EP2186167A2

EP2186167A2 - Connection block

Info

Publication number: EP2186167A2
Application number: EP08785246A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Michael Anthony Correll
Original assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2007-07-31
Filing date: 2008-07-31
Publication date: 2010-05-19
Also published as: WO2009015887A2; CN102084554A; CN102084554B; WO2009015887A3

Abstract

The connection block is a connection block for the electrical wiring and cabling of interfaces to a modular terminal block (12) and a printed circuit board (14) mounted on said terminal block. The modules (27) form, by way of their module housings (28), a conductor housing (46) for a large number of conductors (44) which are separately conducted out of the conductor housing (46) in the form of conductor pins (74). The printed circuit board (14) has plug-through contacts (168) with which it is plugged onto the separate conductor pins (74). An orientation plate (158) with passage holes (164) is provided for positioning the conductor pins (74), and accordingly the conductors (74) are held in the conductor housing (46) such that they can firstly withstand the forces acting on them when the orientation plate (134) and the printed circuit board (14) are fitted, and secondly can yield for corrective orientation.

Description

terminal block

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a connection block for the electrical wiring and wiring of interfaces. This is usually about the connection of a multi-pin connector to the wiring of an electrical device.

Background of the invention

Such a connection block has a terminal block which comprises a conductor housing with a plurality of terminals and a receiving area adjoining the conductor housing on the side facing away from the terminal and having a printed circuit board mounted thereon. On the circuit board, a multi-pole plug-in device of a connector is arranged, and it passed through the conductor housing connected to the terminals conductor, the other ends are connected to the circuit board. The conductors are led out of the conductor housing exposed and arranged so that they can engage with contacts of the circuit board.

Modular terminal blocks are made up of a module stack consisting of a number of identical disks or modules. Each module has a number of terminals and a corresponding number of conductors. The modules are lined up with each other, with end plates closing the module stack and forming a terminal block.

The PCB is connected to the conductors of the module stapeis or terminal blocks connected. The conductors extend through plated contact holes or via contacts in the printed circuit board, thus electrically connecting the terminals of the terminal block to the printed circuit board.

The modules have module housings whose widths vary due to manufacturing tolerances. Consequently, the total length of the module stack forming the terminal block varies, as well as the positioning of the modules in the stack under different module stacks. A module stack may consist of a relatively large number of modules, with the increase in tolerance along a module stack causing even greater misalignment of the conductor to be contacted with the circuit board. The arrangement of the free-standing conductors then does not correspond exactly to the predetermined arrangement of the through-contacts on the circuit board.

The printed circuit board is placed over the terminal block formed from the module stack, with the through-contacts being positioned over the freestanding conductors. Since the module stacks and thus the terminal blocks are getting longer, manufacturing tolerances can cause at least some conductors are not aligned exactly with the through-contacts in the circuit board. The misaligned conductors may be damaged during joining or may even prevent the circuit board from being installed.

The printed circuit board is moved in the direction of the terminal block formed from the module stack, wherein the conductors are to enter the through contacts of the printed circuit board. The conductors and feedthrough Contacts are sized to produce a press fit that electrically connects the conductors to the circuit board.

The press fits created between the conductors and the printed circuit board apply forces to the conductors which cause the conductors within the conductor housings of the terminal block to bend or deflect. As the module stacks become longer, increasing the number of conductors, the deflection of the conductors makes it even more difficult to maintain correct conductor alignment during installation. The conductors can either be damaged or the joining forces can exceed permissible limits.

The terminal blocks formed from the module stacks have covers which are closed to cover the conductors and the contact area of the circuit board. The covers are held closed by the end plates which are placed on the module stack after the circuit board is installed. For longer module stacks, the cover tends to curve up between the end plates, exposing the contacts.

Accordingly, there is a need to provide a modular terminal block having a terminal block formed from a module stack that allows for precise alignment of the conductors with the through-hole of the circuit board despite the tolerances mentioned. Furthermore, the conductors in the individual module housings should be better supported in order to counteract a deflection of the conductors during the assembly of the printed circuit board. Also the Cover of the PCB connection area should be improved as far as a permanent closure is concerned.

Summary of the invention

The modular terminal block has a plurality of modules arranged adjacent to each other to the terminal block, with module housings each being disc-shaped and identical to one another. Each module housing is provided with clamps which are arranged one above the other in two or more levels. The connected to the terminals conductors in the receiving area of the circuit board are led out of each module as a conductor pins, and the conductor pins of all modules result in a Leiterstiftfeld with a predetermined arrangement and alignment of the conductor pins. The circuit board has in the same arrangement solderless through contacts, by means of which they on the

Ladder pins of Leiterstiftfeldes contacted is placed.

