EP3047540A1

EP3047540A1 - Clamping cage for an edge connector

Info

Publication number: EP3047540A1
Application number: EP14766684.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Michael Herrmann; Constantin Classen; Karlo Stjepanovic
Original assignee: Weidmueller Interface GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Weidmueller Interface GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2013-09-16
Filing date: 2014-09-11
Publication date: 2016-07-27
Anticipated expiration: 2034-09-11
Also published as: US20160211591A1; US9905943B2; CN105556751A; WO2015036472A1; JP6419191B2; JP2016530690A; EP3047540B1; CN105556751B; DE102014113086A1

Abstract

A connection module (1) for an electrical connection apparatus (10) for connecting an electrical conductor to an electrical assembly, comprising a. at least one clamping cage (2), b. and a busbar (3), c. which are each produced from an electrically conductive flat strip (200, 300), wherein each flat strip (200, 300) has in each case two mutually opposite broad sides (220, 320) and narrow sides (210, 310) connecting said broad sides, d. wherein the narrow sides (310) of the flat strip (300) of the busbar (3) are narrow sides (31) of the busbar (3), and the narrow sides (210) of the flat strip (200) of the clamping cage (2) are narrow sides (21) of the clamping cage (2), e. wherein the clamping cage (2) has at least three walls (221-223) which are arranged at an angle with respect to one another and which each have an extension component (601) parallel to a conductor insertion direction (8), and f. wherein either the clamping cage (2) is fastened undetachably on one narrow side (31) of the busbar (3) or g. the busbar (3) is fastened undetachably on one narrow side (21) of the clamping cage (2).

Description

Clamping cage for a direct plug-in terminal

The present invention relates to a connection module for an electrical direct plug-in terminal according to the preamble of claim 1, as well as the direct plug-in terminal.

For connecting electrical conductors to an electrical assembly connecting devices are often used, in which the stripped end of the electrical conductor by means of a spring or a spring-loaded pressure piece against a

Busbar is pressed or pulled. In this case, the busbar is connected to the electrical assembly or connectable.

Such connection devices are usually manufactured in modular design and then have a clamping cage, in which there is the terminal point at which the spring or the pressure piece pushes or pulls the conductor end to the busbar.

For the production of such connection modules a variety of designs is known. The designs differ for example by the materials used for the clamping cage, the spring and the busbar.

Often, clamping cage and spring are made in one piece from a material having good spring characteristics, for example, a spring steel, and the bus bar is made separately from a highly conductive material, such as copper. Or these components are all manufactured separately, wherein for the

If necessary, a very cost-effective, preferably thin-walled material can be used for the clamping cage. Such connection devices with separately manufactured busbar shows, for example, the document DE 20 201 1 000 714 U1. It is also known, busbar and clamping cage, and possibly also the spring to manufacture in one piece. In these connection modules of the clamping cage but is relatively expensive and requires much material due to large waste. In addition, good conductive material such as copper is expensive. In addition, the one-piece production of busbar and terminal cage requires a large distance between a plurality of successively arranged connection modules.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a connection module in which the clamping cage, although made of a highly conductive material, in particular from a copper-containing metal or copper, but still inexpensive can be produced, as well as a direct plug-in terminal with the connection module, a series connection device with a plurality of connection modules and a method for producing the connection module. This object is achieved by a connection module having the features of claim 1, a direct plug-in terminal having the features of claim 9, a series connection device having the features of claim 12 and a method having the features of claim 13. Further advantageous embodiments can be found in the dependent claims.

For this purpose, a connection module for an electrical connection device for connecting an electrical conductor to an electrical assembly is provided which comprises a clamping cage and a busbar. The clamping cage is provided for providing a terminal point for the electrical conductor. The clamping cage and the busbar are each made in one piece from a well electrically conductive flat ribbon. As a good electrically conductive flat strip material, a copper alloy is preferably used for the flat strips. The flat strips, from which the clamping cage and the busbar are made, each have two opposite broad sides and these connecting narrow sides. The clamping cage and the busbar are intended for the conduction of an electric current.

