EP1657789B1 - Connection device for direct connection of conductor ends, and electrical apparatus including such a connection device - Google Patents

Abstract

Device has a V-shaped leaf spring (4), and a bus bar (3) with a U-shaped trough (9). A conductor is guided into the trough in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal blade of the trough. A contact point is arranged between a free end of a contact tongue of the spring and a lug of the bus bar, such that the conductor end is inserted into the contact point by an open end of the trough.

Description

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

There are already long terminals for single or stranded electrical conductors in direct plug technology known in which engages in a bus bar with a recess and a collar, a leaf spring, which on the one hand easy to install, on the other hand brings the problem that relatively large forces must be transferred directly to elements of an insulating material as an abutment when inserting and contacting conductors of the leaf spring. Such a state of the art show the DE 28 25 291 C1 and the EP 1 391 965 A1

The generic US 2003/0194918 A1 According to the preamble of claim 1 shows a arranged in a metallic clamping cage leaf spring, which is adapted to press a conductor against an end of a right angle, engaging in the clamping cage busbar.

Compared to the prior art, as it is known from the above-mentioned writings, an easy to manufacture and reliable connection device is to be created in direct plug technology. The busbar should also allow a particularly secure power line and high currents.

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

This clamp offers a high level of functional reliability with minimum costs and can be easily switched on and off.

The field of application of this connection device is virtually unlimited, because it is suitable for electrical equipment of all kinds such as terminal blocks or contactors.

A very particular advantage over solutions in which a conductor is inserted into the axially free ends of the trough parallel to the base leg, is that can be easily realized with the invention connecting devices with multiple terminal points, so that on a single trough-like busbar in the longitudinal direction the busbar to each other offset a plurality of leaf springs are set in the same direction and / or in opposite directions arrangement in the trough, so that a plurality of terminal points are formed on a single busbar.

Particularly preferably, both the leaf spring and the busbar are designed simply as stamped / bent parts from sheet metal blanks and inexpensive to produce.

The connection device is also connectable from one side without a tool with a conductor end, whereas the head against the spring action is not removable without a tool back out of the terminal. Furthermore, the trough-type busbar can also safely conduct larger currents, since there is a sufficiently large conductor cross-section at each point on at least one wall of the trough, which represents a great advantage in particular. Although unlike other constructions, the U-shaped bills require two side walls, but these are relatively narrow interpreted, since the construction of this bus bar is particularly stable. Despite the two side walls, it is therefore surprisingly possible to realize connections and in particular terminal blocks with such terminals, which are relatively narrow build relative to the conductor width and yet are suitable for transmitting larger currents or services without individual critical points as in the currently known Heat the state of the art excessively.

According to one of the variant of claim 1 with a small width and minimum manufacturing costs, the leaf spring on a U- or V-shape with two longitudinal limbs, which are connected to each other via a bend, wherein the leaf spring is arranged and aligned in the trough that the free Ends of the two spring legs in the Intervene trough and project the bend or tip on the side facing away from the base of the trough open side of the trough upwards.

Thus, the busbar, which preferably encloses the leaf spring like a cage, takes on significant forces of the loading and unloading process.

Alternatively, the leaf spring may have a closed loop shape with two longitudinal legs. Thereafter, the spring itself essentially absorbs the forces acting on it during insertion.

Variants of these two embodiments will be given below and in the subclaims.

Preferably, the leaf spring is held in a simple manner exclusively at its first spring leg in the busbar - in particular on the side walls of the trough - and the busbar is formed as a well-conductive sheet metal punched / bent part.

The connection of the leaf spring (s) can be realized in a simple manner by freeing a lobe from the base leg of the trough with its two longitudinal limbs and aligned from the base leg of the trough either parallel to the base leg or bent vertically upwards or z-shaped, so that a first window-like recess is formed in the base leg of the trough, wherein the first spring leg is supported directly or on / in a recess on the cloth.

In addition, it is useful for supporting the leaf spring when bent at the free ends of the longitudinal leg of the trough in each case in the region in which the first spring leg from the trough upwards, lances punched from the busbar inwardly toward the leaf spring, the engage in corresponding recesses in the first spring leg and this additionally supported on the busbar and hold.

To form a nip, the second spring leg extends with its free end, which is formed at an angle to the base leg of the trough, obliquely into the trough, where the free end of the second spring leg rests against a busbar piece, which is integrally connected to the trough.

