1 (en)
DE (1) DE69839546D1 (en)
ES (1) ES2307311T3 (en)
FR (1) FR2769411B1 (en)
HU (1) HUP9802229A3 (en)
PL (1) PL191690B1 (en)
PT (1) PT908965E (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102009049646A1 (en) 2009-10-15 2011-04-28 Elso Gmbh Contact spring for plug socket, has prop up limb offset formed on free end of support limb which props against prop-up limb stops, and fixing recess conically formed from edge of side wall of clamp spring housing

Families Citing this family (10)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE29900402U1 (en) * 1999-01-13 1999-03-25 Ackermann Albert Gmbh Co Electrical connection terminal
DE29915515U1 (en) * 1999-09-03 2001-02-01 Weidmueller Interface Spring clip for connecting electrical conductors
ES2246169B2 (en) * 2004-07-28 2006-08-01 I Division Electrica, S.A. BIDIRECTIONAL CONNECTION TERMINAL WITHOUT SCREWS.
DE102005045596B3 (en) 2005-09-23 2007-06-21 Siemens Ag Spring plug terminal
ES2320071B1 (en) * 2007-01-03 2010-01-18 Schneider Electric España, S.A. AUTOMATIC CONNECTION TERMINAL.
US7491098B1 (en) 2007-10-10 2009-02-17 General Electric Company Screwless terminal for electrical leads
DE202015105023U1 (en) * 2015-09-22 2016-12-23 Weidmüller Interface GmbH & Co. KG Connection device for conductors
DE202016104374U1 (en) * 2016-08-09 2017-11-13 Wago Verwaltungsgesellschaft Mbh Spring terminal for connecting an electrical conductor
EP3591765B1 (en) * 2018-07-02 2023-11-01 GIRA GIERSIEPEN GmbH & Co. KG Conductor clamping element for electric conductors
FR3091958B1 (en) 2019-01-18 2021-01-22 Legrand France Blade comes out of a self-tightening connection terminal

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DE2005923C2 (en) * 1970-02-10 1982-05-27 Wago-Kontakttechnik Gmbh, 4950 Minden Wire connector for two or four wires - has leaf spring attached, with apertured ends bent upwardly for inserting wires
DE2726441C2 (en) * 1977-06-11 1986-02-20 Brown, Boveri & Cie Ag, 6800 Mannheim Socket in particular double socket
FR2480037A1 (en) * 1980-04-04 1981-10-09 Legrand Sa ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT WITH AUTOMATIC CONNECTION, IN PARTICULAR FOR ELECTRIC CONDUCTORS
US4566748A (en) * 1984-09-17 1986-01-28 Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd. Connector
DE3503370A1 (en) * 1985-02-01 1986-08-07 Gebrüder Merten GmbH & Co KG, 5270 Gummersbach Screwless connecting terminal

Cited By (1)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102009049646A1 (en) 2009-10-15 2011-04-28 Elso Gmbh Contact spring for plug socket, has prop up limb offset formed on free end of support limb which props against prop-up limb stops, and fixing recess conically formed from edge of side wall of clamp spring housing

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ES2307311T3 (en) 2008-11-16
PL329041A1 (en) 1999-04-12
HUP9802229A3 (en) 2001-11-28
FR2769411A1 (en) 1999-04-09
EP0908965A1 (en) 1999-04-14
HUP9802229A2 (en) 1999-05-28
DE69839546D1 (en) 2008-07-10
FR2769411B1 (en) 2000-03-31
PL191690B1 (en) 2006-06-30
PT908965E (en) 2008-08-29
ATE397305T1 (en) 2008-06-15
HU9802229D0 (en) 1998-12-28

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