EP1865577A2

EP1865577A2 - Screwless, two-way binding post terminal

Info

Publication number: EP1865577A2
Application number: EP05786230A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Alfonso MONTAÑES RAMON
Original assignee: I Division Electrica SA
Current assignee: IDE ELECTRIC, S.L.
Priority date: 2004-07-28
Filing date: 2005-07-26
Publication date: 2007-12-12
Anticipated expiration: 2025-07-26
Also published as: WO2006024678A2; EP1865577A4; WO2006024678A3; EP1865577B1; ES2624681T3; ES2246169A1; ES2246169B2

Abstract

The terminal consists of two pieces, a retaining piece (1) and another elastic piece (2) to enable the connection of cables (8) and (8') in different directions, being retained in either of the positions wherein the cable is mounted by the elastic piece (2) against elements provided for the purpose in the retaining piece (1), this having an upper part with concave configurations (3) towards the interior wherein the free edges of end planes (25) of the elastic piece (2) are positioned, to retain a cable (8) positioned on one of those concave configurations (3), the retaining piece (1) further having pins (11) which are housed in windows (22) of the elastic piece (2) to secure a lead (8') positioned in a different direction to that of the cable (8), when both pieces (1) and (2) are coupled together and are retained by catches (13) of the piece (1) which are interlocked in a window (16) of the piece (2).

