EP1515397B1 - Connector clamp for a direct plug in connection of electrical conductors - Google Patents

Abstract

The connecting device (1) has a clamping spring (4) acting on a stripped conductor end (2) to clamp it against a support so the conductor can be directly inserted into the clamping point (5) without tools. The clamping spring has a first arm (6) with a window aperture (7) joined to a closed loop (8) ending in a clamping arm (9) that passes through the aperture, into which the conductor end can be inserted and clamped between the clamping arm and the window aperture wall or a current rail (3).

Description

The invention relates to a connection device according to the preamble of claim 1.

In addition, terminals for single-wire or stranded electrical conductors in direct plug-in technology have long been known, in which a U-shaped, open clamping spring engages in a busbar with a recess and a collar, which on the one hand is easy to install, but the problem is that relatively large forces when inserting and contacting conductors on other elements of the connection device, so must be transferred to a busbar or on a Isolierstoffgehäuse.

The DE 39 11 459 A1 shows a tension spring clamp.

A generic connection device is from the DE 35 14 099 A1 known. In this document, a connection terminal for two conductors to be joined together is known, in which a first flexible conductor can be inserted into a tension spring clamp, to which a leg of the tension spring clamp, which has a window-like recess, is opened by means of an actuating push button. A second solid conductor, however, can be pushed from the opposite side into a nip without the terminal must be opened Here, the conductor is pushed past a busbar, which opens the leg of the tension spring, which passes through the window-like recess. Since the entire tension spring is rotatably mounted on a pivot bearing, the structure is relatively complicated.

The invention has the object to solve this problem with the simplest possible design means.

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

Preferably, the first spring leg is fixed to the window-like recess on a busbar or other element, in particular immovable.

Advantageous embodiments can be found in the dependent claims.

The invention provides a connection device, which only consists of a clamping spring in the minimum case, which itself takes over the contacting function integrating. The clamping spring has a geometry that is reminiscent of a tension spring. The difference lies in the fact that a conductor from the opposite side - that is from the side of the resilient loop forth - automatically inserted into the window-shaped recess tool-free, there, for example, between the clamping leg, which passes through the window-shaped recess, and the edge of the Recess or a recess also passing through the busbar to be clamped.

Although this direction of insertion of the conductor is in principle in the DE 3514 097 C2 it can be seen, but there has not recognized that can be dispensed with a rotatable mounting of the tension spring when the spring leg with the recess (eg on the busbar or on a Isolierstoffgehäuse) fixed and unlike the prior art only the window passing through the free leg is mobile.

The thus formed clamp is readily connectable from one side without tools, whereas a conductor against the spring action without a tool is again removed from this.

The terminal thus offers high reliability at minimum cost and can be wired without tools and can be deactivated with a tool.

It is conceivable that the busbar has an all-round bordered or a recess open on one side, which favors the insertion of a conductor end.

According to the features of the sub-claims, the terminal device may be arranged in a different manner to a power rail, which brings the need for using another part - the busbar - with it, but on the other hand has the not to be underestimated advantage that spring and contact the Busbar respectively the most suitable materials can be selected, while the omission of a busbar a material compromise must be sought, namely a material which has both good resilient and good contacting properties.

Preferably, the bus bar is aligned in a straight line perpendicular to the recess, e.g. by repeatedly bent in its end to the clamping spring in particular by 90 °, that a kind of U-shaped space is formed at the end of the busbar, on which one side of the clamping springs is placed, so that the U-shaped space in an ideal manner serves as a multi-sided protected or closed receiving space for inserted conductor. In this variant, both the material waste on the busbar are minimized in particularly compact dimensions and optimizes the contacting properties in a particularly ideal manner.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer ersten Anschlußvorrichtung;

Fig. 2

eine perspektivische Ansicht der Anschlußvorrichtung aus Fig. 1 ein einer Aussparung eines Klemmengehäuses;

Fig. 3

das Ausführungsbeispiel aus Fig. 2 während des Entschaltens;

Fig. 4

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer zweiten Anschlußvorrichtung;

Fig. 5

eine Stromschiene für die Anschlussvorrichtung aus Fig. 4;

Fig. 6

eine dritte Anschlußvorrichtung für mehrere - hier zwei - Leiter in Reihe;

Fig. 7

eine vierte Anschlußvorrichtung für mehrere - hier zwei - Leiter in Reihe ;

Fig. 8

eine fünfte Anschlußvorrichtung für mehrere - hier zwei - Leiter nebeneinander;

Fig. 9

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer sechsten Anschlußvorrichtung;

Fig. 10

ein Klemmengehäuse mit weiteren Anschlussvorrichtungen; und

Fig11

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer siebten Anschlußvorrichtung.

The invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the drawing with reference to exemplary embodiments. It shows:

Fig. 1

a perspective view of a first connection device;

Fig. 2

a perspective view of the connecting device Fig. 1 a recess of a terminal housing;

Fig. 3

the embodiment Fig. 2 during disengagement;

Fig. 4

a perspective view of a second connection device;

Fig. 5

a busbar for the connection device Fig. 4 ;

Fig. 6

a third connection device for several - here two - conductors in series;

Fig. 7

a fourth connection device for several - here two - conductors in series;

Fig. 8

a fifth connection device for several - here two - conductors next to each other;

Fig. 9

a perspective view of a sixth connection device;

Fig. 10

a terminal housing with further connection devices; and

Fig11

a perspective view of a seventh connection device.

Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of a connecting device 1 for direct plug connection of a stripped conductor end 2. This has a busbar 3, on which acting as a compression spring on the conductor end 2 clamping spring 4 is arranged for clamping the conductor end 2 to the busbar 3, designed in such a way is that the conductor end 2 is inserted without tools directly into the nip 5 between the clamping spring 4 and busbar free of tools.

The clamping spring 4 has a first spring leg 6, which is provided with a window-like recess 7. At the first spring leg 6 with the window-like recess 7, the clamping spring 4 is arranged on the busbar (attached). Here it is aligned with the spring leg 6 parallel to the busbar and laid flat on this and / or fixed. The spring leg 6 may also be arranged remotely from the busbar leg (see Fig. 3 ).

Then it describes a closed loop 8, wherein it extends back in the loop 8 to the window-like recess 7 and this with a free clamping leg 9 - which here only has the width of the recess - passes. The free clamping leg 9 presses the conductor end 2 against the busbar. 3

The loop 8 has an elongated shape with two almost parallel aligned spring legs 10, 11 and a spring leg 10, 11 connecting elbow piece 12 and is inclined to the conductor insertion direction, in particular such that the angle α between the clamping leg and the conductor insertion L -. here vertically from above - less than 45 °, in particular less than 30 °.

The clamping spring 4 has a geometry which is reminiscent of the geometry of so-called tension spring connections. But it is arranged and designed such that a Ladder from the opposite side of the loop her tool-free inserted into it. A very particular advantage of this clamping spring 4 lies in the fact that it allows a direct plug-in connection on the one hand, because a conductor can be easily introduced into it but not readily pulled back against the edge in the region of the nip 5. For this purpose, the user rather needs a tool. In addition, on the other hand, it also offers the advantage of a self-contained system, ie, the clamping spring 4 itself absorbs all forces between the conductor end 2 and 4 clamping spring. For this purpose, it is advantageous if the spring leg 6 is fixed to the recess 7 on the busbar 3

The busbar 3 has a Eckwinkelform, wherein one of the two busbar legs 14, 15 of the busbar 3 for direct support of the first spring leg 6 with the window-like recess 7 and even has its own window-like recess 16, which with the window-like recess 7 of the first spring leg. 6 flees.

Preferably, the window-like recess 16 of the busbar 3 is formed by a punched, in particular such that still a busbar piece 17 is connected at one side to the busbar 3, which is bent such that it extends the busbar leg 15 through the recess 16 therethrough continues. A bulge 18 in the busbar 3 in the region of the clamping point 5 verbesser the contact between the busbar and conductor end. 2

FIG. 2 shows the arrangement of the connecting device 1 from FIG. 1 in an insulating material housing 19. This insulating housing 19 is provided with at least one window or at least one recess 20 into which the at least one (or more) connecting device (s) can be inserted laterally.

In this case, webs 21, 22 enforce the interior of the loop 8 to support the spring or as an abutment to fix the clamping spring 4 defined in Isolierstoffgehäuse and to ensure proper operation and limiting the spring movement.

A conductor insertion opening 23a is used to introduce the conductor end 2 in the nip. An insertion opening 23b on the other hand serves to insert an actuating tool 24 (FIG. Fig. 3 ) and thus enables the disconnection of the terminal device, which can be used in this arrangement, for example, for a terminal block.

When wiring, the conductor end 2 is simply inserted through the conductor insertion opening 22 in the connection device, whereby the clamping leg bends so that the clamping point 5 opens and the conductor end 2 in the clamping point 5 can be inserted and fixed there.