Such a connection is provided with a plurality of modules that are aligned with one another in the longitudinal direction of the terminal block. For the two or more conductors freestanding on the individual modules and complementary to the conductor pin array of the entire terminal block, an alignment member is provided which is engaged with the conductor pins of the lead pin array to position the freestanding conductors in that predetermined arrangement , which is required for the contacting of the through contacts of the circuit board. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the free-standing ladder pins of the ladder pin array have some freedom of movement with respect to the module casings to allow the alignment member to position the ladder without deforming them.

The alignment member is an alignment plate having a thickness that is less than the protrusion with which the conductors protrude from the conductor housings. The alignment plate has a plurality of openings which receive the conductors, wherein the positioning surfaces are formed by the wall surfaces of these openings. The alignment plate is movable toward the conductor housing of the terminal block so that the conductor pins can pass through the openings of the board. Thereafter, the circuit board is connected with its through-contacts with the conductor pins, wherein the circuit board is located above the alignment plate. The openings of the alignment plate preferably have enlarged openings to receive the conductor pins, which facilitates the automatic installation of the alignment plate.

The freestanding conductor pins preferably have narrowed conductor portions located in the openings of the alignment plate when the alignment plate abuts the module housings. The narrowed conductor sections do not touch the walls of the alignment plate openings, they are not engaged thereby, so the alignment plate is said to "float" with respect to the conductor pins when the circuit board is attached to the conductor pins. The alignment plate remains a part of the overall arrangement by remaining between a bearing surface on the conductor housing of the modules and the circuit board.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the conductors are sized to occupy press fits with both the alignment member, the alignment plate, and the circuit board. These press seats apply loads to the conductor pins during installation of the alignment member and circuit board.

Preferably, each module housing has a conductor housing which comprises one or more walls which support the conductors. As a result, the forces transmitted to the conductor pins and thus to the entire conductors through the press seats are dissipated by these walls. In preferred embodiments, each of these walls extends across the entire width of the respective module housing, and the wall is supported on both sides when the module housing is integrated with the module stack. Support webs or aligned support members, which are aligned with the external conductor sections and pins, can transmit the forces directly to an outer wall of the module housings.

Each conductor housing preferably has a cover element which is movable between an open and a closed position, around which

Cover conductors that extend out of the module housing. The cover elements of all

Module housings engage each other along the module stack or terminal block to co-create a cover that extends between the open one and the closed position is movable. The module stack includes a number of cover member retention members that are disposed along the stack and that engage and retain the cover when the cover is in the closed position. Thus, the cover is kept closed at several points between the end plates of the module stack and is secured against opening.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, each cover element on the module housings on a holding element, so that each cover element is additionally held in the detained position. This holding element is preferably one of the exposed conductor sections which extend out of the conductor housing. The cover member and the conductor portion have cooperating retaining members which engage with each other to hold the cover member in its closed position.

The modular terminal block of the present invention has a number of advantages. Thus, the modular stack, the terminal block, can be made longer and provided with more disk-shaped modules, wherein the alignment element, the alignment plate, ensures that the free-standing conductor pins of the Leiterstiftfeldes can come without damage into contact with the through-contacts of the circuit board. Thus, the printed circuit board can be reliably installed by means of an automatic machine system even with long module stacks. The deflection or bending of the conductors within the conductor housing of the module stack during installation of the alignment member and the circuit board is counteracted by supporting the conductors on walls and other support members in the conductor housing. This helps to facilitate the automatic assembly of the alignment plate and the circuit board, even if the entire module assembly has a large number of conductors.

The cover remains reliably closed along its length once it has reached its closed position. The tight continuity of the cover retaining elements along the length of the cover prevents curvature and thus gaps in the cover. Because the conductors themselves form the support for the cover, no modifications to the circuit board to form support members are required. The cover member of each module housing is kept closed regardless of the cover members of the other modules.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the front of a modular terminal block according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the back side of the terminal block;

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 1 illustrating the terminal block mounted to a DIN rail; FIG. Fig. 4 is similar to Fig. 2, showing the terminal block mounted on the DIN rail;

Fig. 5 is an exploded view of Fig. 1;

6 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of an end plate and a module stack forming part of the terminal housing of the terminal block;

Fig. 7 is an exploded view of an assembly of modules forming part of the module stack of the terminal block;

Fig. 8 is a side view of the module assembly;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 8 illustrating the conductors extending from the module housing; FIG.

Fig. 10 is similar to Fig. 9, but a perspective view;

FIG. 11 is similar to FIG. 10, but illustrates several of the module assemblies side by side joined together to form part of the module stack; FIG.

