EP1276172B1 - Terminal block with a plurality of rows of connections and bridges - Google Patents

Abstract

At least one transverse lead (9) for forwarding potentials to adjacent plug socket strips (11) is galvanically coupled to at least one conductor terminal (7). The conductor terminals are located in several adjacent lines. The transverse leads are allocated to the conductor terminals in laterally offset manner, extending over all lines of conductor terminals. The adjacent conductor terminals in different lines, coupled to transverse leads are designed for connection of different potentials.

Description

The invention relates to a terminal block according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such terminal blocks are known per se, so from the generic DE-A-199027745. Another terminal with juxtaposed conductor terminals is known from DE 299 02 745 A1.

In many embodiments, the conductor terminals are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the DIN rail row, so that it is readily possible to assign the conductor terminals cross jumper for passing potentials of terminal to terminal block - for example, for power supply connectable to the terminal blocks initiators. However, there are installation situations in which both sides of the mounting rail only a small or relatively narrow space is available. In such cases, it is problematic or impossible to snap terminal blocks having a plurality of terminals (e.g., four or more) onto the mounting rail.

The solution to this problem is the object of the invention.

The invention solves this problem by the subject matter of claim 1.

Advantageous embodiments can be found in the dependent claims.

With the invention, the conductor terminals are arranged in a plurality of mutually parallel rows, each row having at least one conductor terminal. This makes it possible to realize a relatively short terminal block on both sides of the mounting rail. Moreover, it is also possible with the invention, arranged in the various rows, substantially adjacent to each other Wire connections assign cross jumpers, which allow the continuation of different potentials between lined up on the mounting rail terminal blocks.

Although modular terminal blocks are arranged in two or more rows of juxtaposed conductor terminals per se, such as from the generic DE 199 02 745 A1. There, the conductor connections have been realized as directly adjacent, galvanically interconnected double connections, whereas it allows the terminal block according to the invention, for example in initiator and / or Aktoranwendungen a particularly short terminal to realize, in which in different rows of adjacent conductor terminals also for connection from each other various potentials are available. The terminal block according to the invention therefore has only a very short length.

Preferably, the cross connections are designed as integrated sockets / plugs which automatically connect to one another when a plurality of terminal blocks are connected to one another.

Appropriately n-wire connections are provided, where: n = 2, 3, 4, 5 ...

Advantageous embodiments can be found in the dependent claims.

The invention will be explained in more detail by means of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawing.

Fig. 1 a

eine Seitenansicht einer ersten erfindungsgemäßen Reihenklemme;

Fig. 1b

eine Draufsicht auf die Reihenklemme aus Fig. 1a; und

Fig. 2

eine Seitenansicht einer zweiten erfindungsgemäßen Reihenklemme.

It shows:

Fig. 1 a

a side view of a first terminal according to the invention;

Fig. 1b

a plan view of the terminal block of Fig. 1a; and

Fig. 2

a side view of a second terminal according to the invention.

Fig. 1 shows a terminal 1 with an insulating material 3 with means 5 for latching on a (not shown here) support rail and a total of five conductor terminals 7a, 7b, ... 7e, wherein three of the conductor terminals - 7a, 7b, 7c - in one are arranged perpendicular to the support rail extension vertical first row and wherein the two further conductor terminals - 7d, 7e - are arranged in a second row parallel to the first row. The insulating housing 3 is double-shelled and thus has two housing halves 3a, 3b.

Unlike an arrangement of all the conductor terminals 7 in a single row, it is no longer possible in this way, for the transfer of terminal 1 to terminal 1 the conductor terminals 7 simply assign jumpers. According to Fig. 1b is therefore provided transverse jumpers 9 laterally offset to arrange the conductor terminals and connect them via perpendicular to the support rail aligned busbar pieces 11 with the conductor terminals, wherein the transverse jumpers 9 perpendicular to the Leiteransch Lußreihen extend over the two rows of conductor terminals.