At the free axial ends of the busbar, it makes sense, when the busbar piece is bent from one of the two longitudinal legs of the U-shaped trough in the direction of the trough interior inwards.

On the other hand, it is advantageous between the free axial ends of the busbar when the busbar piece is freed on several sides from the base leg of the trough and is bent upwards out of the base leg of the trough.

Appropriately, the base leg of the trough below the nip between the leaf spring and the busbar piece such or by another free punching on another recess, which serves to accommodate or carry the conductor end.

The invention also makes an electrical device feasible, in particular a terminal block, a printed circuit board, a contactor or the like, which is provided with one or more connecting devices according to the invention.

Further advantageous embodiments can be found in the remaining subclaims.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer ersten Anschlußvorrichtung im nicht beschalteten Zustand;

Fig. 2

eine Schnittansicht der Anschlussvorrichtung aus Fig. 1 im nicht beschalteten Zustand;

Fig. 3

eine Schnittansicht der Anschlussvorrichtung aus Fig. 1 im beschalteten Zustand;

Fig. 4

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer Blattfeder für die Anschlussvorrichtung aus Fig.1;

Fig. 5

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer Stromschiene für die Anschlussvorrichtung aus Fig.1;

Fig. 6

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer Anschlussvorrichtung mit mehreren Klemmstellen und Blattfedern an einer gemeinsamen Stromschiene;

Fig. 7

eine weitere perspektivische Ansicht der Anschlussvorrichtung aus Fig. 6 mit nur teilweise dargestellter Stromschiene;

Fig. 8

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Teils eines Klemmengehäuses mit einer Anschlussvorrichtung nach Art der Fig. 1 im nicht beschalteten Zustand;

Fig. 9

das Klemmengehäuse mit der Anschlussvorrichtung der Fig. 8 im beschalteten Zustand;

Fig. 10

eine weitere Anschlussvorrichtung in einer Auslegung als Leiterplattenklemme; und

Fig. 11

eine weitere Anschlussvorrichtung in Verbindung mit einem Erdanschluss für eine Tragschiene;

Fig. 12

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer weiteren Anschlußvorrichtung im nicht beschalteten Zustand, die eine erste alternative Art der Fixierung der Blattfeder an dem Trog veranschaulicht;.

Fig. 13

eine Schnittansicht der Anschlussvorrichtung aus Fig.12 im nicht beschalteten Zustand;

Fig. 14

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer weiteren Anschlußvorrichtung im nicht beschalteten Zustand, die eine weitere alternative Art der Fixierung der Blattfeder an dem Trog veranschaulicht;

Fig. 15

eine Schnittansicht der Anschlussvorrichtung aus Fig.14 im nicht beschalteten Zustand;

Fig. 16

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer trogartigen Stromschiene mit einem Schloss; und

Fig. 17

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer weiteren Anschlußvorrichtung im nicht beschalteten Zustand, die eine schlaufenförmige Blattfeder aufweist

Fig. 18 -20

verschiedene Ansichten einer weiteren erfindungsgemäßen 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 in the non-connected state;

Fig. 2

a sectional view of the connection device of Figure 1 in the non-connected state.

Fig. 3

a sectional view of the connecting device of Figure 1 in the connected state.

Fig. 4

a perspective view of a leaf spring for the connection device of Figure 1;

Fig. 5

a perspective view of a busbar for the connection device of Figure 1;

Fig. 6

a perspective view of a connecting device with a plurality of clamping points and leaf springs on a common busbar;

Fig. 7

another perspective view of the connection device of Figure 6 with only partially shown busbar.

Fig. 8

a perspective view of a portion of a terminal housing with a connection device of the type of Figure 1 in the non-connected state.

Fig. 9

the terminal housing with the connection device of Figure 8 in the connected state.

Fig. 10

another connection device in a design as a PCB terminal; and

Fig. 11

another connection device in conjunction with a ground connection for a mounting rail;

Fig. 12

a perspective view of another terminal device in the non-connected state, which illustrates a first alternative way of fixing the leaf spring to the trough.

Fig. 13

a sectional view of the connecting device of Figure 12 in the non-connected state;

Fig. 14

a perspective view of another connecting device in the non-connected state, which illustrates a further alternative way of fixing the leaf spring to the trough;

Fig. 15

a sectional view of the connection device of Figure 14 in the non-connected state;

Fig. 16

a perspective view of a trough-like busbar with a lock; and

Fig. 17

a perspective view of another connecting device in the non-connected state, which has a loop-shaped leaf spring

Fig. 18-20

different views of another connecting device according to the invention ..

Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of a connection device 1, which allows the connection of a stripped conductor end 2 of a conductor in the so-called tool-free Direktsteckverfahren (Fig. 3).

The connecting device has a busbar 3, which is formed into a trough 9, in which a force acting as a compression spring on the conductor end 2 V-shaped leaf spring 4 is arranged for clamping the conductor end 2 to the busbar 3, which is designed such that the Conductor end 2 is inserted directly into the nip 5 between the leaf spring 4 and the busbar and tool-free.

The V-shaped leaf spring 4 (see Fig. 2), which is bent from a strip-like sheet metal blank, has a first spring leg 6, which is aligned perpendicular to the base leg of the U-shaped trough 9 and one aligned here at an angle and with the first Spring leg 6 via a second bending connected spring leg 7, the contact leg, which is preferably aligned at an angle of 30 to 60 °, here approximately at an angle of 45 ° to the first spring leg 7.

Thus, the free ends of the two spring legs 6, 7 are directed to the base leg of the bottom of the trough 9 out and the two spring legs 6, 7 connecting bend 27 and tip protrudes from the trough 9 upwards.

The leaf spring 4 is held at its first spring leg 6 in the busbar 3, which is formed as a punched / bent part of good stromleitendem sheet metal.

For the production of the busbar 3, an approximately rectangular sheet metal 8 is first bent into a U- or channel shape, so that the trough 9 with its two longitudinal legs 12, 13 and a perpendicular thereto base leg 39 is formed. Then, from the base leg 39 of the trough 9, a U-shaped tab 10 is freed on three sides and bent from the bottom of the trough by about 90 ° upwards, so that in the base leg 39 of the trough a window-like recess 11 is formed.

The free end of the first spring leg 6 is then at least supported on the tab 10 and possibly additionally fastened (for example by stapling and / or embossing), so that the first spring leg 6 protrudes upward from the base leg 39 of the trough upwards out of the trough.

The width of the trough 9 corresponds substantially to the width of the leaf spring 4, so that it fills the free u-shaped cross-section in the trough 9 and extends from one longitudinal leg 12 to the other longitudinal leg 13. It is conceivable Also, that it is slightly wider than the trough and - the trough 9 slightly widening when inserting - clamped in the same sits.

The first spring leg 6 is supported on one side on the side facing away from the second spring leg 7 on the tab 10 from. The width of the trough 9 substantially corresponds to the width of the spring legs. The other spring leg 7 is supported on the busbar 18, so that the spring is held in the trough 9 mounting.

From the two longitudinal legs 12, 13 of the trough 9 are at the free ends of the longitudinal legs 12, 13 in each case in the region in which the first spring leg 6 protrudes from the trough, punched tabs 14,15 from the busbar bent inward, the in corresponding recesses (eg rounded punch-outs) 16, 17 engage in the first spring leg 6. As a result, the first spring leg 6 is stabilized and supported and held in the trough.

The second spring leg 7 extends at its free end, which is formed at an angle to the base leg 39 of the trough, obliquely in the direction of the bottom of the trough 9. It rests against a busbar piece 18 which is formed as an approach of one of the longitudinal legs 12, the bent from one of the two longitudinal legs of the U-shaped trough 9 in the direction of the trough interior at right angles inwards.

Thus, the nip 5 is formed between the free end of the second spring leg 7 and the busbar extension 18, in which from the open side of the trough forth the conductor end 2 is tool-free plug-in technology plugged. Since the busbar 3 is provided in the base leg 39 below the nip 5 with a further recess 19 (Fig. 3), which is formed by the fact that a further busbar piece 22 from the base leg 39 of the busbar on three sides and cleared in the area of the plane is bent below the one longitudinal leg, the conductor end 2 is inserted over the base leg 39 of the trough 9 also in the nip, where it is contacted at two bumps 20, 21 (see Fig. 3) on the busbar approach 18. Above the one contact bump, the busbar piece 18 has a projection.

Such a simple tool-free contactable terminal device in direct plug technology is realized with the simplest means, which is characterized by a simple structure and yet is very reliable, in particular, since the trough-type busbar 3 substantially absorbs all forces at the terminal point 5 and also has a sufficient large current conductivity due to their geometry.