FIG. 12 illustrates the module stack and alignment plate aligned with the conductors of the module stack prior to installation of the module stack

Alignment plate; Fig. 13 illustrates the alignment plate installed on the module stack to place the conductors of the module stack;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged partial sectional view similar to Fig. 11, but with the alignment plate installed as shown in Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 illustrates the printed circuit board of the terminal block aligned with the conductors of the module stack prior to installation of the printed circuit board;

Fig. 16 shows the printed circuit board installed on the module stack and the alignment plate on the module stack,

Fig. 17 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 14, but with the printed circuit board and the alignment plate installed as shown in Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is a partial side view of the module stack with the alignment plate and the printed circuit board installed and the contact cover in its open position; and

Fig. 19 is similar to Fig. 18 but illustrates the contact cover in its closed position. Description of the preferred embodiment

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a terminal block 10 according to the present invention. Terminal block 10 includes a terminal block 12 and a printed circuit board 14 fixedly mounted on terminal block 12. A number of electrical conductors 44 extend from the terminal block 12 to rectangularly arranged through contacts 168 in the printed circuit board 14, as will be described in more detail below. The conductors electrically connect the terminals of the terminal block 12 and the circuit board 14 with each other.

The printed circuit board 14 is provided with a plug-in device 16 of a connector which serves to receive an electrical component to be connected to the terminal block 10. The connector 16 is attached to the circuit board 14, and circuit boards with other types of connectors may be provided adjacent to the terminal block 12 to connect the terminal block 10 to other types of electrical components.

The terminal block 10 is preferably formed for attachment to a conventional DIN rail and has a DIN lock 18 for attaching the terminal block to the DIN rail.

The terminal block 12 has a front input / output area 20 and a rear receiving area 22 which receives the printed circuit board 14. The input / output area 20 is provided with a number of terminals 24, such as clamping sleeves arranged in several levels or levels. are net. The illustrated terminal block 12 is a three-tier terminal block, other embodiments may have more or fewer floors. The electrical conductors 44 extend through the terminal block 12 and electrically connect the terminals 24 to the circuit board 14.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate the terminal block 10 attached to a DIN rail 26. The rail 26 has mounting flanges 26 ', 26 ". The terminal block 10 hooks on the one flange 26 'and the DIN lock 18 engages behind the other flange 26' 'of the rail 26th

The terminal block 12 has a modular construction and consists of a number of identical disks or modules 27 arranged between left and right end plates 30 and 32, see Figs. 5 and 6. The modules 27 each have a housing 28 which is provided with a set of terminals 24. The illustrated terminal block 12 consists of ten modules 27. Other embodiments for the terminal block may include more or fewer modules 27. All modules 27 also cooperate in the manner to hold the DIN latch 18.

Each module 27 comprises a disk or a housing 28 with several floors, in the present case, three floors with three terminals 24 are provided. The illustrated module 27 is accordingly a three-day module, each floor holding a clamp 24.

Other embodiments of the module 27 may include more or fewer levels or other arrangements of

Have terminals 24. The module housing 28 is an integral one-piece element formed of non-conductive plastic. It has a uniform width or thickness between a first side 34 and a second, opposite side 36. On the sides 34 and 36 of each module housing 28 there are a number of spaced detent elements 38 in order to be able to correctly connect a module 27 to an adjacent module 27 or to one of the end plates 30 or 32. The latching elements 38 comprise latching openings 40, which face one side of the respective module 27, and latching projections 42, which protrude on the other, opposite side of the module, see FIG. 7. The latching projections of adjacent modules 27 or the respective end plates 30, 32 are inserted into the detent openings 40 to form the terminal block 12.

Figures 7-10 illustrate details of a module 27 which forms the terminal block 12 in a plurality or multiplicity. Three conductors 44a, 44b, 44c electrically connect the three terminals 24 of the module 27 to the printed circuit board 14.

The module housing 28 includes a front conductor housing 46 which receives the terminals 24 and conductors 44. It also has a base portion 48 which supports the module housing 28 on the DIN rail 26.

The front conductor housing 46 extends over the full width of the module housing 28. The first housing side 34 is closed by a side wall 50. The second housing side 36 is open, so that the conductors 44 and the terminals 24 in the Module housing 28 can be used. When the modules 27 are assembled into a stack to form the terminal block 12, the open housing side 36 is closed by an adjacent module sidewall 50 or end plate 32, see FIG.

The front conductor housing 46 has a front wall 52, a rear vertical wall 54, and a bottom horizontal wall 56. A vertical end wall 58 extends from the bottom wall 56 to an upper horizontal wall 60 that extends from the end wall 58 to the root edge of the vertical wall 54.

The front wall 52 forms a multi-layer arrangement of compartments 62, each receiving a clamp 24. The illustrated terminals 24 are conventional screw terminals with screws 64 which clamp the conductors 44 and clamp the clamping sleeves of the terminals 24 against the electrical conductors which are inserted into the clamping sleeves. Each compartment 62 is provided with a front opening 66 for receiving an electrical conductor and further with a bore 68 which receives the respective screw 64 with an interference fit. The respective higher compartment 62 is progressively set back in the direction of the rear wall 54 in order to allow tool access to the screws 64.