Description

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a screwless bidirectional connection terminal, which is equipped to enable the connection in correspondence with the upper part of said terminal as well as in correspondence with the lateral part thereof, indifferently, thus adapting itself to the different forms in which, in accordance with the countries, cables are connected.
The object of the invention is to satisfy the duality of markets, based on the fact that the screwless connection terminal of the invention is materialized so that it permits the cable to be connected from two different directions or orientations.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As is known, the fixing of electric conductors to the connection terminals, in any of its possible practical applications, is performed by said terminals with screws, these consisting of a sheet which acts as electrical contact whereto a screw and a nut, washer or equivalent element is attached, which acts as fixing element of the cable, permitting the continuity of the electric current transmission.
Nevertheless, in recent years different connection terminal systems have been developed with a common characteristic, which is the elimination of the fixing screw of the cable to the terminal, substituting it by a pressure element which permits the fixing of the cable and the corresponding connection, with the simple insertion thereof in a housing created for said purpose. This new system, called "screwless terminal" has substantially facilitated the work of the electrician.
However, all manufacturers which have implemented any of the two terminal systems in their products, have performed it so that the cables are always connected to said terminals in a single direction; i.e. irrespective of the geometry of the electric piece, the cables are connected to the terminals by inserting them through a single surface of the piece, either through the rear surface or through one of the lateral surfaces of the electric piece.
In this way, the choice of one connection direction or the other is conditioned by the design of the piece by the manufacturer, or by the customs of use of the different countries which prefer a determined connection for the cable connection, for no reason other than tradition, not accepting power points which have the connection of the cable in a direction other than that typically used in the country.
Those use and market differences have obliged manufacturers who are looking to attain an important penetration in all countries, to create different series of products with different cable inlets for different countries, which involves a greater manufacturing cost per multiplicity of series for the same application by the end user of the product, which never perceives the difference due to the natural market separation.
Nevertheless, terminals are known which are equipped to connect two cables in two different directions, being able to cite German patent DE 3122303 and Spanish patent ES 2195229 , so that the first case discloses a terminal capable of connecting two conductors which may be inserted in the connection terminal in two different directions, although based on arranging, on the same support, two spring-type elastic pieces, joined by an intermediate connection element which places them in electrical contact, which arrangement serves to join two connectors without requiring screws or welding and to place in contact an external conductor with an electric device which had said connection terminal.
However, in this solution of bidirectional terminal disclosed in said German patent DE 3122303 , the duplicity of the elastic elements to be able to connect the two cables in different directions means a considerable price increase since the support must be made with special characteristics to be able to conveniently house and position the two elastic elements which connect the cables in different directions.
Likewise, Spanish patent ES 2195229 discloses a terminal which enables the connection of two cables in different directions, although not in directions perpendicular to one another, so that this terminal is enormously complex with regard to the support base, as is the elastic element must establish the connection, since therein two elastic parts are determined joined to a common part with very special configurations to be conveniently adapted to the interior of the support which by itself is complicated.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The bidirectional terminal recommended has been conceived to be able to easily, simply and effectively connect the cables in two different directions, with a reduced cost of the terminal unit, since its pieces are simple, easy to manufacture and can be coupled together.
The terminal of the invention, as is conventional, includes two pieces, one as support and another as elastic element, so that in the coupling together they permit connecting the cables by insertion through apertures or windows, being retained by the elastic piece against the support piece, to establish the corresponding electrical continuity.
From that concept, the first novel characteristics the connection terminal object of the invention presents lies in the fact that the elastic piece is single and is mounted on the support piece in a single position, so that it permits the connection of a cable in two different directions, i.e. either through the upper part of the terminal unit, or through one of its sides, with no type of variation in the terminal structure, and without having to vary the position of the elastic piece, nor use supplements to achieve said purpose.
The terminal in question may be applied in all those electrical products which require the connection of electric cables and, therefore, it may be an independent and unitary element, or part of an element or set of elements, where a part or element is the screwless bidirectional connection terminal where the electric cables will be connected, and another part or rest of elements of the unit is any system which permits the electrical continuity of the unit when it is applied to an electric station.
Specifically, the screwless bidirectional connection terminal can be applied to unitary of multiple electric connection terminals, in connecting and branch strips, in multiple connection bars for electric phases, neutrals or earths, in connection terminals of the contacts of the power points, switches, commutators and of more electrical mechanisms for domestic or similar use, in connection terminals of the contacts of the power points for industrial uses, in all power points irrespective of their application as domestic and industrial use, in bases of fixed or mobile power points or in fixed or mobile power plugs, as well as in contact of power points bases and demountable or non-demountable power plugs.
As is evident, the size of the connection terminal will be determined by the type, section or maximum current of the cable admissible in the terminal, not existing a priori any limitations in any of said parameters.
Structurally, the support which forms part of the terminal of the invention, hereinafter called "retaining piece", is formed from a sheet of metal conductor duly die-cut in development and folded to determine different flat or curved surfaces, forming an irregular cubic-polyhedral body wherein an upper surface is established formed by two externally convex arcs and an intermediate convex arc between them, to permit the guiding and housing in their interior surface of a range of conductors of determined section and by the application standards of the final product.
The concave arc or lower surface has a central window whereby a tool can be inserted to disconnect the conductor.
That retaining piece has a front graduated surface with an upper area which is drawn in with respect to the lower area or part, so that in combination with parts of the elastic connection piece it constitutes the retaining means of the leads, when the latter are connected in a certain direction, as connection in one connection direction is established between free edges of the elastic piece and the corresponding concave parts to said upper surface.
Likewise, it has been provided that said retaining piece has, frontally and in correspondence with the lower area of the two determined in the graduation, a flat surface, and centrally, catches for the interlocking of the elastic piece.
Specifically, the elastic piece is a flexible sheet which is successively folded, first determining two planes joined together by an area of curved intersection, so that the first plane is abutted against the front of the part flat of the retaining piece, that flat surface or segment of the elastic piece having a window wherein the catches of the retaining piece are housed and interlocked, the other flat part of that elastic piece remaining towards the outside, which after a bending, also rounded, continues flat but in upwards direction, with windows wherein the pins emerging from the front plane or intersection area of the two parts determined at different heights in the retaining piece are positioned.
From those windows, it continues in another straight segment which, after a bend, is projected upwards in oblique segments, to be topped in free edges and a split plane, which in the mounting of said elastic piece on the retaining piece, are positioned on the lower concave areas of the upper part of the retaining piece, all so that when the connection is established through the upper part, the cable is inserted between the concave configurations of the upper part of the retaining piece and the edges which are positioned in those concave parts, thus retaining the cable and preventing it being removed by pulling, as the oblique end segments of said elastic piece act as a wedge so that they apply greater pressure the more the cable is pulled outwards. With regard to the other form of connecting the cable, i.e. laterally, the latter will be inserted through the windows of the elastic piece, after the pushing thereof to permit the cable being housed through the windows so that once the pushing force of said elastic piece stops, it recovers its position and the cable is pressed inside the interior of the windows by the pins of the retaining piece.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complement the description being made and with the object of aiding towards a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, in accordance with a preferred example of embodiment thereof, a set of drawings is attached as an integral part of said description, wherein the following has been represented, with an illustrative, non-limiting character:

Figure 1: Shows a representation according to a general exploded perspective of the two pieces which compose the screwless bidirectional connection terminal object of the invention, pieces which correspond to said retainer and to the elastic piece.
Figure 2: Shows a perspective view of the terminal formed by the coupling of the two pieces of the previous figure.
Figure 3: Shows a perspective view of the terminal of the previous figure with the connection of a conductor in one of the directions.
Figure 4: Shows another perspective view such as that of the previous figure with the connection of a conductor in another of the directions.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In light of said figures, it can be observed how the screwless bidirectional terminal of the invention is composed of the coupling together of a retaining piece (1) and an elastic pressing piece (2), so that once assembled together when a conductor is connected to the terminal, it can give electrical continuity to the unit whereof it forms part.
The retaining piece (1) is formed by a die-cut sheet or metal conductor, which is properly folded to determine an irregular cubic-polyhedral shape of different surfaces, establishing an upper surface formed by two arcs (3) which are convex towards the exterior and an intermediate convex arc (4) as is seen in the figures, with the special characteristic that the intermediate segment or arc (4) has a window (5) which is used for the insertion of the tool which enables the conductor to be disconnected.
The front surface of said retaining piece (1) is formed in a plane of two heights, i.e. an upper part (6) and a lower part (7), the first thereof being slightly recessed, that part (6) being open to act as inlet of the conductors for one of the two possible directions for connecting the screwless terminal, specifically that represented in figure 3 where the conductor is that indicated with number (8), it being possible to observe how the connection of two conductors (8) is possible by the guiding thereof in each one of the arcs (3) which form the upper surface together with the intermediate arc (4) which determines a separation between the former. The height difference of the surface frontal of the retaining piece (1) is joined by a hollow horizontal plane (9), whose purpose will be the housing of the conductors for the connecting thereof in the other connecting direction provided for the terminal, and which corresponds to that represented in figure 4, wherein a conductor (8') is shown connected perpendicular to the conductor (8) connected in the terminal of figure 2. The hollow of said plane (9) will have the appropriate dimensions for the housing of two conductors positioned in parallel in the front surface, i.e. how it is shown in figure 4, where a single conductor has been represented (8').
The upper edge of the front plane (10) of the lower part (7) of the retaining piece (1) has a pair of vertical protuberances in the form of pins (11) which will serve to support the elastic piece (2) and/or support the conductors housed in said hollow (9), when they are pressed by the elastic piece (2) as will be explained below. Those pins (11) form a slight angle to the front axis, having a split plane which will permit a small change in direction with respect to the vertical.
On the same horizontal plane which delimits the two front parts (6) and (7) of the retaining piece (1), short planes (12), have been provided, oriented towards the interior, to support and guide the two surfaces of the elastic piece (2), whilst the intermediate and lower part of the front plane (10) of the lower part (7) of said retaining piece (1) has a pair of semicircular catches (13) which, in its lower part, will have a slot for the interlocking of the elastic piece (2).
With regard to the lateral surfaces (14) of this retaining piece (1), they are flat and do not have any mission other than that of being part of the cohesion and closure of the piece (1), whilst the rear surface thereof may be closed by a flat sheet of the same material or another material different to the retaining piece (1), to limit the path of the connection conductor which is connected according to the position of figure 3.
For its part, the elastic piece (2) which will act as a spring, is a sheet which is also a conductor, of flat rectangular shape and geometrically folded by determined folds, which piece is sufficiently flexible so that by the action of the connection conductor or a tool, it attains a certain temporary deformation and once this action has concluded, the elastic piece (2) returns to its resting position, creating a situation of the conductor (8-8') connected by pressing on the retaining piece (1).
Said elastic piece (2) has a flat segment and end (15) dimensioned in such a way that it directly rests on the front surface (10) of the retaining piece (1), that flat segment (15) having a central window (16) of a width and height coincident with the catches (13) of the piece (1), so that both pieces (1) and (2) can be coupled and be assembled together.
Continuing on from the flat segment (15), the elastic piece (2) has an arc (17) which is followed by a new flat segment or wall (18), which can be longitudinally divided in two symmetrical halves by an intermediate slot (19), in order that in those technical product standards which may require the independent connection or disconnection of more than one conductor in the same terminal, it can act on them in a totally independent form.
Said flat surfaces or segments (15) and (18) of the elastic piece (2) form a certain tangent angle to the arc (17) between one another, the flat segment (18) continuing after a bend or arc (20), in an upper flat segment (21) with a certain upwards inclination, establishing in this flat segment (21), in each of its two halves if they exist, a rectangular window (22) with rounded angles, so that the dimensions of this window or windows will correspond to the surface necessary to insert thereby the connection conductors (8') of the sections suitable for the range and currents admissible for those which the electric product that incorporates this screwless bidirectional terminal is conceived.
That flat segment (21) is continued in another segment (23) also flat, which is bent according to an arc (24), in an upwards direction, to continue in a new flat segment (25) upwards, in a practically vertical form, so that the inclination of this segment (25) will be determined by the pressure it is necessary to apply to the connection conductor (8) and by the type of connection conductors to which this screwless bi-directional is applicable, so that in order to ensure the effectiveness of this pressure said flat and upper segment (25) is topped in small split plane (26) which modulates the inclination of the segment (25).
The intermediate groove (19) divides the sheet corresponding to the elastic piece (2) in two rectangular sections, with parallel surfaces, except in the area corresponding to the split plane (26), where the lower surfaces are not parallel to the previous but they have a certain angle forming a trapezium or rectangle.
Based on these characteristics of the terminal, the functioning thereof is as follows.
For the correct functioning, the retaining (1) and elastic pieces (2) should be assembled together, forming a unit such as that shown in figure 2, for which purpose the flat part or surface (10) of the retaining piece (1) should be opposite and superimposed to the flat wall or segment (15) of the elastic piece (2), the catches (13) of the former coinciding with the window (16), said catches (13) being inserted in the window for both pieces (1) and (2) to thus remain interlocked. Simultaneously, the vertical pins (19) of the retaining piece (1) will be fitted in the windows (22) of the elastic piece (2), whilst the flat surface or segment (25) of the elastic piece (2) will be inserted in the interior of the retaining piece (1), remaining in correspondence with the inner concavities (3) of the upper part of the retaining piece, so that said geometry of both pieces makes them be perfectly assembled maintaining a total flexibility of the elastic piece (2) to enable the tightening of the conductors (8) or (8') without the need for screws.
For the connection of the conductor (8) in the direction indicated in figure 3, i.e. in one of the connection directions, said conductor (8) will be inserted through the open part (6) of the retaining piece (1), the flat segment (25) of the elastic piece (2) pressing the point of the stripped conductor (8), so that the circular geometry of the upper part of the retaining piece (1), i.e. of the two concave parts, and the gradient and bending due to pushing of the elastic piece (2), enable the guiding of the conductor (8) towards a small hollow existing between said elastic piece (2) and the retaining piece (1), being pressed and interlocked.
Once the conductor (8) is introduced between the retaining piece (1) and the elastic piece (2), as is represented in figure 3, if this conductor is pulled outwards, the elastic piece (2) is also pulled, which on having the gradient of the flat segment (25) in reverse direction, presses the conductor (8) more on the retaining piece (1) preventing the exit thereof. Indeed, to release the conductor (8) it will be necessary to insert a pressing tool or element through the window (5) of the retaining piece (1), pushing the elastic piece (2) to open a hollow between this and the retaining piece (1), thus releasing the pressure on the conductor (8) and permitting the exit thereof.
The connection of the conductor (8'), i.e. in the other possible direction of the screwless bidirectional terminal, is made by levering with a tool on the fold (20) of the elastic piece (2), causing an angular rotation on the centre of the fold or arc (17), displacing the window (22) towards the interior of the retaining piece (1), until it is opposite the hollow (9) thereof, so that in that position, the conductor (8') is inserted through the window (22) and the tool will stop exerting pressure, allowing the elastic piece (2) to go back to its original position, causing the conductor (8') to be trapped between the window (22) of the elastic piece (2) and the respective pin (11) of the retaining piece (1), all of this so that the shearing effect of the window (22) of the elastic piece (2) prevents the conductor (8') from being extracted by the axial pulling thereof, it being necessary to do the reverse operation to disconnect said conductor.

