EP0966063B1 - Screwless connecting terminal for electric leads. - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a screwless terminal device according to the preamble of claim 1. Such a connection terminal is e.g. known from US 5,292,260.

A connecting device known from DE 43 12 778 A1 comprises an in an insulating housing held contact element, which consists of an unfolded Sheet metal stamping is formed. The contact element contains an insulation displacement contact, a plug contact point and a solder pin for connecting the connection terminal on a circuit board. The plug contact point is against each other standing lobes formed, with the exception of a narrow spring arm are cut free from the sheet of the contact element and become spread a spring clamped between the tabs.

A disadvantage of this terminal device is that when the terminal is applied resulting mechanical tension from the narrow spring arms the tab of the plug contact point must be applied. With intensive use the plug contact point, especially if the connection is loosened frequently By bending the flap, it can lead to an inelastic deformation the rag is coming. In this way, the clamping force of the plug contact point significantly reduced. In the worst case, the connection terminal device unusable.

From DE 196 17 259 A1, from US 5,292,260 and from US 5,494,456 and from DE 28 02 269 C2 and from EP 0 685 904 A2 each is a screwless connecting grommet with a V-shaped to form a spring leg Contact element known. The spring leg is used for clamping contact an electrical one inserted through an insertion opening in a terminal housing Conductor, the clamping either against a holding leg of the contact element or against a housing wall.

From DE 73 12 874 U1 is also a connection terminal with a with respect to an insertion opening for the electrical conductor inside the terminal housing known diagonally extending, two-part contact element, the the insertion opening facing first contact part for a push-through opening has the conductor which by means of the second contact part against the back of the first contact part is clamped.

The structural design of the known terminal devices is disadvantageous comparatively complicated. This applies in particular to the respective one Contact element, which has a number of folds and / or fine punchings contains.

The invention is therefore based on the object of a connecting terminal device specify the contact element with a particularly robust plug contact point is structurally simple.

This object is achieved by the combination of features of Claim 1.

The preferably one-piece and one-piece contact element is diagonal inserted into a chamber of the housing, the plate-shaped Clamping body with a side wall of the chamber has a V-shaped clamping section trains into which the insertion opening opens. One through the insertion opening The conductor inserted into the housing is accordingly at the apex of the clamping section between the side wall and a holding edge of the contact element jammed in contact. To produce the clamping force and to release the The clamping connection is the holding edge by means of an elastic, combined bending and torsion deformation of the Contact element can be bent out of the apex of the clamping section.

Since the clamping of the conductor between the edge of the contact element and one Housing surface takes place is a complicated internal structure of the contact element to make a plug contact point unnecessary. This simplifies in a decisive way Dimensions of the construction of the connection terminal.

Due to the lack of an internal structure, the elastic deformation of the Contact element resulting mechanical tension evenly on a Most of the surface of the contact element is distributed. The danger of inelastic Deformation of the contact element as a result of bending is therefore crucial reduced.

The one-piece contact element is of a particularly simple design a stamped sheet metal part. An L-shaped closes on the flat, flat clamping body Contact leg on. This contact leg includes one to the retaining edge of the clamp body vertical connecting leg and one of the clamp body directional solder pin for connection to a circuit board. The connecting leg is bent sideways out of the body level. The contact element is thus advantageously a simply connected sheet metal flag, which only has a single bend in the region of the connecting leg.

To further simplify the design of the connection terminal device, the Clamping body of the contact element with respect to its longitudinal axis is mirror-symmetrical built up. The bend between the connecting leg and the body takes place around the longitudinal axis, i.e. centered on the body. Has proven to be beneficial a bending angle of about 30 ° was emphasized. Because of the mirror symmetry of the body, both side edges of the contact element can be identical Be used as a retaining edge. This enables the Contact element in two to each other by an angle of 180 ° around the longitudinal axis twisted orientations into the housing. The two orientations differ in terms of the alignment of the contact leg with respect of the housing.

The opening angle of the V-shaped clamping section corresponds to the bending angle between the body and the connecting leg of the contact element. This increases the symmetry of the connection terminal device and thus contributes to simplification their structural design, especially since the clamp body is preferred of the contact element from one side wall of the chamber to the opposite Side wall extends. This arrangement has the further advantage that the Side walls serve as a bearing for the contact element and thus the Stabilize the clamp connection.