The conductors 44 are bent flat conductors or bars with a rectangular cross-section. Each conductor 44a, 44b, 44c has a terminal end 45 that extends toward the collet pocket 62. Furthermore, each conductor 44a, 44b, 44c has a horizontal section 70 and a vertical section. len portion 72, the latter is angled 90 ° from the horizontal portion 70 upwards. The upper end portion of each vertical portion 72 is provided with a reduced cross section forming a pin portion and thus defining a conductor pin 74.

The conductor pins 74a, 74b, 74c extend upwardly out of the module housing 28 through open slots 76 in the horizontal wall 60. The conductor pin 74a, which is farthest from the vertical wall 54, projects further from the module housing 28 than the other pins 74b and 74c. The conductor pins 74a, 74b, 74c are arranged a predetermined distance along a straight line extending perpendicularly from the vertical wall 54. As a result, the conductor pins 74a, 74b, 74c define a linear pin arrangement or pin array 77, see FIG. 9.

The base portion 48 of the module housing 28 includes a bottom wall 78 that extends along the bottom of the module housing 28, an end wall 80, and a horizontal wall 82 that connects the bottom wall 56 and the end wall 80. The bottom wall 78 supports the module housing 28 on the rail flanges 26 ', 26 "and has a" T "slot 84 and an" L "slot 86 which receive the DIN latch 18. A hook 88 extends from the end wall 80 to below the bottom wall 78 so that it can engage under the DIN rail flange 26 ".

The horizontal walls 56 and 82 are spaced from the bottom wall 78. A central pier

90 (see also Fig. 11) extends between the horizontal walls 56, 82 and the bottom wall 78 for added rigidity. Vertical support ribs 92a, 92b, 92c and 92d extend between the horizontal wall 56 and the bottom wall 78 across the full width of the module housing 28. The support rib 92a lies directly below the front housing end wall 58.

A rear wall 94 adjacent the end wall 80 extends upwardly from the horizontal wall 82. A rear, pivotable Verriegelannann 96 in the region of the rear wall 94 carries a locking finger 98, which extends beyond the rear wall 94. The locking finger 98 is provided with a detent opening 97 and a detent projection 99 (see Fig. 7, similar to the detent opening 40 and the detent projection 42), which cooperate with detent openings and detents of an adjacent module 27 or end plate 30, 32 to lock the locking fingers 98 connect to each other when the relevant module 27 forms part of the terminal block 12.

The conductors 44a, 44b, 44c are interleaved in the installation position, the horizontal conductor sections 70a-70c being parallel to one another and also the vertical conductor sections 72a-72c being parallel to one another.

The terminal end 45 of each conductor 44 is inserted into the respective terminal 24 in a conventional manner, which holds the front end of the conductor 44.

The conductor 44a is disposed in the front conductor housing 46 between the wall 56 and a horizontal wall 100. The conductor 44b is between the Wall 100 and a horizontal wall 102 and the conductor 44 c is disposed between the wall 102 and the wall 60. The walls 100, 102 are located inside the front conductor housing 46 and extend from the side wall 50 the full width of the module housing 28. The horizontal portion 70 a of the conductor 44 a is supported on the bottom wall 56 of the front conductor housing 46. The horizontal portions 70b, 70c of the other conductors 44b, 44c are supported on the wall 100 and on the wall 102, respectively.

Vertical walls 101, 103 also separate the vertical portions 72 of the conductors 44. The wall 101 is directly above the support bar 92b. The wall 103 is located directly above the support web 92c. The walls 101, 103 are spaced apart from each other along the horizontal walls 100, 102 and extend vertically to the wall 60, see FIG. 9. The vertical walls 101, 103 are located inside the front conductor housing 46 and extend from the side wall 50 the full width of the module housing 28. The vertical portion 72a of the conductor 44a is located between the walls 58 and 101, and the vertical portion 72b of the conductor 44b is disposed between the walls 101 and 103.

Each wall 56, 100 and 102 has a number of equal spacers 104, 106, 108 which hold and support the conductors 44 between these walls, see FIG. 10. Each spacer 104, 106, 108 extends from the sidewall 50 in FIG Direction of the opposite side of the module housing 28 and is provided with a narrow surface which faces the open side of the module housing 28 to facilitate the insertion of the conductors 44 in the module housing 28. The wall 56 is provided with three spacers 104a, 104b and 104c spaced apart from each other, each located at the top of the wall 56, each immediately above one of the support webs 92b, 92c and 92d, see FIG. 10.