Claims

Screwless bidirectional connection terminal, which being of the type that include a retaining piece (1) and an elastic piece (2) which is coupled to the previous to permit the retention and corresponding connection of a lead, is characterized in that the retaining piece (1) has means which, in combination with others provided in the elastic piece (2), permit the connection of conductors (8) and (8') according to two different directions, one according to the lateral position in a horizontal direction, and another in an upper position according to a vertical direction.
Screwless bidirectional connection terminal, according to claim 1, characterized in that the retaining piece (1) has an irregular cubic-polyhedral configuration with an upper graduated part with respect to the other lower part, establishing, in the upper part, configurations (3) and (4) for positioning and fixing the cables (8) in a certain direction, whilst, in correspondence with the front edge of the intersection of the graduation which is determined in that upper and lower part of the retaining piece (1), pins (11) are included for the retention of leads (8') positioned perpendicular to that of the cables (8).
Screwless bidirectional connection terminal, according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the retaining piece (1) has catches (13) in the flat front part (10) of its lower part, to attain the interlocking of the elastic piece (2) by the fastening of those catches (13) in a window (16) provided in a first flat segment (15) of said elastic piece (2) which is abutted against the flat surface (10) of the front of the retaining piece (1).
Screwless bidirectional connection terminal, according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the elastic piece (2) has a second flat segment (18) which forms an angle to the first flat segment (15), with the intersection of an intermediate arc (17) between both, a segment (18) which continues, after an arching (20), in a segment (21) provided with windows (22) wherein the pins (11) of the retaining piece (1) are positioned to secure the lead (8') by housing in those windows (22).
Screwless bidirectional connection terminal, according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the elastic piece (2) continues, after the flat segment (21) provided with the windows (22), in another plane (23) which, after the bend (24) continues in an upwards, slightly inclined segment, practically vertical (25), with a small end and central split plane (26), that segment (25) being housed in the hollow area (6) determined in the upper part under the concave means (3) of the retaining piece (1), to retain the lead (8) inserted in those upper concave parts of the retaining piece (1).