The free end of the contact leg 7 of the leaf spring 4 is designed and arranged (flattening 28, Fig. 4) that a conductor in the switched position pressed well on the busbar and is self-locking secured against pulling out of the nip.

On the basis of the connecting device 1 can be realized on a single trough-like busbar 3 in accordance with a longer design of the busbar 3 and multiple connections. For this purpose, leaf springs 4 are arranged in a plurality of axially staggered points in the extended, further trogartig shaped busbar.

Thus, on the one hand, it is possible to form one of the connection devices 1 in the manner of FIG. 1 at both free ends of the trough-like busbar, in which case the contact legs 7 of the two leaf springs 4 are oriented in opposite directions. Such an arrangement is shown in FIG. 11.

In addition, further leaf springs 4 can be arranged between the two end leaf springs 4, wherein the other leaf springs 4 are fixed with their first spring legs 6 each in the manner of Fig. 1 to the busbar and wherein the busbar pieces 18 at the terminal points in each case on three sides Base legs 39 of the trough 9 are freed and bent from the bottom of the trough 9 substantially vertically upwards.

In this way, any number of connections to a connection device 1 can be realized either in the same direction and / or in the opposite direction.

Optional punched holes 23 in the busbar can be used for a stripper 24 of a cross connector device or for the test tap (FIGS. 6 and 7).

The busbars 3 can be easily arranged on electrical devices of various kinds, in particular in terminal blocks with Isolierstoffgehäusen 25 (see FIG. 8 and 9) or shooters (not shown here) or the like. Or to circuit boards 26 (see Fig. 10).

In the insulating housing 25 can webs 29a, b engage between the busbar legs, for example, a stop limit for the leaf spring and the screwdriver when loosening (web 29b) or a spring abutment (web 29a, the leg 6 in a slot between itself and another Web 29c of the insulating housing fixed) form.

In the Isolierstoffgehäusen a first opening 30 is formed above the nip in order to insert a conductor (Fig. 8. Fig. 9) without tools in the nip and a second opening 31 side of the nip above the contact leg to the conductor end 2 at the Release clamping point by the contact leg 7 of the leaf spring 4, for example is depressed by a second screwdriver 32 through the second opening 31, so that the conductor from the insulating housing 25 can be pulled.

Fig. 10 shows a variant in which the busbar 3 is provided here with two exemplary integrally formed with the busbar 3 Lötbeinchen 33, which are used in holes 34 of the circuit board 26, so that the connection device can also be used on circuit boards. An outer housing 35 with openings 36, 37 for loading and unloading can be placed on the printed circuit board 26 via the connection device.

Finally, FIG. 11 shows a variant in which the bus bar of a further connection device 1 is provided with two clamping points and leaf springs 4 and wherein a further bus bar 38 is formed or attached to the bus bar 3, which is directly or via contact springs or the like for contacting a carrier rail can be used. In this way, for example, a PE connection can be realized with simple means.

Fig. 12 and 13 show a first variant of Fig. 1, in which the first spring leg 6 in its engaging in the trough 9 end portion has a window-like recess 41 into which a Z-shaped angled tabs 42 extends from the base leg 39 of the trough is cleared and bent out. With that supports itself this spring on the one hand on the tab 42 and on the other hand with the second spring leg on the busbar approach 18 from.

The lobes 14,15, which are bent inwardly from the busbar and simply serve as an abutment for the busbar or engage in corresponding recesses 16, 17 in the first spring leg 6, can in turn be provided in addition. It is also conceivable that they are omitted in this variant, since the z-shaped flap already provides a safeguard against pulling out the spring. The further support takes place on the busbar approach 18. As a result, the first spring leg 6 is again kept very stable in the trough.

Fig. 14 shows a further variant of FIG. 1, where the first spring leg 6 in turn has a recess 44 which lies at the level of the bottom of the trough, so that the first spring leg slightly above the base leg 39 of the trough 9 down or protrudes outside. In the recess, in turn, a tab 43 extends - or here a piece of the base leg 39 of the trough 9 - into it. This is not bent here but cut free on three sides in the base leg 39 of the trough 9, so that the first spring leg 6 is pushed with its recess 44 in the plane of the base leg 39 of the trough 9 on this lobe 43. Thus, this spring is supported on the one hand on the tab 43 and on the other hand again on the busbar. The lobes 14,15, which are bent inwards from the busbar can in turn be provided in addition or - as shown here - omitted. In any case, the leaf spring 4 is again kept very stable in the trough.

