EP2856561B1 - Electrical connection terminal - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an electrical terminal and in particular designed as a terminal terminal test and / or disconnect terminal. Such an electrical connection terminal has a first connection device for connecting a cable or another electrical conductor. The connection device is connected via an associated current bar with a first isolating contact. Furthermore, at least one second connection device is provided, which is connected via an associated current bar with a second isolating contact. In this case, the second connection device serves to connect a second cable or another conductor. By means of a separating device, the first and second connecting devices can optionally be connected to one another electrically or separated from one another.

Such an electrical terminal is for example from the DE 44 44 556 A1 known.

Electrical terminals and in particular electrical terminal blocks have been known for decades and are used a million times in the wiring of electrical equipment and devices. Often, such electrical terminals are snapped onto mounting rails or DIN rails. In turn, a plurality of such hat or mounting rails can be arranged in a control cabinet. The electrical cables or electrical conductors can be connected to the electrical terminal via screw terminals, spring terminals or insulation displacement terminals or other types of connection.

In particular, in terminal blocks for use in current transformer measuring circuits in power generation and energy distribution switching, separation and testing tasks are often to implement. That is why such Electrical terminals often referred to as disconnect terminals. If additionally test connections are provided, such electrical connection terminals can also be referred to as test terminals.

With the DE 10 2008 014 176 A1 a disconnect terminal has become known, which has a pivotally mounted in the terminal housing separating blade, which is pivotable from a first position in which the conductor terminals are connected to a second position in which the two conductor connection elements are separated from each other.

In this known terminal block is located centrally next to the conductor connection elements, the pivotable separating knife, which is provided to the outside with an insulating housing to achieve a contact protection. The insulating housing has an operating shaft in order, for example, to transfer the pivoting blade from the bridging position into the disconnected position with, for example, the tip of a screwdriver.

On both sides of the pivot blade guide shafts are provided in the optional pins of a test plug, a test socket, a jumper or a jumper can be inserted. In order for such test plugs and the like to be contacted in the guide shafts, corresponding contact devices are provided there.

The well-known terminal block works reliably and is suitable for a variety of applications. With the number of measuring and / or testing tasks provided, the structure of the known terminal block becomes large if, for example, three or three four or more manholes are provided on each side.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a simply constructed electrical connection terminal which has a separating device and possibly requires less installation space.

This object is achieved by an electrical terminal with the features of claim 1. Preferred developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims. Further advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the embodiments and the general description.

An electrical connection terminal according to the invention has at least one first connection device, which is connected via an associated current bar to a first isolating contact. Furthermore, at least one second connection device is provided, which is connected via an associated current bar with a second isolating contact. Furthermore, a movable separating device is provided which is provided with at least one contact tapping and which is movable from a bridging position into at least one separating position.

The electrical terminal according to the invention has many advantages. A significant advantage of the electrical terminal according to the invention is that the separator is provided directly with a Kontaktabgriff. This makes it possible to put a test plug or the like directly on the separator, so that total space can be saved. Another advantage is that an example as Banana plug trained test plug can be inserted into the Kontaktabgriff and at the same time can serve as a tool for operating the separator. This allows an even more flexible application of such an electrical terminal.

In preferred developments, the separating device is in particular pivotally received. It is also possible that the separating device is translational or along a curve guide or otherwise rotatably movable. A pivotable separating device allows a particularly simple, robust and reliable construction. It is also possible that the movement of the separating device takes place from the bridging position into the separating position via an at least partially linear or translatory movement. Also preferred are combinations of linear movements and pivoting movements.

Preferably, the separating device comprises at least one contact blade. The contact blade is provided for contacting the first isolating contact and the second isolating contact in the bridging position, so that the first connecting device is connected in an electrically conductive manner to the second connecting device.

Preferably, at least one isolating contact is designed as a fork contact. The fork contact can simultaneously form a stop which defines the bridging position. In such a particular U-shaped fork contact from the open side of the U from the contact blade is inserted to contact the fork contact.