A housing guide as a holder for the contact element ensures that that the contact element in the manner of a leaf spring clamped in the housing rests. An undercut advantageously prevents that the contact element is released from the housing guide under load.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the retaining edge is in the apex of the clamping section with a bulge. As a result of this bulge is in the apex of the clamping section between the side wall of the chamber and the contact element is approximately crescent-shaped, e.g. Known recess for receiving from EP 0 821 433 A1 created by the leader. This recess reduces when the conductor is inserted the deformation of the contact element and thus increases especially in one large conductor cross-section the load capacity of the connection terminal. In order to the clamping range can be expanded to larger clamping cross-sections. In addition, the clamping area can be the desired depth over the depth of the bulge Conductor cross-sectional area can be adjusted.

The connection of a conductor to be contacted is preferably by means of a Conductor channel facilitates, which connects to the insertion opening in the housing and protrudes into the V-shaped clamping section. This conductor channel prevents expediently a lateral evasion of the conductor during its implementation through the apex of the clamping section. The conductor channel is expedient at the end of the contact element and thus serves at the same time for this as a repository.

By means of an actuation opening, the clamp connection can be made by inserting a Operating lever, e.g. a screwdriver, especially easy to solve become. The actuation opening preferably extends over the entire upper side a chamber. The housing is thus open towards the top. The order the actuating opening is particularly advantageous when the terminal device on a parallel to the opening axis of the insertion opening PCB is mounted. In this case, the operating lever can be convenient perpendicular to the circuit board.

To simplify the handling of the terminal device, a Serve insertion funnel, which is placed on the outside of the housing on the insertion opening is, the insertion funnel towards the top of the housing at least is partially open. A conductor to be contacted can thus be viewed from above, i.e. in particular again perpendicular to a circuit board, inserted into the insertion funnel become. The insertion funnel then facilitates the insertion of the conductor into Direction of the clamping section.

In an advantageous further development, the clamping body of the contact element provided with an insulation displacement contact, on which a conductor to it Contact can be postponed. To stabilize this insulation displacement contact the contact knife facing away from the clamping section is preferred fixed to the housing. The contact knife facing the holding edge is against this preferably arranged movably in the housing to prevent unimpeded deformation to ensure the contact element. The terminal housing in one provided at the top extending insertion section guide webs in front and behind the insulation displacement contact also ensure straight-line guidance of the conductor when it is inserted into or between the cutting edges of the insulation displacement contact. The conductor is simply clamped without its insulation to cut through. This will also provide strain relief for the electrical Clamping point reached.

By means of an opening for the introduction of a test contact known per se from EP 0 800 233 A1, in particular one with resilient lamellae made of test or tuft connector or a test tip, is conveniently a simple control of an installed circuit allows. In a further advantageous development, the housing contains several chambers, the contact elements alternating with each other by 180 ° are twisted inserted into these chambers. In this way, one alternating offset arrangement of the solder pins achieved. The combined bending-torsional deformation the contact element ensures a special low material load on the contact element. This helps that too with intensive use of the terminal device, the elasticity of the contact element remains in the long term.

Fig. 1

in einer perspektivischen Außenansicht eine Anschlußklemmeinrichtung mit einem Gehäuse und in dem Gehäuse gehaltenen Kontaktelementen,

Fig. 2

eine Draufsicht II auf die Oberseite der Anschlußktemmeinrichtung gemäß Fig. 1,

Fig. 3

in perspektivischer Darstellung ein Kontaktelement gemäß Fig. 1,

Fig. 4

in einer Darstellung gemäß Fig. 3 eine alternative Ausführung des Kontaktelements,

Fig. 5

einen Querschnitt V-V durch die Anschlußklemmeinrichtung gemäß Fig. 1,

Fig. 6

eine Draufsicht VI auf die Unterseite der Anschlußklemmeinrichtung gemäß Fig. 1,

Fig. 7

in einer Darstellung gemäß Fig. 6 die Anschlußklemmeinrichtung mit einem Kontaktelement gemäß Fig. 4, und

Fig. 8

in einer Darstellung gemäß Fig. 1 eine Anschlußklemmeinrichtung gemäß Fig. 7 mit einem nach oben hin verlängerten Gehäuse.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing. Show:

Fig. 1

a perspective external view of a terminal device with a housing and contact elements held in the housing,

Fig. 2

2 shows a top view II of the top of the connecting terminal device according to FIG. 1,

Fig. 3

1 shows a perspective view of a contact element,

Fig. 4

3 shows an alternative embodiment of the contact element,

Fig. 5

2 shows a cross section VV through the connection terminal device according to FIG. 1,

Fig. 6

2 shows a top view VI of the underside of the connection terminal device according to FIG. 1,

Fig. 7

6, the terminal device with a contact element according to FIG. 4, and

Fig. 8

in a representation of FIG. 1, a terminal device according to FIG. 7 with an upwardly extended housing.