For example, e.g. the conductor terminal 7e associated with a cross jumper 9e, which lies in Fig. 1 left of the conductor terminal 7e, whereas the conductor terminals 7c and 7b transverse jumpers 9c and 9b are assigned, which lie to the right of the associated conductor terminals 7c and 7b. The potentials "-", "+" and "PE" from terminal block 1 to terminal block 1 can be continued, for example, in the case of the terminal block of FIG. 1 with the three transverse jumpers 9 which can be plugged in here by way of example. The conductor terminals 7a and 7d are conductively connected to each other. The number and design of each provided in a terminal block conductor terminals can be made arbitrary depending on the requirements.

In the row with the terminals 7d and 7e is between these terminals, which are to the outer edge of the terminal out, a space for a relatively large-area marking 13 is present. The conductor terminals 7c and 7e are not directly adjacent to each other but perpendicular to the mounting rail slightly offset from each other, which u.a. visually facilitates the jumper assignment.

The thus configured - also formable as a block variant - terminal block with several rows of conductor terminals 7 is perpendicular to the mounting rail significantly shorter than a comparable terminal, in which all the conductor terminals 7 are in a single row and yet allows the continuation of potentials over several side by side in a simple manner arranged terminal blocks away. The terminal block is therefore particularly suitable for installation situations in which there is only a relatively short installation space available on both sides of the mounting rail.

It should be noted that the conductor terminals 7 are formed by way of example only as Zugfederanschlüsse. The conductor terminals 7 can also be connected in any other way e.g. be designed as screw connections or as cutting / clamping connections (IDC) (not shown here).

Fig. 2 shows a terminal with four conductor terminals, in which two terminals 7a, 7b in a first row and terminal 7c, 7d are arranged offset thereto, wherein the transverse jumpers 9b, 9c may be formed analogous to FIG.

It should also be noted that the transverse bridge or the cross-connection 9 can also be formed as a non-pluggable but integrated cross-connection.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

terminal

1

Insulated

3

housing halves

3a, 3b

Aufrastmittel

5

conductor connections

7

transverse links

9

Busbar pieces

11

Labelling

13

potentials

-, +, PE

Claims (11)

1. Terminal block with latching means (5) for latching onto a supporting rail comprising

   a) a plurality of conductor terminals (7) and

   b) at least one transverse link (9) galvanically connected to at least one of the conductor terminals for forwarding potentials to adjacent further terminal blocks (1),

   c) wherein the conductor terminals (7) are arranged in at least two rows located next to one another,

   d) wherein, furthermore, the transverse links (9) are arranged laterally offset with respect to the conductor terminals (7) and extend over all the rows of conductor terminals (7) located next to one another,
   characterised in that

   e) the conductor terminals (7) which are located substantially next to one another in the various rows and are connected to the transverse links (9) are designed at least partially for the connection of different potentials, and

   f) the conductor terminals (7) located next to one another are arranged in the various conductor terminal rows perpendicularly to the supporting rail, slightly offset with respect to one another.
2. Terminal block according to claim 1, characterised in that the terminal block has an insulating material housing, which has two housing halves (3a, 3b).
3. Terminal block according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the transverse links (9) are connected to the conductor terminals (7) via conductor rail pieces (11) aligned perpendicularly to a supporting rail.
4. Terminal block according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that the conductor terminals (7) are configured as tension spring terminals.
5. Terminal block according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that the conductor terminals (7) are configured as screw terminals.
6. Terminal block according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that the conductor terminals (7) are configured as insulation displacement terminals.
7. Terminal block according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the transverse links (9) are pluggable.
8. Terminal block according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the terminal block is designed as an initiator terminal or actuator terminal.
9. Terminal block according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that n-conductor terminals are provided, wherein n = 2, 3, 4, 5.
10. Terminal block according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the rows have a different number of conductor terminals (7), wherein it is possible to provide an identification between two of the conductor terminals (7).
11. Terminal block according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the transverse connections are configured as sockets/plugs, which automatically electrically connect to one another when mounting a plurality of terminal blocks side by side.

Images