In particularly preferred embodiments, the separating device has an actuating unit. The Actuator may protrude from the separator and in particular have the Kontaktabgriff. In a particularly simple case, the actuating unit may be formed as a particular insulated contact sleeve. Such an insulated contact sleeve can be gripped by the hand of a user, so that the separator can be transferred from the bridging position to the separating position even without the use of tools. Such a configuration allows a particularly simple operation of a terminal according to the invention. The contact sleeve forms the contact tapping.

The contact tapping on the actuating unit further allows a particularly small structure, since no additional space for a tool or the like to be introduced must be provided. For example, the actuating unit may be provided for receiving a banana plug or the like. Optionally, the introduced test plug can serve as an extended control.

In preferred developments, the separating device is movable in at least one detent position. Particularly preferably, two or more locking positions are provided. Preferably, it is possible that the separating device is movable in at least one test position.

Preferably, the contact tap is always connected to the contact blade. As a result, the contact pick-up in the bridging position is electrically connected to both connection devices. Preferably, at least one test position is now provided, in which the contact tapping is connected only to one of the connection devices. It is possible and preferred that two or more different Test positions are provided. In one test position, the contact tapping is then connected to the first connection device, and in the other test position the contact tapping is connected to the second connection device.

It is also possible and preferred that two or more contact taps are provided on the separating device, of which in at least one detent position and / or test position a contact tapping is connected to the first connecting device and the other tapping contact is connected to the second connecting device, while the first connecting device is separated from the second connection device.

It is possible, for example, the electrical contacting of the separating blade in at least one detent position and / or test position via at least one sliding contact. In this case, the sliding contact can be designed as Gleitreibekontakt.

Preferably, at least one test position is provided between the bridging position and the separating position.

In all embodiments, it is possible that the separating device comprises at least one functional unit, which is provided in particular pivotable together with the separating device.

The functional unit may have at least one light-emitting element in the form of, for example, an LED. It is also possible that the functional unit comprises, for example, a fuse and / or at least one other electrical or electronic component.

Such a functional unit offers considerable advantages, since, for example, in case of overload, the fuse provided there can automatically disconnect the electrical connection between the first connection device and the second connection device.

The invention is also directed to a terminal with at least two terminals. Preferably, at least one terminal is formed as previously described.

In all embodiments, it is possible that the contact blade is at least partially surrounded by an insulating material or - outside the contact areas - has an insulating coating.

The separator may be formed as a separate part and be introduced separately into the housing. It is also possible that the separating device has a separating housing surrounded the separating device, which is arranged, for example, interchangeable. But it is also possible that the separator is arranged in the housing of the terminal as a whole.

For attachment to a hat and / or mounting rail, a corresponding mounting rail receptacle may be provided, to which the electrical terminal is, for example, be clipped.

The housing provided for the electrical terminal consists in particular of a plastic material and can be produced, for example, in an injection molding process. The connection devices can be provided for connecting one or more conductors and as a screw connection or be designed as a clamping spring connection or the like.

One, two, three or more contact shafts can be provided for the first and / or the second termination device in order to connect test plugs, cross bridges or other devices there.

The contact tap of the separator preferably serves as a lever for manual operation. This allows a switchable signal tap. The contact tap is surrounded by a sprayed insulating compound, so that the switching element for finger is safe to touch.

In all embodiments, a shift blocking device can be provided which can be inserted into the separating device or a corresponding receptacle on the separating device in order to prevent unintentional switching. Preferably, such a shift lock device can be used on both sides of the separation point.

De separating device with a trained as a control lever Kontaktabgriff can also be referred to as a terminal with a pivoting test switching element. The terminal can be designed as a single terminal or as a terminal block.

Further advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the embodiments, which will be explained with reference to the accompanying figures below.