The terminal device 1 shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 comprises a in several compartments lined up side by side 2.2 'divided housing 3. On the front 4 of the housing 3 there are several insertion funnels 5 placed. In the area of each insertion funnel 5, the housing 3 has an insertion opening 6 provided, each with an insertion opening 6 into the interior of each chamber 2.2 'opens. Each chamber 2,2 'contains a contact element 7, which with a solder pin 8 for connection to a circuit board from the bottom 9 of the housing 3 protrudes. As can be seen from Fig. 1, each insertion funnel 5 is over opened a substantially U-shaped slot 11 to the top 10. This Slot 11 serves as an insertion aid for one via the insertion funnel 5 and the insertion opening 6 into the chamber 2 to be introduced electrical conductor 12. Der aus der Insertion opening 6 protruding part of the conductor 12, usually with a Insulation 13 is covered, can after inserting the conductor 12 into the chamber 2 ' are bent towards the top 10 and passed through the slot 11. The Conductor 12 jams with its insulation 13 in the slot 11, thereby this acts as a strain relief for the conductor 12.

2, the contact element 7 is with the latter Body 20 arranged diagonally within the chamber 2,2 '. The contact element 7 extends from one side wall 21 or 21 'almost to an opposite one Side wall 21 'or 21 "of chamber 2 or 2'. One from body 20 of the contact element 7 angled connecting leg 22 runs parallel to the side walls 21, 21 ', 21 "and is centered between two adjacent ones Sidewalls 21,21 'and 21', 21 "arranged. Each connecting leg 22 carries at the end facing away from the body 20 from the bottom 9 of the housing 3 outstanding solder pin 8 (according to FIG. 1). The contact elements 7 two adjacent chambers 2 and 2 'are always rotated by an angle of 180 ° arranged to each other. For this reason, their connecting legs 22 in opposite directions.

The operation of the terminal device 1 is exemplary based on the in the chamber 2 'inserted conductor 12 illustrates. The head 12 will - like mentioned above - introduced into the insertion opening 6 via the insertion funnel 5. The Conductor 12 becomes inside the chamber 2 'in an opening axis 23 of the insertion opening 6 guided approximately coaxial conductor channel 24. This conductor channel 24 opens in a V-shaped clamping section 25, which from the side wall 21 'or 21 "and is formed diagonally on this body 20 of the contact element 7.

The conductor 12 is by means of the conductor channel 24 in the apex 26 of this clamping section 25 out. The holding edge 27 is held by the propagating conductor 12 of the contact element 7 bent out of the apex 26 and acted upon the conductor 12 in the direction of the side wall 21 ''. As a result of the diagonal position the contact element 7 acts in the manner of a barb. The conductor 12 is thus fixed against the insertion direction S. The conductor channel 24 is immediately on the contact element 7 brought up and in the region of the apex 26 to the side wall 21 ', 21 ". The conductor channel 24 thus acts as an abutment for the contact element 7 when loaded against the insertion direction S.

As from the perspective representation of the contact element 7 according to FIG. 3 becomes clear, its body 20 is plate-shaped, i.e. especially just executed. The body 20 is mirror-symmetrical with respect to its longitudinal axis 30 built up. Due to the mirror symmetry of the body 20, both are Longitudinal axis 30 parallel edges formed as holding edge 27. The body 20 thus goes with a rotation through an angle of 180 ° about the longitudinal axis 30 in yourself over. This enables the same contact element 7 to be used in the two installation positions shown with reference to chamber 2 or 2 '(according to Fig. 2).