The horizontal wall 100 has three spacers 106a, 106b and 106c projecting on both sides of this wall 100 and extending toward the walls 56 and 102. The spacers 106a, 106b are two spaced apart spacers, with the spacer 106a overlying the support rib 92c. The spacer 106c is spaced from the spacers 106a, 106b and is located above the support rib 92d.

The wall 102 has two spacers 108a, 108b at a small distance from each other, projecting on both sides of the wall 102 and facing the walls 100 and 60. The spacer 108a is located above the support rib 92d.

The wall 60 has a spacer 118 which projects from the underside of this wall 60. The spacer 118 faces the wall 102 and is located directly above the support web 92d, see FIG. 9.

Wall extensions 112, 114 in the form of wall thickenings connect to the spacers 106a, 106b and 108a, 108b, see FIG. These wall extensions extend from the side wall 50 of the module housing 28 and project laterally over the spacers 106a, 106b and 108a, 108b on both sides of the walls 100, 102 with a short length. The spacers 106, 108 prevent vertical displacement of the conductors 44. The conductor 44a is held in a sliding fit between the spacers 104 and 106. The conductor 44b is held in sliding contact between the spacers 106 and 108. The conductor 44c is held in a sliding fit between the spacer 108 and the spacer 118. The sliding fits between the conductors 44 and the spacers 104, 106, 108 prevent vertical displacement of the conductors 44, yet allow lateral movement of the conductors 44 toward and away from the sidewall 50.

The walls 100 and 102 are each provided with a Endan- set 116 and 119, these Endansätze 116, - 119 are on the relevant wall 100, 102 to. open side of the module housing 28 before. The end extension 116 is adjacent to the spacers 106a, 106b and is located above the support web 92c. The end tab 119 is disposed adjacent the spacers 108a, 108b above the support rib 92d. The spacers 106, 108 do not reach the end lugs 116, 119. Slits 117, 115 (FIG. 11) are formed into the sidewall 50 and aligned with the end lobes 116, 119.

Each conductor pin 74 has a narrowed neck portion 122 adjacent the wall 60 and a contact portion 124 that extends away from the neck portion 122 and merges into a tapered conductor end 126. The contact portion 124 is provided with two vertically elongated contact surfaces 128 on its opposite sides. In the illustrated embodiment, the neck portion 122 has between the contact portion 124 and the wall 60 has a length of slightly more than 1 mm.

The outer conductor pin 74a further has a second neck portion 130 which extends between the

Contact portion 124 and the upper conductor end 126 is located. From this neck portion 130, the upper conductor end 126 of the conductor pin 74a projects beyond the upper conductor ends 126b and 126c of the other two conductor pins 74b, 74c.

The module housing 28 has a fixed link 132 extending from the wall 60 between the inner conductor pin 74c and the vertical wall 54. The articulation element 132 projects beyond the conductor pins 74b, 74c upwards. A cover member 134 is attached to the hinge member 132 and extends away therefrom. The cover part 134 is connected to the articulation element 132 by means of a flexible joint 136. The articulation element 132, the cover part 134 and the joint 136 extend over the full width of the module housing 28 between the sides 34, 36.

When the hinge 136 is not deflected, the cover member 134 extends substantially parallel to the wall 54. The hinge 136 allows the cover member 134 from the wall 54 in the direction of the conductor pins 74 can fold away. The hinge 136 is preferably formed as a material web of reduced thickness or as a relatively thin web of material between the hinge element 132 and the cover member 134, as shown in Fig. 19.

The cover member 134 has an angled finger 138 at its free end and two hook bars 140 The latter are arranged inwardly from the finger 138. The finger 138 is provided with a detent opening 142 and a detent projection 144 (similar to the detent opening 40 and the detent projection 42) which cooperate with detent openings and detents of the adjacent module 27 or end plate 30, 32, respectively, around the cover members 134 of the assembled terminal block 10 to connect with each other.

The assembly of the terminal block 10 from a set of modules 27 will be described next. The conductors 44 and the ferrules 24 are installed in each module housing 28. The module housings 28 are then aligned side by side and thereafter compressed to form a block 146 as shown in Figs. The module housings 28 are connected side by side along the length of the module block 146. The module plugs 42 are received in the module bores 40 to align the modules 27 or module housings 28 relative to one another. The bores 40 and plugs 42 are sized to form press fits that oppose the separation of the assembled modules 27.

The lugs 116, 119 of the module walls 100 and 102 are snugly received in the slots 117, 115 of the adjacent modules 27, as shown in Fig. 11. The module sidewalls 50 support the lugs 116, 119, and also support the lobed ends of the horizontal module walls 100, 102. The other ends of the horizontal module walls 100, 102 are supported by the side wall 50 of the module housings 28 from which they extend or protrude. In this way For example, the horizontal walls 100, 102 of the module housings 28 are supported at both ends when the module block 146 is assembled (except for the exposed portions of the walls 100, 102 of the module 27 located at one end of the module block 146).