Fig. 1

einen perspektivische Ansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen elektrischen Anschlussklemme in der Überbrückungsposition;

Fig. 2

die elektrische Anschlussklemme nach Fig. 1 in der Trennposition;

Fig. 3

eine mit zwei erfindungsgemäßen elektrischen Anschlussklemmen versehene Reihenklemme;

Fig. 4

eine Trenneinrichtung für die elektrische Anschlussklemme nach Fig. 1 in der Überbrückungsposition;

Fig. 5

die Trenneinrichtung nach Fig. 4 in der Trennposition;

Fig. 6

eine weitere elektrische Anschlussklemme in einer perspektivischen Ansicht;

Fig. 7

eine schematisierte Seitenansicht eines weiteren Ausführungsbeispiels einer elektrischen Anschlussklemme;

Fig. 8

eine Prinzipdarstellung der Trenneinrichtung in der Überbrückungsposition;

Fig. 9

eine stark schematisierte Ansicht einer weiteren elektrischen Anschlussklemme.

In the figures show:

Fig. 1

a perspective view of an electrical terminal according to the invention in the bridging position;

Fig. 2

the electrical connection terminal after Fig. 1 in the separation position;

Fig. 3

a provided with two electrical terminals according to the invention terminal block;

Fig. 4

a separator for the electrical terminal after Fig. 1 in the bridging position;

Fig. 5

the separator after Fig. 4 in the separation position;

Fig. 6

another electrical terminal in a perspective view;

Fig. 7

a schematic side view of another embodiment of an electrical terminal;

Fig. 8

a schematic diagram of the separator in the bridging position;

Fig. 9

a highly schematized view of another electrical terminal.

In the Fig. 1 shown in a perspective view electrical terminal comprises a housing 12 consisting of a plastic and is provided with a first connection device 2 and a second connection device 5 for Connecting electrical conductors equipped. The connection devices 2 and 5 are designed here as spring terminals. However, it is also possible to carry out the connection devices as screw terminals or the like.

The first connection device 2 is connected via an associated current bar 3 with a separating contact 4, which here has a fork-shaped end. The connection device 5 is connected via a current bar 6 with a disconnect contact 7, which is also designed fork-shaped.

In the in FIG. 1 illustrated position, the separator 9 is arranged in the bridging position 10, in which the contact blade 15 contacts the isolating contact 4 at one end. The other end of the contact blade 15 is inserted into the fork-shaped end of the separating contact 7. As a result, an electrically conductive connection is provided between the connection device 2 and the connection device 5, which is separable by the separation device 9.

On the housing 12, a mounting rail receptacle 31 is provided so that the executed here as a terminal terminal electrical terminal 1 is mounted on a mounting rail. Other mounting options are possible.

The contact blade 15 of the separator 9 is pivotally received at a pivot point 27. By operating the actuating unit 17 designed as an operating lever, the separating device 9 or the contact blade 15 can be made of the in FIG. 1 shown bridging position 10 in the in FIG. 2 shown separating position 11 are pivoted.

In both positions, namely the bridging position 10 and the separating position 11, it is possible via the contact tap 8 on the actuating unit 17 to make electrical contact with the contact blade 15.

This consists in the in FIG. 1 shown bridging position 10 z. B. for measuring and testing purposes the ability to make an electrical connection with the connection device 2 and the connection device 5. For this purpose, a corresponding measuring and / or test plug is inserted into the contact tap, so that the contact sleeve arranged therein contacts the measuring and / or test plug.

Furthermore, it is also possible to provide a plurality of function shafts 36, in which corresponding contacts for contacting optionally inserted transverse bridges, test plugs or the like are provided.

In the in FIG. 2 illustrated separating position 11, the electrical contact between the isolating contact 4 and the contact blade 15 and between the other end of the contact blade 15 and the isolating contact 7 is released, so that the connection means 2 and 5 are electrically isolated from each other. In this embodiment, electrical connection of the connection devices 2 and 5 can take place via the function shafts 36 on the side of the first connection device 2 and on the side of the second connection device 5 so that the circuits connected thereto can be electrically measured and checked.

FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment in which the electrical terminal 1 is designed as a terminal block. In the illustration according to FIG. 3 make two each electrical terminal 1 in turn has connection devices 2 and 5 and corresponding current bars 3 and 6, which are connected to isolating contacts 4 and 7. Accordingly, two separating devices 9 are provided here, each having a contact tap 8.