Each holding edge 27 of the contact element 7 is close to the top 10 of the housing 3 (according to FIG. 1) aligned head side 31 of the contact element 7 an optional bulge 32. The body 20 is thus between the Bulges 32 narrowed like a neck. On the opposite side of the head 31 An L-shaped contact leg 33 connects to this side of the body. The Contact leg 33 is with the connecting leg aligned perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 30 22 attached to the body 20. The connecting leg 22 is there bent out of the plane 34 of the body 20 about the longitudinal axis 30. The Bending angle α between this body plane 34 and the connecting leg 22 is about 30 °. The connecting leg 22 is at right angles in a knee 35 into the solder pin 8, which is directed away from the body 20 parallel to the longitudinal axis 30 is. In the region of the body adjoining the connecting leg 22 20, an undercut 36 is formed on each holding edge 27. The Undercut 36 includes a barb-like projection 37, the sliding slope 38 facing the contact leg 33. The undercut also includes 36 a cavity 39, which on the head side of the projection 37 followed.

In a variant of the contact element 7 shown in FIG Head side 31, an insulation displacement contact 40 is formed. In the top 31 of the For this purpose, contact element 7 is an essentially U-shaped clamping slot 41 cut out. This clamping slot 41 is thus framed on both sides by one Contact knife 42. For making contact by means of the insulation displacement contact 40 becomes an electrical conductor, not shown, in the clamping slot 41 introduced. The two mutually facing cutting edges 43 of the contact knife 42 cut into the conductor material. This way, on the one hand an electrical contact is made. On the other hand, the conductor becomes non-positive fixed in the clamping slot 41.

According to the cross section shown in Fig. 5 through the terminal 1, the contact element 7 is positively in a groove-like housing guide 50 of the housing 3. The housing guide 50 is in the area of the underside 9 of the housing 3 and thus in particular in the direction of the holding edge 27 from the insertion opening 6 and the apex 26 of the clamping section 25 arranged. The contact element 7 thus behaves like a one-sided, flat leaf spring. As a result of the inclination of the contact element 7 and its lateral loading causes the contact element to be deformed as a combined bending and torsion deformation. The bulge 32 of the Contact element 7 is positioned in the apex 26. Between the contact element 7 and the not shown side wall 21 'or 21 "of the chamber 2 or 2' thus formed an approximately crescent-shaped recess 51 through which the to Implementation of a conductor 12 required bending of the contact element 7 reduced is. The contact element 7 slides out of the guide 50 prevents the undercuts 36, which in the material of the housing guide 50 intervene. When inserting the contact element 7 into the housing guide 50 material of the housing guide 50 is pressed into the cavity 39. The Contact element 7 is thus held positively in the housing guide 50.

The housing 3 is open at its top 10 and thus offers the possibility of Engagement of an operating lever 52, for. B. a screwdriver. By means of this Actuating lever or tool 52 in the area of the mouth of the conductor channel 24 between them and the contact element 7 is guided the contact element 7 is bent in this way by rotating the actuating tool 52 be that the retaining edge 27 a clamped conductor 12 (according Fig. 2) releases. This allows the conductor 12 to be easily loosened, but also a more flexible one Head 12 can be easily inserted. Is preferred on the top 10 of the housing 3 - for example in the region of the side wall 21 ', 21 "- a not shown here Bulge provided as a guide for the operating lever 52 to the Support the release process for the conductor 12.

A test contact can also be made via the open top 10 of the housing 3 53 (Fig. 1) are introduced into the chamber 2,2 '. The conductor 12 is therefore in accordance Fig. 2 up to the rear wall 54 (Fig. 1) of the housing 3, so that in the terminal space open at the top, d. H. the chamber 2, 2 'creates a contact zone, into which the test plug or test contact 53 can be inserted (FIG. 1). As a test contact 53, a so-called tuft plug is preferably used, the pin contact consists of individual slats 55 brought together at the ends, so that the test contact 53 itself has spring properties. The test contact 53 has a larger diameter than chamber 2, 2 ', so that it rests against the conductor 12 after insertion and contacts it directly. Since the test contact 53 itself only requires a particularly low current, this type of contact is sufficient for the desired test purposes.

Depending on the orientation of the contact element 7 in the housing 3, the solder pin 8 one of the two positions shown in FIG. 5. At from chamber 2 to everyone adjacent chamber 2 'alternately changing orientation of the contact element 7 thus results in a view of the underside 9 of the housing 3 according to FIG Fig. 6 shows a toothed arrangement of the solder pins 8. So an increased distance between the solder pins 8 of adjacent contact elements 7 is achieved. Since 8 leakage currents due to the particularly large distance between the solder pins are inhibited, the terminal 1 in this embodiment for a comparatively high voltage with a small housing size.