By means of trained as a screwdriver operating tool 24 ( FIG. 3 ), which is inserted into the insertion opening 23 b, it is possible to wegzubiegen the clamping leg 9 of the nip 5, so that it is possible to remove the conductor end 2.

FIG. 4 shows a variant too FIG. 1 , Which is characterized in that it is particularly clear that here the compression spring or clamping spring 4 is formed as a self-contained, the forces for contacting the conductor end 2 receiving system.

The busbar 3 'of Fig. 4 has the geometry of the FIG. 5 on, ie it is bent from a strip and has three busbar legs 25a, b, c, of which the central 25b is bent to transmit sufficiently large currents by 90 ° and such a side wall of the one-sided open recess 16 '(which facilitated by the conductor), allowing, due to its width and design, the transmission of sufficiently large currents in this area. On the busbar leg 25c, which is arranged at the nip 5, in turn, a bulge 26 is provided for contacting.

The clamping spring 4 is spaced here parallel to one of the busbar leg 25a. This spacing is realized by the busbar section 25b and a web 27, which is bent from the busbar leg 25a upwards in the direction of the clamping spring 4 and these spaced with their free ends.

The particular advantage is here in the good current-carrying property of the busbar 3 'in the recess 16' especially by the busbar section 25b side of the recess (or recess here) 16 ', which should also be emphasized that this busbar 3 is particularly favorable Punch-bending part can be manufactured.

Otherwise can be with this direct connection spring all variants of Figure 1 to 5 , but also, for example, multiple connections in the manner of FIG. 6 realize with two connection devices 1, 1 '.

In Fig. 6 are the two connection devices on a busbar 3 in the manner of Fig. 1 arranged, but which continues behind a fold 28 behind the first Klemmeder 4 to a second clamping spring 4 '. Here is also the position of the clamping springs 4 to see in the unused condition.

Fig. 7 shows an analogous arrangement with a busbar 3, which integrally connects two connection devices via a connecting web 29, which each according to the type of Fig. 4 and 5 are constructed.

Fig. 8 again shows the corresponding arrangement of two clamping springs 4, 4 'on a busbar 3, which in principle those of Fig. 1 resembles, parallel to each other.

This embodiment again differs from this embodiment FIG. 9 , Here pass through the two ends 30, 32 of the end portions respectively stepped, U-shaped busbar 31 vertically per a recess 7 in the first spring legs 6 of two clamping springs 4, wherein the clamping springs 4 rest on the gradations. This variant offers the particular advantage that the conductor does not have to enforce the busbar 3 at all, which makes the wiring even easier.

In particular, as can be seen, a through connection for an otherwise not shown through terminal 3 is easy to realize. Otherwise, the arrangement again corresponds to the arrangement of the FIG. 1 ff.

Fig. 10 shows the arrangement of two further connection devices with a spaced bus bar in a terminal housing 19, wherein the terminal housing 19 can take an additional supporting end function for the connecting devices and wherein the busbar of the right in this Fig. Connection device a U-shaped receiving space (as a deflection of the busbar formed) 33 in the insertion direction for receiving the conductor end. Again, at least one or more webs 21 that enforce the inside of the loop 8 serve to support the spring or as an abutment in order to fix the clamping spring 4 defined in the terminal housing 19 of insulating material and proper operation to serve here in the right portion of FIG guarantee.

The variant of Fig. 11 in turn has a busbar 3, which consists of a well-conductive metal strip which is repeatedly bent in its end to the clamping spring 4 in such particular 90 ° that a kind of U-shaped space 36 is formed at the end of the busbar 3. On this U-shaped space is laterally (perpendicular to the main extension plane of the busbar following the U) one of the clamping springs 4 in the manner of Fig. 1 placed so that the interior of the U-shaped space 36 serves as a receiving space for the conductor to be inserted. The recess 7 may be penetrated by a busbar piece 35 from the side of the busbar 4, which facilitates the contacting of a conductor or serves for contacting in interaction with the clamping leg 9 of the clamping spring 4. The clamping leg 9 has two turns against the direction of the bend of the loop 8, which optimize the function.

This variant is structurally particularly easy to implement and yet has particularly good connection properties.