The latching projections 99 of the latch are received in latching openings 97 and connect the adjacent latching arms 96. The cover members 134 have latching projections 144 and latching openings 142, which receive the plugs 144 and thus connect the adjacent cover members 134 with each other.

The walls 60 and 94 of the individual module housings 28 abut one another to form a continuous wall 148 (FIG. 12) and a horizontal wall surface 150 of the support surface (FIG. 14), both extending the length of the module block 146. The interconnected latch arms 96 and the interconnected cover members 134 complement each other to a latch 152 and a cover 154, see FIG. 12. Both the latch 152 and the cover 154 extend the length of the module block 146. The latch fingers 98 are above the wall 148 spaced therefrom when the latch 152 is not closed. The cover parts 134 or the cover 154 extend perpendicular to the wall surface 150 and parallel to the rear wall 54 when the cover 154 is not in the closed position.

The individual pin fields 77 of the modules 27 together form a rectangular pin field 156, in FIG which the conductor pins 74 are arranged in mutually perpendicular rows and columns. The nominal row spacing between the adjacent individual pin arrays 77 is equal to the nominal thickness of a module 27 or module housing 28.

The printed circuit board 14 is attached to the module block 146, preferably by means of an automatic machinery, prior to the attachment of the two end plates 30, 32. Manufacturing tolerances accumulate according to the number of modules 27 that make up the entire module block 146. As a result, the distances of the individual pin fields 77 in the different areas of the module block 146 vary, which makes it difficult to attach the printed circuit boards 14 to the module block 146 without interference by means of the automatic machine system.

Therefore, an alignment plate 158 is used to accurately position all the conductor pins 74 of the entire pin array 156, see Figs. 12-14. This serves to minimize the variations in the positions of the individual pin locations due to manufacturing tolerances and the inevitable variations in the thickness of the modules 27 or module housing 28 compensate. The alignment plate 158 is placed on the pin panel 156 to engage the conductive pins 74 of the pin panel 156 and thereby position them according to a hole pattern in the alignment plate 158 before attachment of the printed circuit board 14.

The alignment plate 158 is preferably made of a non-conductive plastic and has substantially flat, mutually parallel lower and upper sides 160, 162, whereby a thorough going equal thickness of the alignment plate 158 is given. The thickness of the alignment plate 158 is significantly less than the protrusion with which the pins 74 on the wall or support surface 150 project vertically upwardly out of the modules 27.

The alignment plate 158 includes a number of hole pattern-providing through holes 164 which receive the conductor pins 74. The through-holes 164 are arranged in a rectangular hole pattern, which is identical to the image of through-contacts 168 in the printed circuit board 14. The holes 164 in the alignment plate 158 in the row and column array have row and column spacings that correspond to those of the through contacts 168 of the printed circuit board 14 (Figure 15).

The alignment plate 158 is placed above the pin array 156, as shown in FIG. 12. Here, the plate holes 164 are aligned over the respective associated conductor pins 74. The alignment plate 158 is held parallel to the horizontal support surface 150 and lowered toward this surface 150, wherein the conductor pins 74 are received in the plate holes 164. The alignment plate 158 is moved toward the support surface 150 until it reaches a standby position slightly above the wall surface 150, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14.

The plate holes 164 of the alignment plate 158 have bevels or flared openings 166 on the bottom 160 of the alignment plate 158. collar 169 surround each plate hole 164 on the top 162 of the plate 158. The flared openings 166 of the plate holes 164 and the tapered conductor ends 126 of the conductor pins 74 cooperate to securely insert the conductor pins 74 into the plate holes 164. The conductors 44 may move within a module 27 a limited distance to either side of the module 27 to allow the conductor pins 74 to align with and enter the plate holes 164.

As shown in Figs. 13 and 14, the alignment plate 158 is located at a distance of 1 mm above the support surface 150 when the plate 158 assumes the standby position. The contact portions 124 of the conductor pins 74 extend from the openings 166 through the plate holes 164 and protrude from the top of the alignment plate 158, as shown in FIG. 14. The plate holes 164 are sized to receive the contact portions 124 of the conductor pins 74 with a slight interference fit that holds the alignment plate 158 in the standby position against the conductor pins 74, thereby accurately positioning the conductor pins 74 through the alignment plate 158.

The circuit board 14 is attached to the module block 146 after the alignment plate 158 is in the standby position, see Figs. 15 and 16. The circuit board 14 has the through-contacts 168 which receive the conductor pins 74 to the through-contacts 168 of the circuit board 14 to connect with the terminals 24 in the front conductor housing 46. The push-through contacts 168 in total are arranged in the circuit board 14 in a rectangular shape.