Fig. 7 shows the terminal device 1 with the insulation displacement contact 40 trained contact element 7, which in turn is positively in a groove-like housing guide 50 of the housing 3 lies. In this version is the terminal housing 3 extends upwards so that it the insulation displacement contact 40 includes. Bending or breaking the insulation displacement contact To avoid 40 when pushing on a conductor is that Terminal section 25 facing away from contact knife 42 in a guide or guide groove 56 of the housing 3 held. In Fig. 8 it can also be seen that the Housing 3 in front of and behind the insulation displacement contact 40 guide webs 57 or 58 for the conductor, which has this when inserted into the cutting edges 43 lead straight. Which form a corresponding guide groove for the conductor Guide webs 57.58 only clamp the insulation of the conductor without to cut through them. This will also provide strain relief for the electrical Clamping point reached.

Claims (14)

1. Screwless terminal clamping device with a housing (3) which has an insertion opening (6) for a lead (12) to be contacted and has a chamber (2, 2') in which a one-piece contact element (7) is held, thereby forming a clamping portion (25) which widens in an approximately V-shaped manner towards the insertion opening (6) as an extension of the latter, the contact element (7) comprising a clamping body (20) which is arranged diagonally in the chamber (2, 2') with respect to the opening axis (23) of the insertion opening (6) and has a holding edge (27) which is made to face a side wall (21', 22'') of the chamber (2, 2') at the apex (26) of the clamping portion (25), characterized in that the contact element (7) has a plate-shaped clamping body (20) which lies in a housing guide (50) of the housing (3), at a distance from the insertion opening (6) in the direction of the holding edge (27), with positive engagement in such a way that the contact element (7) undergoes a combined flexural and torsional deformation as a result of its slanting position and the force acting laterally on it when the lead (12) is pushed in.
2. Terminal clamping device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the contact element (7) has an L-shaped contact leg (33), which comprises a terminal limb (22), which is perpendicular to the holding edge (27) of the clamping body (20) and bent out from the plane (34) of the body, and also a solder pin (8), which is angled away from the said terminal limb in the opposite direction from the clamping body (20).
3. Terminal clamping device according to Claim 2, characterized in that the clamping body (20) is formed mirror-symmetrically with respect to its longitudinal axis (30) parallel to the holding edge (27), and in that the terminal limb (22) is bent away from the clamping body (20) along the longitudinal axis (30).
4. Terminal clamping device according to Claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the apex angle of the clamping portion (25) corresponds to the bending angle (α) of the terminal limb (22) with respect to the plane (34) of the body.
5. Terminal clamping device according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the clamping body (20) is fixed in the housing guide (50) by means of at least one undercut (36) engaging in the wall of the housing guide (50).
6. Terminal clamping device according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the holding edge (27) has a recess (32) at the apex (26) of the clamping portion (25).
7. Terminal clamping device according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the insertion opening (6) is extended for guiding the conductor (12) to be contacted up to a conductor channel (24) protruding into the clamping portion (25).
8. Terminal clamping device according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the insertion opening (6) is widened on the outer side of the housing (3) to form a tapered lead-in (5), the tapered lead-in (5) being at least partially open towards an upper side (10) of the housing.
9. Terminal clamping device according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the clamping body (20) has on its top side (31) an insulation-piercing contact (40) with two contact blades (42), between the mutually facing cutting edges (43) of which a U-shaped clamping slit (41) is formed.
10. Terminal clamping device according to Claim 9, characterized in that the contact blade (42) facing away from the apex (26) of the clamping portion (25) is fixed to the housing (3).
11. Terminal clamping device according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the housing (3) contains a number of chambers (2, 2'), the contact elements (7) of adjacent chambers (2, 2') being arranged such that they are always turned by an angle of 180° in relation to one another with respect to the longitudinal axis (30) parallel to the holding edge (27).
12. Terminal clamping device according to one of Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the housing (3) has an actuating opening which is arranged approximately as an extension of the holding edge (27) and through which an actuating lever (52) for bending open the contact element (7) can be inserted.
13. Terminal clamping device according to one of Claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the housing (3) has on its upper side (10) an opening leading into the chamber (2, 2') for the insertion of a test contact (53).
14. Terminal clamping device according to one of Claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the elastic flexural and torsional deformation of the contact element (7) which opens the clamping portion (25) is a flexural deformation along the longitudinal axis (30) parallel to the holding edge (27) and a torsional deformation about the longitudinal axis (30).

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