Fig. 16 illustrates how the busbar extension 18 is bent from one of the longitudinal legs 12 and extends to the other longitudinal leg, where a projection 45 and a corresponding recess 46 of the busbar or the corresponding longitudinal leg lock-like mesh and so a stable cage or frame form, on which the leaf spring can be supported safely.

Fig. 17 shows a perspective view of another connecting device in the non-connected state, which has a loop-shaped leaf spring 53. On the trough 9 - here on the open side - the leaf spring 53 is arranged for clamping the conductor end to the bus bar approach 18, which is designed such that the Ladder end without operating tool directly into the nip 55 between the leaf spring 4 and busbar extension 18 is inserted tool-free.

The leaf spring 53 has a first spring leg 56, which is provided with a window-like recess 57. At the first spring leg 56 with the window-like recess 57, the clamping spring is arranged on the trough 9 as a busbar. Here it is placed on the open side of the trough 9 on the edges of the longitudinal legs 12, 13, wherein it is penetrated by the projection 40 of the busbar section 18, which is bent so that it the loop-shaped leaf spring 53 against removal from the trough secures in the region of the clamping point 55.

In this way, the leaf spring is aligned with the spring leg 56 parallel to the busbar and placed flat on the trough and / or attached thereto. Then, the leaf spring describes a closed loop 58, wherein it extends in the loop 58 outside the trough to the window-like recess 57 back and this with a free clamping leg 59 - which here only has the width of the recess - passes. The free clamping leg 59 presses the conductor end against the busbar extension 18.

The loop 58 has an elongated shape and is aligned substantially inclined to the conductor insertion direction, in particular such that the angle α between the clamping leg and the conductor insertion L - here perpendicular from above - less than 45 °, in particular less than 30 °.

This leaf and clamping spring 53 thus surprisingly has a geometry which is reminiscent of the geometry of so-called tension spring connections. But it is arranged and designed so that a conductor from the opposite side of the loop 58 ago tool-free in the nip is inserted. A very particular advantage of this clamping spring 53 in turn lies in the fact that on the one hand it allows a direct plug-in connection, because a conductor can be easily introduced into it but not easily pulled back against the edge in the region of the nip 55. 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 53 itself absorbs all forces between the conductor end and clamping spring 53. It is only necessary that the spring leg 56 is fixed with the recess 57 on the busbar or the trough 9.

Another particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 18 to 20.

Also, the terminal device shown in these figures has a bus bar 3, which is formed to the trough 9, in which the V-shaped leaf spring 4 is arranged.

The V-shaped leaf spring 4 is also bent from a strip-like sheet metal blank and has the first spring leg 6, which is aligned perpendicular to the base leg of the U-shaped trough 9 and the angle thereto and aligned with the first spring leg 6 via a bend second Spring leg 7, the contact leg. There are also in turn the free ends of the two spring legs 6, 7 directed to the base leg of the bottom of the trough 9 out and the two spring legs 6, 7 connecting bend 27 and tip protrudes from the trough 9 upwards.

As in Fig. 1, the leaf spring 4 is also held at its first spring leg 6 in the busbar 3. In the base leg 39 of the trough, in turn, a window-like recess - here provided with the reference numeral 11 - is formed. The recess 19 allows a passage of the conductor through the bottom 39 of the trough 9. Between the recesses 11, 19, a wall 68 in the bottom of the trough 9 is formed.

The width of the leaf spring in the region of the bend substantially corresponds to the width of the trough 9, that is, in this area, the full available space is optimally utilized. This can be seen in particular from the installation situation of FIG. 20. Only in the region engaging in the trough, the leaf spring 4 then tapers in the region of its legs 6, 7 substantially to the inner width of the trough 9. The width of the trough 9 corresponds substantially to the width of the leaf spring 4, so that this in the trough 9 fills the free U-shaped cross-section and extends from one longitudinal leg 12 to the other longitudinal leg 13. This in turn is the entire width of the clamping leg for inserting a conductor with a maximum of this width corresponding diameter available. On the side walls of the trough 9, the conductor can not dodge and is held securely.

The clamping leg 7 in turn abuts against a busbar piece 18, which is provided for contact optimization with a punched-60 with a clamping edge 61 that optimizes the conductor contacting.

From the two longitudinal legs 12, 13 of the trough 9 are at the free ends of the longitudinal legs 12, 13 respectively in the region in which the first spring leg 6 engages in the trough, stamped lobes 14,15 from the busbar inwardly (in Fig. 18 is visible only one of the two lobes).