In two adjacent functional shafts 36, for example, a cross-bridge 32 are inserted in order to set the associated terminal devices 2 of the two electrical terminals 1 to the same potential.

In another functional shaft 36, a test plug 33 is inserted here, which also has a contact tap 8.

On the side of the connection device 5, a test plug 33 is shown with a plurality of contact ends, which can be inserted into the designated function shafts 36 to allow appropriate measurement and testing tasks.

In FIG. 3 the terminal block 50 is mounted on a support rail 30.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show in enlarged scale the separator 9 for the terminal 1 from the FIGS. 1 to 3 ,

It is possible that the separating devices 9 are provided as separate components with a single housing, so that the separator 9 is exchangeable separately at a terminal 1. Possible and preferred but it also that the separator 9 is inserted into the housing 12 and has no separate housing.

In FIG. 4 the separator 9 is shown in the bridging position 10.

The lower end of the contact blade 15 contacts the separating contact 4 formed as a fork contact 16. The contact blade 15 is arranged pivotable about the pivot point 27. The upper end of the contact blade may be surrounded by an insulating material 28, which ensures a contact protection. At the upper end of the contact blade 15, the contact tap 8 is provided here, which simultaneously provides an operating lever 17 for the separating device 9. In the upper opening of the operating lever 17, a corresponding conductor or plug can be inserted to contact the contact tappet 8 there. The insulating material 28 provides finger-safe contact protection. By the operating lever 17, the separator 9 can be operated by hand and without tools.

After transferring the operating lever 17 from the in FIG. 4 shown bridging position 10 in the in FIG. 5 shown separating position 11, the electrically conductive contact of the contact blade 15 is lifted to the form of a fork contacts 16 isolating contacts 4 and 7.

FIG. 6 shows a further embodiment in which only one function shaft 36 is provided on each side of the separator 9. Characterized in that a Kontaktabgriff 8 is provided on the separator 9 itself, the number of function shafts 36 can be reduced, whereby a smaller-size terminal 1 can be realized.

The first connection device 2 and the second connection device 5 are provided here on opposite sides 13 and 14 of the connection terminal 1. Here the conductors to be connected are fixed via screw terminals to the connection devices 2 and 5. For this purpose, 1 screw holes 29 are provided on the top of the electrical terminal, into which a screwdriver can be inserted to clamp a recorded on the terminal device 2 cable or a recorded conductor.

FIG. 7 shows a further embodiment of a rowable electrical terminal 1 in a side view. The electrical connection terminal 1 has connection devices 2 and 5, which are connected to current bars 3 and 6. In this embodiment too, the conductors to be connected are fixed to the connection devices 2 and 5 via screw terminals.

In addition to the screw openings 29 contact shafts 37 are provided. Furthermore, two function shafts 36 are present.

While in the preceding embodiments, the separator 9 is moved via a pivoting movement of the bridging position 10 in the separating position 11, the transfer takes place in the embodiment according to Fig. 8 via a translatory and here even linear movement. For clarification is in Fig. 7 In addition, a portion of the operating lever 17 shown in dashed lines in the separation position 11.

At the separator 9 and the contact tap 8 is provided. The contact blade 15 is designed here as a contact plate.

The operating lever 17 is provided, as in the other embodiments, with an electrical insulating layer, so that the operating lever 17 can be safely touched in all positions.

FIG. 8 shows a schematic representation of a separator 9 in the bridging position 10. The ends of the contact blade 15 contact the forked ends 16 of the release contacts 4 and 7. The upper end of the contact blade 15 is electrically conductively connected to the contact tap 8. The exterior of the contact tab 8 may be surrounded by an insulating material 28. The contact tap 8 provides an operating lever for the separating device 9.

FIG. 9 shows a further embodiment in a highly schematic view, wherein in addition to the bridging position 10 and the separating position 11 further positions are provided here. Here, the drawn four positions are each provided detent, so that in addition to the detent position 18, which corresponds to the bridging position 10, and the detent position 19, which corresponds to the separating position 11, two more latching positions are provided, which serve as test positions 20 and 21 here.