The printed circuit board 14 is brought into a position above the module block 146, with their through-contacts 168 are aligned axially aligned with the conductor pins 74 on the module block 146. The alignment plate 158 has previously positioned the conductor pins 74 to match the positions of the through contacts 168 of the circuit board 14, as previously described. The latch 152 is pivoted to move it away from the wall 148 to the open position.

The printed circuit board 14 is now lowered in a horizontal position on the alignment plate 158, wherein the conductor pins 74 are received in the through-hole contacts 168 electrically contacting. The circuit board 14 pushes the alignment plate 158 down until it rests on the horizontal wall surface 150. The alignment plate 158 and the support surface 150 hold therebetween the front end of the circuit board 14. The rear end of the circuit board 14 is supported on the upright portion of the wall 148. The latch 152 is pivoted back into its locking position so that the locking fingers 98 fix the rear end of the circuit board 14 to the wall 148.

FIG. 17 shows the conductor pins 74 in the alignment plate 158 and further the circuit board 14 after it is attached to the module block 146. The conductor pins 74 extend through both the alignment plate 158 and the circuit board 14, with the upper ends of the conductor pins 74 projecting upwardly over the circuit board 14. stand. The second neck portions 130 of the outer conductor pins 74a are located above the printed circuit board 14.

The contact portions 124 of the conductor pins 74 are in interference fit with the inner walls of the through-contacts 168 of the circuit board 14, whereby the conductor pins 74 and the through-contacts 168 are mated together in an electrically contacting.

As the alignment plate 158 is moved from its standby position toward the support surface 150, the alignment plate 158 slides along the contact portions 124 of the conductor pins 74. Thereafter, the neck portions 122 of the conductor pins 74 are received within the plate holes 164 of the alignment plate 158 with a clearance, so that the conductor pins 74 no longer touch the alignment plate 158 or are in positive engagement with this. The alignment plate 158 thus exerts no more forces on the conductor pins 74 of the entire pin array 156.

The press fits that form when the alignment plate 158 and the circuit board 14 are attached to the module block 146 transmit vertical forces to the conductors 44. These vertical forces are in turn transmitted from the conductors 44 through the spacers 104, 106 and 108 to the horizontal module walls 56, 100 and 102 transmitted. The module walls 100 and 102 are supported at both ends, as previously described, to hold the conductors 44 and prevent deflection of the conductors 44 caused by these vertical loads. Further, the spacers 104, 106, 108 and the lugs 116, 119 arranged on the module walls on the support webs 92b, 92c, 92d and transmit the vertical forces on these support webs and thus on the bottom wall 78th

In addition, vertical loads that may be applied to the panel 150 during assembly are also transferred to the bottom panel 78 via the vertical walls 58, 101 and 103.

After the circuit board 14 is installed on the module block 146, the cover 154 is folded over and lowered against the circuit board 14 to cover the exposed ends of the conductor pins 74. Figs. 18 and 19 show the cover 154 before and after closing. The hinges 136 as film hinges that extend along the cover 154 bend when the cover 154 is folded in the direction of the printed circuit board 14. The upper ends 126a of the outer conductor pins 74a are received between the hook bars 140. The mentioned ends 126a slightly urge the hook bars 140 apart when the conductor bars 74a enter therebetween. The hook webs 140 spring back when their hooks reach the second neck portions 130 of the conductor pins 74a with the further closing of the cover 154, the cover 154 occupying a substantially horizontal position parallel to the printed circuit board 14 in the closed position. By means of the hook webs 140, the cover 154 is fixed to the conductor pins 74a and thus kept closed.

Each cover member 134, which forms with the cover 154, is connected to the respective conductor pin 74 a by means of the hook webs 140 in such a way engaging the cover 154 closed at a plurality of closely spaced points along its length. The fingers 138 of the cover 154 are at a short distance from the circuit board 14 when the cover 154 is closed.

The DIN lock 18 is inserted into the "T" and "L" slots 84, 86, which also extend the length of the module block 146. Furthermore, the end plates 30, 32 are attached to the completed terminal block 10. The end plates 30, 32 each have a cover plate 170 (see FIG. 5) that extends beyond the adjacent cover member 134 so as to extend beyond the lateral end edges of the cover 154. The end plates 30, 32 are provided with latching projections which are inserted into the latching openings 40 of the adjacent module housing 28, they also have slots to receive the protruding plug pins and lugs, which project on the adjacent module housing 28.

The illustrated modules 27 each have three terminals 24 and three conductors 44. In other embodiments, more or less terminals and conductors may be provided thereto. Other types of clamps and other arrangement of clamps may also be used for other embodiments. It is also not necessary that the terminals 24 in each of the modules 27 are identical.