It is preferred that the clamping cage and / or the busbar are produced as stamped parts or as stamped and bent parts. The narrow sides of the flat strip of the busbar thus form narrow sides of the busbar, and the narrow sides of the flat strip of the clamping cage thus form narrow sides of the clamping cage.

Both a production of the clamping cage and the busbar from the same flat strip, as well as a production of the clamping cage and the busbar of different flat strips, in particular different thickness, are preferred. The thickness of the busbar and the clamping cage is dimensioned so that both the busbar and the clamping cage have sufficient mechanical stability and sufficient current carrying capacity. The clamping cage has at least three walls arranged at an angle to each other, which extend parallel or substantially parallel to a conductor insertion direction. In this context, the expression "essentially parallel" encompasses a clamping cage in which at least one of the walls is arranged at an acute angle to the conductor insertion direction, in particular at an angle of 0 ° -60 °, but it is particularly preferred that all walls of the clamping cage parallel to the conductor insertion direction extend. The walls are preferably arranged at a right angle to each other.

The connection module is characterized in that either the clamping cage on a narrow side of the busbar or the busbar on a narrow side of the clamping cage inextricably - in particular cohesively - is attached.

Compared to a one-piece production of the clamping cage with busbar falls in this configuration of the connection module hardly any waste, so that the waste content and thus the material consumption in the production can be significantly reduced. Although the production of this connection module requires an additional process step in which clamping cage and busbar are permanently attached to each other, the production of the connection module due to the saving of high-quality flat strip material is still considerably cheaper possible.

Since the narrow sides of the flat band for the clamping cage, the narrow sides of the clamping cage, and since the narrow sides of the flat strip for the busbar are the narrow sides of the busbar, the narrow sides of the clamping cage, the thickness of the flat strip used for the clamping cage, and the narrow sides of the busbar have the Thickness of the narrow sides of the ribbon used for the busbar on.

In a preferred embodiment, the clamping cage is U-shaped. In this case, it is preferred that two of the walls are narrow walls which are connected to one another by the third wall, which is referred to below as the connecting wall. Preferably, one of the narrow walls is provided for supporting a spring. Further preferably, a clamping point for the electrical conductor is provided between the second narrow wall and the spring. In a likewise preferred embodiment, the clamping cage is quadrangular in cross section. In this embodiment, it is preferably circumferentially closed, or preferably also designed to be circumferentially open.

In the embodiment in which the clamping cage is U-shaped, it encloses the nip to a large extent. In the embodiment in which the clamping cage is quadrangular in cross-section, it encloses the clamping point almost completely or even completely. It is preferred that the clamping cage and the busbar are fastened to one another at a line-shaped connecting seam. Particularly preferably, they are materially interconnected, most preferably by welding, in particular by resistance welding or by laser welding.

The clamping cage preferably has a longitudinal extent. It is preferred that it at least partially surrounds an interior in a circumferential direction to the longitudinal extent. Preferably, the clamping point for clamping the electrical conductor is arranged on the clamping cage or on the busbar in the interior.

In a particularly material-saving embodiment, the clamping cage is also open on two opposite end faces, which are arranged transversely to the longitudinal extent. It is preferred that the bus bar is arranged on one of the front sides and in particular parallel to it. The interior of the clamping cage remains accessible in this embodiment, at least from the opposite end side.

In order to be able to attach the busbar particularly easily to the clamping cage, it is preferred that the clamping cage has a first wall which is extended relative to at least one further wall or part of the first wall of the clamping cage, so that this wall has an extension. The extension is preferably formed as a rectangular tongue. Preferably, the extension is extended relative to at least one upper edge, a lower edge or a side edge of a wall of the clamping cage. It is preferred that the busbar is attached to the extension of the clamping cage. As a result, the busbar with respect to the upper edge, the lower edge or the side edge is spaced and placed very flexible application specific in the connection module.