These tabs 14, 15 close here in each case at slots 66, in which engages the spring 4 with its full width in this area width in the edge region, so that the leaf spring 4 is held and supported in this embodiment substantially in the region of these slots 66. Almost all of the forces involved in inserting a conductor are supported in this area. The inwardly bent tabs 14, 15 act to stabilize and hold in an advantageous multiple function in addition to the busbar piece 18 of the trough in the axially adjacent next terminal and support this (Fig. 19). In addition, the busbar pieces 18 are supported with their out of the trough projecting areas in the insulating material, such. in a terminal block housing - Fig. 19 -, which has a support edge 62.

Indentations 63 in the longitudinal legs 12, 13 and side walls of the trough 19, which engage in corresponding side recesses 64 in the one leg of the leaf spring 4, secure them against unintentional pulling up from the trough 9. A in a lower opening of the base leg the trough 9 engaging lower narrow end portion 65 of the leaf spring 4, which preferably does not project beyond the lower edge of the base leg, additionally prevents inadvertent rotation of the leaf spring 4 by the region of its support in the slots 66 in the side walls or longitudinal legs 12, 13 of the Troughs, where the leaf spring 4 is held securely and the forces acting upon insertion of a conductor forces are supported.

Since there are two large side walls, the situation at the bottom 39 of the trough 9, unlike other constructions, for example, with passage at the bottom of the trough is not critical. The side walls or longitudinal legs 12, 13 always ensure sufficient current carrying capacity and still take over the holding and Ausziehsicherungsfunktion. Although these functions throw in terms of the design of the longitudinal legs some constraints on. However, this is not critical here, since nevertheless a sufficient cross section is available through the longitudinal legs 12, 13.

Finally, it should be mentioned that the leg 6 of the leaf spring 4 has a gradation 67, which greatly simplifies a machine assembly, since it forms a distinguishing feature that distinguishes the differently shaped legs - clamping legs and holding legs - 6, 7 and thus the orientation of the Leaf spring 4 facilitates assembly.

reference numeral

connecting device

1

conductor end

2

conductor rail

3

leaf spring

4

nip

5

spring leg

6

spring leg

7

metal sheet

8th

trough

9

cloth

10

recess

11

longitudinal leg

12, 13

cloth

14, 15

recesses

16, 17

Busbar approach

18

recess

19

Contact humpback

20, 21

outs

23

plug

24

Insulated

25

PCBs

26

bend

27

flattening

28

Stege

29a, b

openings

30, 31

screwdriver

32

solder tail

33

drilling

34

About housing

35

openings

36.37

conductor rail

38

base leg

39

head Start

40

recess

41

cloth

42

cloth

43

recess

44

approach

45

recess

46

leaf spring

53

nip

55

first spring leg

56

recess

57

loop

58

clamping leg

59

punching

60

clamping edge

61

supporting edge

62

indentations

63

recesses

64

end

65

gradation

67

wall

68

Claims (27)

1. Connection device (1) for the connection of a stripped conductor end (2), with:

   a) at least one leaf spring (4, 53) that acts on the conductor end as a compression spring to clamp the conductor end (2) firmly onto a contact rail (3),

   b) the leaf spring (4, 53) being designed in such manner that the conductor end (2) can be inserted directly into the clamping position (5) without any actuation device and without the use of tools,
   characterised in that

   c) the contact rail is formed as a channel-like, U-shaped trough (9) with a bottom section (39) and two longitudinal flanks (12, 13), and

   d) the arrangement and design of the leaf spring (4, 53) are such that a conductor can be inserted into the trough (9) from a direction perpendicular to the said bottom section (39) of the trough (9), for which purpose the leaf spring is arranged and orientated in the trough (9) in such manner that the free ends of the two spring arms (6, 7) engage in the trough and its bent portion (27) or apex projects upwards out of the trough (9) on the open side facing away from the bottom section (39) of the trough, or the leaf spring has a first spring arm (56) which is provided with a window-like aperture (57) and is placed on the edges of the longitudinal flanks (12, 13), such that the loop extends from the first spring arm in a curve to the window-like aperture (57), passing through a free clamping arm (59), and