Claims

claims

1. terminal block for the electrical wiring and wiring of interfaces with a terminal block (12) having a conductor housing (46) with a plurality of terminals (24) and a to the conductor housing (46) on the terminal side facing away from receiving area (22 ) comprising a printed circuit board (14) mounted thereon, on which a multipolar plug-in device

(16) of a connector is arranged, wherein through the conductor housing (46) to the terminals (24) connected conductors (44) are passed, the other end are connected to the circuit board (14), characterized by a plurality of to the terminal block (12) juxtaposed modules (27) with module housings (28) each disk-shaped and identical to each other, each having two or more terminals (24) arranged one above the other in bays, the conductors connected to the terminals (24) (44) in the receiving area (22) of the printed circuit board (14) from each module housing (28) as lead pins (74) are led out, wherein the conductor pins (74) of all modules (27) a Leiter- pin field (156) with a predetermined arrangement and alignment of the conductor pins (74) and the printed circuit board (14) in the same arrangement solderless through contacts (168) by means of which aufg on the conductor pins (74) of the Leiterstiftfeldes (156) aufg it is.

2. Terminal block according to claim 1, characterized in that a horizontal bearing surface (150) is formed in the receiving region (22) for the printed circuit board (14), from which the conductive pins (74) protrude upward in a vertical direction, the printed circuit board (14) being aligned parallel to the bearing surface (150).

3. Terminal block according to claim 2, characterized in that between the circuit board (14) and the support surface (150) is an alignment plate (158) with through holes (164) in the same arrangement as the through-contacts (168) of the circuit board, wherein the. Conductor pins (74) through the through holes (164) of the alignment plate (158) pass.

4. Terminal block according to one of claims 1-3, characterized in that the conductors (44) subsequent to the conductor pins (74) have a vertical conductor portion (72) and thereafter a horizontal conductor portion (70) between vertical walls (101 , 103) and horizontal walls (56, 100, 102) inside the module housing (28) are held immovable in the vertical direction.

5. Terminal block according to claim 4, characterized in that the conductor sections (70, 72) of the conductors (44) in the horizontal direction at least transversely to the disk plane of the module housing (28) are displaceably held.

6. terminal block according to claim 5, characterized in that the conductor sections (70, 72) of the conductors (44) are formed as flat bars whose plane is transverse to the disc plane of the module housing (28).

7. Terminal block according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the horizontal conductor sections (72) of the conductors (44) are held in sliding fits between spacers (104, 106, 108) on the horizontal walls (56, 100, 102).

8. Terminal block according to one of claims 1-7, characterized in that on each module housing (28) for securing the circuit board (14) on its side remote from the through-contacts (168) side locking fingers (98) are arranged, wherein the locking fingers (98) the module housing (28) of the terminal block (12) form a common latch (152).

9. Terminal block according to one of claims 1-8, characterized in that above the receiving region (22) of the printed circuit board (14) on each module housing (28) of the terminal block (12) pivotable cover members (134) are provided, which together cover ( 154), which is down to cover over the circuit board (14) projecting upper ends (126) of the conductor pins (74) can be pivoted down.

10. Terminal block according to claim 9, characterized in that on the cover parts (134) of the module housing

(28) hook webs (140) are arranged and at each one of the upper Leiterstiftenden

(126a) a tapered neck portion (130) for

Grasping through the associated hook bar

(140) is present.

11. Terminal block according to one of claims 1-10, characterized in that the modules (27) by means of RastvorSprüngen

(42, 99, 142) and latching openings (40, 97, 144) with each other and with end plates (30, 32) at the ends of the contact block (12) can be latched.

12. Terminal block according to one of claims 1 - 11, characterized in that the conductor pins (74) contact portions (128) which are arranged in an interference fit in the through-contacts (168) of the printed circuit board (14).

13. A method of assembling a terminal block according to at least one of the features of claims 1-3, characterized in that the alignment plate (158) is used in one embodiment with through-holes (164) widening in a funnel-like manner toward its underside and with these through-holes ( 164) aligned with the conductor pins (74) above the Leiterstiftfeldes (156) aligned and lowered with its underside forwards until the conductor pins (74) in the through holes (164) have been inserted and passed therethrough, after which the printed circuit board (14) with its through contacts (168) is aligned and lowered in the same way until the contact between the conductor pins (74) and the through contacts (168) is made.

14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that such conductor pins (74) are provided which have upwardly tapered upper ends (126).

15. The method according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that at the alignment plate (158) such through holes (164) are provided, which at the upper plate side (162) has a diameter equal to the diameter of the through-contacts (168) of the printed circuit board (14). to have.

16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that the alignment plate (158) is lowered to a position in which it is held by the contact portions (128) on the conductor pins (74), after which they are carried along on the patch circuit board (14 ) is further lowered to rest on the support surface (150) and with its through holes (164) surrounds neck portions (122) of the conductor pins (74) having a smaller diameter than the through holes (164) with a clearance.