The object is also achieved with a direct plug-in terminal, which comprises such a connection module. The direct plug-in terminal is preferably a spring-loaded terminal which has a spring. The spring is preferably at least partially disposed in the interior of the clamping cage and provided to press an electrical conductor against the busbar or to pull the busbar. It is preferred that the direct plug-in terminal comprises an insulating material housing. The insulating material surrounds the clamping cage preferably fully. In addition, it is preferred that a conductor insertion opening is provided in the insulating housing, through which an electrical conductor in the clamping cage, in particular in the nip, can be inserted.

The object is also achieved with a series connection device with at least two such connection modules. The series connection device is distinguished characterized in that the connection modules have a common busbar and a distance between adjacent clamping cages of the connection modules is smaller than a width of one of the clamping cages, in particular a narrow side of the clamping cage. In comparison to a one-piece production of a series connection device with a plurality of connection modules arranged adjacently along the busbar, the clamping cages of the inventive series connection device can be produced independently of their width, in particular the width of their narrow walls. Therefore, they are closer to each other. Preferably, a distance between adjacent clamping cages of the invention Reihenan- termination device is less than 0.7 times the width of a narrow wall of the clamping cages, more preferably less than 0.5 times the width of the narrow wall.

The object is also achieved by a method for producing such an Anschluss module, in which a clamping cage, and a busbar independently of each other are each made in one piece from a well electrically conductive flat ribbon, and in the after

Either the clamping cage on a narrow side of the busbar formed by a narrow side of the flat band of the busbar,

· Or the busbar to a through a narrow side of the flat band of

Clamping cage formed narrow side of the clamping cage,

is fastened cohesively. The fastening is preferably effected by material bonding by welding, preferably by resistance or laser welding. Despite the several required in this method of preparation process steps, namely the independent manufacture of terminal cage and busbar and their subsequent interconnection, the production of the connection module using high-quality materials due to the considerable material savings compared to a one-piece production of the connection module is significantly cheaper possible.

Reference to exemplary embodiments, the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings will be explained in more detail. 1 shows in (a) a detail of a connecting device with a first embodiment of a connection module according to the invention in a perspective view, in (b) another embodiment of a connection module according to the invention with a clamping cage and a busbar, wherein also a spring and a pressure piece are shown, in a perspective view, in (c) a development of the busbar of the connection module from (b), in (d) a settlement of the clamping cage of the connection module from (b), and in (e) an end face of the connection module from (b);

Figures 2 and 3 each show a further embodiment of an inventive

Connection module in a side view; in (a) - (d) various embodiments of series connection devices with a plurality of connection modules each without a housing; and in (a) the series terminal device of Fig. 4 (c), and in (b) the series terminal devices of Fig. 4 (b) each having a housing.

FIG. 1 shows a connection device 10 with a connection module 1 according to the invention. The connection device 10 is designed as a direct plug-in terminal (Push In).

For this purpose, it has a housing 12, which is made of an electrically insulating material, with a housing interior 13, in which the connection module 1 is arranged. The connection module 1 comprises a clamping cage 2 and a busbar 3, which are manufactured independently of each other and then attached to each other inseparably. Furthermore, the connection device 10 has a spring 4 which extends into an inner space 24 of the clamping cage 2. The interior 24 of the clamping cage 2 is accessible through a conductor insertion opening 1 1.

The clamping cage extends in a longitudinal extension direction 60 set here opposite to the conductor insertion direction 80. The busbar 3 is arranged in this embodiment on the clamping cage 2, that it extends transversely to the conductor insertion direction 1 1.