All variants of the preceding figures and claims are suitable in principle for use in or on insulating housings 19 of terminal blocks or other terminal units and modules, eg also for use directly on or in electrical devices of all kinds such as shooters and the like .. All variants are also can be realized as multiple connections and it can also be realized further busbar geometries with the illustrated clamping spring.

reference numeral

connecting device

1

Manifold

1, 1 '

conductor end

2

conductor rail

3, 3 ', 3 "

feather

4

nip

5

first spring leg

6

recess

7

loop

8th

clamping leg

9

parallel legs

10, 11

elbow

12

Bus bar legs

14, 15

recess

16

Busbar piece

17

bulge

18

Insulated

19

recess

20

web

21

web

22

insertion

23a, b

screwdriver

24

Bus bar legs

25a, b, c

bulge

26

web

27

folding

28

joint

29

end up

30.32

conductor rail

31

accommodation space

33

pad

34

Busbar piece

35

angle

α

Claims (18)

1. Connector clamp (1) for connecting a stripped electrical conductor (2) with a clamping spring (4) which acts like a compression spring on the electrical conductor in order to clamp the electrical conductor (2) to a counter bearing,

   a) the clamping spring (4) being designed such that it is possible to insert the conductor tool-free directly into the clamping point (5) without an actuating tool,

   b) the clamping spring (4) having a first spring leg (6) which is provided with a window-like recess (7),

   c) there being connected to the first spring leg (6) a closed loop (8) terminating in a clamp leg (9) which passes through the window-like recess (7) in such a manner that the electrical conductor (2), which can be plugged into the window-like recess (7) from the side of the loop (8), can be clamped as a counter bearing tool-free in a direct plug-in connection and form a contact between the clamp leg (9) and a wall of the window-like recess (7) or a conductor rail (3) passing through the recess,
   characterised in that

   d) the first spring leg (6) with the window-like recess (7) is positioned on a conductor rail (3) or other element in such a manner that it is unable to move.
2. Connector clamp in accordance with claim 1,
   characterised in that
   the first spring leg (6) lies at a distance from a conductor rail leg (25a).
3. Connector clamp in accordance with claim 1 or 2,
   characterised in that
   the closed loop (2) also has two spring legs (10, 11) which are positioned essentially parallel to one another and are connected to one another by a curved part (12), the parallel spring legs (10, 11) being oriented at an angle of less than 45°, in particular less than 30°, in relation to the direction of insertion (L) of the electrical conductor.
4. Connector clamp in accordance with one of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that
   the conductor rail (3) has a recess (16') which is bounded on all sides.
5. Connector clamp in accordance with one of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that
   the conductor rail (3') has a recess (16') which is open on one side.
6. Connector clamp in accordance with one of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that
   the window-like recess (7) of the clamping spring (4) is placed on the conductor rail (3) in such a manner that its recess (4) lies flush with the recess (16) in the conductor rail (3).
7. Connector clamp in accordance with one of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that
   the first spring leg (6) is oriented perpendicular to the recess (16) in the conductor rail (3) and the conductor rail (3) passes through the recess.
8. Connector clamp in accordance with one of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that
   one end of the conductor rail (3) has a tapering stepped section on which the recess (7) of the clamping spring (4) rests.
9. Connector clamp in accordance with one of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that
   two or more of the clamping springs (4) are positioned in parallel next to one another on a single conductor rail.
10. Connector clamp in accordance with one of the preceding claims,
    characterised in that
    two or more of the clamping springs (4) are positioned in series one after another on a single conductor rail.
11. Connector clamp in accordance with one of the preceding claims,
    characterised i n that
    the conductor rail part (3) is designed as a corner angle.
12. Connector clamp in accordance with one of the preceding claims,
    characterised in that
    the conductor rail (3) is designed as a stamped/bent part.
13. Connector clamp in accordance with one of the preceding claims,
    characterised in that
    the first spring leg (6) lies parallel to and a certain distance from one of the conductor rail legs (25a).
14. Connector clamp in accordance with one of the preceding claims,
    characterised by
    an arrangement in or on an electrical device.
15. Connector clamp in accordance with one of the preceding claims,
    characterised by
    an arrangement in an insulating case (19) of a connector module, in particular a terminal block.
16. Connector clamp in accordance with one of the preceding claims,
    characterised in that
    the conductor rail (3) is oriented perpendicular to the recess (7).
17. Connector clamp in accordance with one of the preceding claims,
    characterised in that
    the end area of the conductor rail (3) near the clamping spring (4) is bent several times at an angle of 90° in particular so as to form a type of U-shaped space (36) at the end of the conductor rail (3) on which one of the clamping springs (4) is placed laterally such that the U-shaped space (36) serves as a receiving space for electrical conductors to be inserted into it.
18. Connector clamp in accordance with claim 17,
    characterised i n that
    a part of the conductor rail (35) passes through the recess (7).

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