   e) on the one trough-like contact rail (3), offset relative to one another along the length (L) of the contact rail (3), there are arranged in the trough (9) several leaf springs in the same and/or opposing orientations, so that several clamping points are formed on one and the same contact rail.
2. Connection device according to Claim 1, characterised in that the leaf spring (4) is V-shaped with two longitudinal arms (6, 7) connected with one another via a bent portion (27).
3. Connection device according to Claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the first spring arm (6) encloses an angle of about 30° to 60° with the second spring arm (7), the contact arm.
4. Connection device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the from the bottom section (39) of the trough (9) with its two longitudinal flanks (12, 13) a tab (10) extending from the said bottom section (39) is bent approximately perpendicular upwards so that a window-like aperture (11) is formed in the bottom section (39) of the trough, and the first spring arm is supported against the said tab (10).
5. Connection device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the width of the trough (9) corresponds essentially with the width of the leaf spring (4), so that the latter fills the free U-shaped cross-section of the trough (9) and extends from one longitudinal flank (12) to the other longitudinal flank (13),
6. Connection device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the leaf spring (4) is slightly wider than the trough (9) and is clamped firmly in the trough while expanding it slightly.
7. Connection device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that at the free ends of the longitudinal flanks (12, 13) of the trough (9), in each case in the area where the first spring arm (6) projects upwards out of the trough (9), tables (14, 15) are formed by bending from the contact rail inwards towards the leaf spring (4).
8. Connection device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the tables (14, 15) engage in corresponding recesses (16, 17) formed in the first spring arm (6).
9. Connection device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the second spring arm (7), with its free end which is angled relative to the bottom section (39) of the trough, extends obliquely into the trough (9), where the free end of the second spring arm (7) rests in contact with a part (18) of the contact rail which is connected integrally with the trough (9).
10. Connection device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the said part of the contact rail is bent inwards from one of the two longitudinal flanks of the shaped trough (9) towards the inside of the latter.
11. Connection device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the said part (18) of the contact rail is locked against the other longitudinal flank (13).
12. Connection device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that under the clamping point between the leaf spring (4) and the said part (18) of the contact rail, the bottom section of the trough (9) has a cut-out to receive the end of the conductor.
13. Connection device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the said part of the contact rail is cut free out of the bottom section (39) of the trough (9) on several sides and is bent upwards out of the bottom section (39) of the trough.
14. Connection device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the free end of the contact arm (7) of the leaf spring (4) is provided with a flat area (28).
15. Connection device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that small ridges of solder (33) are formed directly on the contact rail (3).
16. Connection device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that in the area adjacent to at least one of the leaf springs (4), the contact rail (3) is provided with recesses (23) for the insertion of a plug (24), which can be used for making a cross-connection or as a tapping point for testing purposes.
17. Connection device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that in its end area that engages in the trough (9), the first spring arm (6) has a window-like aperture (41) into which extends a tab (42, 43) bent from the bottom section (39) of the trough.
18. Connection device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the tab (42) is bent in a Z-shape.
19. Connection device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the aperture (44) is formed at the level of the bottom section (39) of the trough and the tab (43) is bent in the plane of the bottom section of the trough, so that in the fitted position of the spring the first spring arm projects downwards and outwards slightly beyond the bottom section (39) of the trough (9).
20. Connection device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the leaf spring (53) forms a closed loop.
21. Connection device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the loop (58) has an elongated shape and is directed at an inclination to the insertion direction (L) of the conductor, in particular in such manner that the angle α between the clamping arm and the conductor's insertion direction (L) is smaller than 45° and in particular smaller than 30°.
22. Connection device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the leaf spring (4) is held in the contact rail (3) only at its first spring arm (6), and the contact rail (3) is made as a stamped/bent component.
23. Connection device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the leaf spring (4) is held on the longitudinal flanks (12, 13) of the trough.
24. Connection device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that from the two longitudinal flanks (12, 13) of the trough (9), at the free ends of the said longitudinal flanks (12, 13) stamped shoulders (14, 15) are bent inwards from the contact rail, which end in slots (66) in which the spring (4) engages, so that the leaf spring is held and supported in the area of the said slots.
25. Connection device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that bosses (63) are impressed into the longitudinal flanks (12, 13) of the trough(9), which engage in corresponding lateral recesses (64) in the holding arm (6) of the leaf spring (4).
26. Connection device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that a lower end area (65) of the leaf spring (4) that engages in a lower opening (11) of the trough (9) secures the spring against twisting.
27. Connection device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that one of the arms of the leaf spring is shaped with an offset.

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