The spring 4 is here approximately V-shaped and has two spring legs 41, 42. It is mounted about a housing pin 14 so that a conductor insertion opening 1 1 facing the first spring leg 41 in and against a pivoting direction 141 about the housing pin 14 is pivotable. With the second, the conductor insertion opening 1 1 facing away from the spring leg 42, the spring 4 is supported during

Swiveling the first spring leg 41 on the clamping cage 2 from. For pivoting the first spring leg 41 in the pivoting direction 141, a pressure piece 5 is provided, which is manually, in particular with a tool (not shown), operable. In this case, the first spring leg 41 is actuated by pressing the pressure piece 5 in a Leitereinführrichtung 80 so that a

Clamping point (not shown), which is arranged in the interior 24 of the clamping cage 2, opens. In this state, an electrical conductor 8 is inserted into the nip. By releasing the pressure piece 5, the first spring leg 41 is pivoted back due to the restoring force of the spring 4 against the pivoting direction 141 and the inserted into the terminal point electrical conductor 8 between the spring 4 and the clamping cage 2 jammed. The clamping cage 2 is therefore provided here for providing the nip.

The electrical conductor 8 is shown schematically in FIG. He has a stripped wire end 81, with which he can be inserted into the nip.

FIG. 1 (b) shows a further embodiment of a connection module 1 for such a connection device 10. In addition, in Fig. 1 (b), the spring 4 and the pressure piece 5 are shown in the position relative to the connection module 1, in which they are arranged in the connection device 10.

Fig. 1 (c) shows the flat tape 300 from which the bus bar 3 is made. It has two opposite broad sides 320, which are interconnected by narrow sides 310. The flat strip 300 extends in a unwinding direction 330, wherein the narrow sides 310 extend transversely and longitudinally to the unwinding direction 330. The flat strip 300 has a constant thickness D3, which corresponds to a height H3 of the narrow sides 310.

In order to produce a busbar 3 for the connection module 1 of FIG. 1 (b) from this flat strip 300, the flat strip 300 is here merely cut to length. The busbar 3 is therefore preferably produced here as a stamped part. The narrow sides 310 of the flat strip 300 are therefore the narrow sides 31 of the busbar 3. Furthermore, the broad sides 320 of the flat strip 300 and the broad sides 32 of the busbar third

In an analogous manner, the clamping cage 2 is produced from a flat strip 200 unwound in the unwinding direction 230. The shape of the broad sides 220, for example, by punching or sawing, adjusted. Subsequently, the ribbon 200 is bent to the clamping cage 2. The clamping cage 2 is therefore produced as a stamped and bent part. The narrow sides 210 of the thus adapted and bent flat belt 200 are the narrow sides 21 of the clamping cage 2. They have a height H2, which corresponds to the thickness D2 of the flat belt 200. The settlement of the

Clamping cage 2 shows Fig. 1 (d).

The clamping cage 2 of Fig. 1 (b), (e) is formed in quadrangular cross-section. It therefore has four walls 221-223, three of which are shown here. The walls 221-223 are disposed at an approximately right angle (not labeled) to each other. They each have an extension component 601 in the longitudinal extension direction 60 and an extension component 602 transversely to the longitudinal extension direction 60 of the clamping cage 2. Here too, the longitudinal extension direction 60 extends counter to the conductor insertion direction 80. The walls 221-223 are therefore provided parallel to the conductor insertion direction 80.

In order to produce the direct plug-in terminal 10 as narrow as possible with the connection module 1, the clamping cage 2 has two mutually opposite walls 222, 223, which have a width B _w , here a width B _{s of} the busbar 3 plus the height H2 of the narrow sides 21st of the clamping cage 2 corresponds. Hereinafter, these opposing walls 222, 223 are referred to as narrow walls. At a first of the two narrow walls 223, the spring 4 is supported. The nip is disposed between the spring 4 and a second of the two narrow walls 222.

The narrow walls 222, 223 are interconnected by a connecting wall 221. The connecting wall 221 has a greater width B _v determined by the spring and a clamping angle 41 of the spring 4 than the narrow walls 222, 223. In this case, a first wall 221 of the clamping cage 2 is extended relative to its other walls 222, 223, so that this wall 221 has an extension 27 formed as a rectangular tongue. The terms extension 27 and tongue are used synonymously below. The tongue 27 therefore extends beyond a lower edge 281 of the clamping cage 2 seen in the conductor insertion direction 80.