For this purpose, the current bars 3 and 6 are designed such that in the test position 20, the upper end of the contact blade 15 contacts the current bar 6 on a sliding contact 22, while the other end of the contact blade does not touch the current bar 3.

In the test position 21, the upper end of the contact blade 15 does not contact the current bar 6, while the lower end of the contact blade 15 electrically contacts the current bar 3 at a sliding contact 22.

The test positions 20 and 21 allow an optional contact of the contact tap 8 with the one connection device 2 or the other connection device 5. In order to enable a reproducible approach of the positions 20 and 21, they are designed in particular detent.

The contact blade 15 shown in the detent position 19 shows here by way of example that the separator 9 can still be equipped with other functions. For example, a functional unit 23 can be accommodated on the separating device 9. Such a functional unit 23 may in particular comprise a luminous element 24 such as an LED, the z. B. indicates the operating condition. But it is also possible that the functional unit 23 comprises a fuse 25 and another electrical or electronic component 26. Such embodiments are particularly advantageous because they allow a highly integrated solution.

In other embodiments, two contact taps 8 may also be provided on the separating device 9, wherein, for example, in a test position 19 the one contact tapping has electrically conductive contact with the one connecting device, while the other tapping contact has electrically conductive contact with the connecting device 5. It is conceivable in such an embodiment also that in addition to the four in FIG. 8 Positions shown still a fifth position is provided. In this fifth position, a contact tap with the one connection device. 2 and the other contact tap to be connected to the connector 5. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS Electrical connection terminal 1 connecting device 2 current bar 3 isolating contact 4 connecting device 5 current bar 6 isolating contact 7 Contact interface 8th separator 9 bridging position 10 separating position 11 casing 12 page 13, 14 contact blade 15 fork contact 16 Actuator, operating lever 17 detent position 18, 19 test position 20, 21 sliding contact 22 functional unit 23 Light element, LED 24 fuse 25 component 26 pivot point 27 insulating material 28 screw opening 29 rail 30 Rail recording 31 cross bridge 32 Test Plugs 33 clamping contact 34 bolted 35 function bay 36 Contact Schacht 37 terminal 50

Claims (15)

1. Electrical connection terminal (1) having a first connection device (2), which is connected to a first isolating contact (4) by means of an associated current bar (3),
   and having at least one second connection device (5), which is connected to a second isolating contact (7) by means of an associated current bar (6),
   wherein a movable isolating device (9) is provided, which is moveable from a bridging position (10) into at least one isolating position (11),
   characterized in that
   the isolating device (9) has at least one contact tap (8).
2. Connection terminal according to Claim 1, wherein the isolating device (9) can pivot.
3. Connection terminal according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the isolating device (9) has at least one contact blade (15).
4. Connection terminal (1) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein at least one isolating contact (4, 7) is implemented as a fork-type contact (16).
5. Connection terminal (1) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the isolating device (9) has a control unit (17).
6. Connection terminal (1) according to the previous Claim 5,
   wherein the contact tap (8) is provided on the control unit (17), and wherein in particular the control unit (17) is substantially formed by the contact tap (8).
7. Connection terminal (1) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the isolating device (9) is movable into at least one locking position (18, 19, 20).
8. Connection terminal (1) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the isolating device (9) is movable into at least one test position (21).
9. Connection terminal (1) according to the previous Claim 8, wherein in order to contact the isolating blade in the test position (21) at least one floating contact (22) is provided.
10. Connection terminal (1) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the test position (21) is provided between the bridging position (10) and the isolating position (11).
11. Connection terminal (1) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein two or more contact taps (8) are provided.
12. Connection terminal (1) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the isolating device (9) comprises at least one functional unit (23).
13. Connection terminal (1) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the functional unit (23) comprises at least one light element (24) and/or at least one fuse (25) and/or at least one other electrical or electronic component (26).
14. Connection terminal (1) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the isolating device (9) is pivotally and/or translationally movable.
15. Terminal strip (50) having at least two connection terminals (1) according to any one of the previous claims.

Images