In the illustrated embodiment of Fig. 1 (b) and (e) the busbar 3 is attached to the extension 27 on the clamping cage 2. Namely, it is attached with one of its narrow sides 31 on the extension 27 on the clamping cage 2. It is flush with an edge 271 of the extension 27 is provided. As a result, it is spaced from the lower edge 281. The distance A is shown in Fig. 1 (e).

The attachment is preferably cohesive, preferably by welding. As a result, a connecting seam 7, along which the busbar 3 on the clamping cage 2 is arranged, formed linear. By laser or resistance welding, the production of the connecting seam 7 is very accurate and exactly possible.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show two further embodiments of connection modules 1 according to the invention. In both embodiments, in contrast to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 (b) and (e), the bus bar 3 is arranged on a narrow side 21 of the clamping cage 2.

In this case, the busbar 3 of FIG. 2 extends transversely to the longitudinal extension direction 60 of the clamping cage 2, that is to say parallel to the end faces 25, 26 of the clamping cage 2, and in the longitudinal direction 60 in FIG. 3, ie transversely to the end faces 25, 26 Thus, the clamping cage 2 of FIG. 2 from one of the end faces 25 from the outside accessible, the clamping cage 2 of FIG. 3 from both end faces 25, 26 of.

In both embodiments, the first wall 221 is elongated. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the first wall 221 is extended so that it protrudes in the direction of conductor insertion direction 80 over a lower edge 281 of a wall 222, 223 of the clamping cage 2. The busbar 3 is provided flush with an edge 271 of the extension 27. Therefore, in this embodiment, it is spaced from the lower edge 281 by the distance A.

In contrast, in the embodiment of FIG. 3, the first wall 221 is extended so that it protrudes in the conductor insertion direction 80 as seen from a side edge 282 of the clamping cage 2. The busbar 3 is therefore spaced in this embodiment from the side edge 282 by the distance A.

The connection modules 1 produced in this way have the advantage over previously known connection modules (not shown) that a considerable material saving of approximately 15% -25% is possible during their production.

FIG. 4 shows in (a) - (d) in each case a row connection device 100 with at least two such connection modules 1 in each case without a housing 12. The connection modules 1 each have a common busbar 3, and at least two or more clamping cages 2. In the embodiments of FIGS. 4 (a) - (c), the clamping cage 2 is respectively welded to the narrow side 31 of the busbar 3. In the embodiment of Fig. 4 (d), however, it is welded with its narrow side 21 to the busbar 3. In both cases, the clamping cage 2 is connected at its tongue 27 to the busbar 3. In the embodiment of FIG. 4 (a), two connection modules 1 are provided. The clamping cages 2 of the two connection modules 1 are arranged on the common busbar 3. The busbar 3 has a bend 32 between the clamping cages 2, so that the conductor insertion directions 80 of an electrical conductor are arranged in the clamping cages 2 in an angle determined by the bend 32 (not designated) relative to one another.

The two clamping cages 2 are here also arranged in mirror symmetry to an axis of symmetry 9. As a result, they are oriented opposite each other. Your Leitereinführöffnungen 1 1 are therefore arranged on the side facing away from its adjacent clamping cage 2 side.

In the series connection device 100 of FIG. 4 (b), in each case two connection modules 1 oriented in the same direction are arranged with the smallest possible distance A1 between them. The series connection device 100 has two such groups of connection modules 1, wherein the connection modules 1 of the two groups are arranged mirror-symmetrically to the mirror axis 9. The clamping cages 2 of the two groups are therefore oriented opposite to each other.

In comparison to a one-piece production of a series connection device (not shown), in which a distance between two adjacent connection modules (not shown) is determined by a width of the adjacent clamping cages (not shown), in particular their narrow walls, the series connection arrangement 100 according to the invention makes possible independently of each other manufacturing the busbar 3 and the clamping cages 2 a very close placement of the clamping cages 2 on the busbar 3 side by side. The distance A1 between adjacent 2 clamping cages can therefore be chosen very small. It is smaller than the sum of the widths B of the narrow walls 223, 222 of the adjacent clamping cages 2 selectable.

In the series connection device 100 of FIG. 4 (c), four connection modules 1 oriented in the same direction are arranged with the smallest possible distance A1 between them. The distance A1 is smaller than the sum of the widths B of the narrow walls 2222, 223 of the adjacent clamping cages 2. In addition, the series terminal device 100 has a facing in the opposite direction connection module 1, which is further spaced from the four grouped connection modules 1. The Reihenanschlussvornchtung 100 of FIG. 4 (d) has two to the mirror axis 9 mirror symmetry arranged sch connection modules 1, which are arranged widely spaced. FIG. 5 shows in (a) the series connection device 100 of FIG. 4 (c), and in (b) the series connection devices 100 of FIG. 4 (b), each with housing 12. Both series connection devices 100 have locking feet 101, with which they on a mounting rail (not shown) can be arranged. As a result, a plurality of such series connection devices 100 on the same mounting rail in one

Row can be arranged side by side.

reference numeral

1 connection module

10 direct plug-in terminal

100 series connection arrangement

101 resting foot

2 clamping cage

21 narrow side of the clamping cage

221 - 223 Wall of the clamping cage

24 Interior of the clamping cage

25, 26 end face of the clamping cage

27 extension, tongue

281 lower edge

282 side edge

200 flat strap for the clamping cage

210 narrow side of the flat band for the clamping cage

220 Broad side of the flat band for the clamping cage

3 busbar

31 narrow side of the busbar

300 ribbon for the busbar

310 Narrow side of the flat strip for the busbar

320 Broad side of the ribbon for the busbar

330 processing direction

4 spring

41, 42 spring legs

43 clamping angle

5 pressure piece

60 longitudinal direction of the clamping cage

601, 602 extension component

61 circumferential direction about the longitudinal direction

7 seam

8 electrical conductors

81 stripped end of the electrical conductor

80 conductor insertion direction

10 connection device

1 1 conductor insertion opening

12 housing

13 housing interior

14 housing pin

141 pivoting direction D2, D3 thickness of the flat band

H2, H3 height of the flat band

A distance

A1 Distance between adjacent clamping cages B _s Width of the busbar

B _w Width of the narrow wall

B _v width of the connecting wall

Claims

claims

1 . Connection module (1) for an electrical connection device (10) for connecting an electrical conductor to an electrical assembly, comprising

a. at least one clamping cage (2),

b. and a busbar (3),

c. each made of an electrically conductive flat strip (200, 300), each flat strip (200, 300) each having two opposite broad sides (220, 320) and connecting them narrow sides (210, 310),

d. wherein the narrow sides (310) of the flat strip (300) of the busbar (3) narrow sides (31) of the busbar (3), and the narrow sides (210) of the flat band (200) of the clamping cage (2) narrow sides (21) of the clamping cage (2 ) are,

e. wherein the clamping cage (2) has at least three angularly spaced walls (221 - 223) each extending parallel or substantially parallel to a conductor insertion direction (80),

characterized in that

f. either the clamping cage (2) on a narrow side (31) of the busbar (3), or

G. the busbar (3) on a narrow side (21) of the clamping cage (2) is permanently attached.

Second connection module (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the walls (221 - 223) are arranged at a right angle to each other.

3. Connection module (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the clamping cage (2) is formed in cross-section U-shaped or quadrangular.

4. Connection module (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the clamping cage (3) and the busbar (2) are fastened to one another at a line-shaped connecting seam (7).

5. Connection module (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the clamping cage (2) and the busbar (3) are integrally connected to one another, in particular by welding.

6. Connection module (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the clamping cage (2) has a first wall (221) opposite at least one further wall (222, 223) or a part of the first wall (221) a Extension (27), in particular a rectangular tongue on which the busbar (3) on the clamping cage (2) is attached.

7. Connection module (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the clamping cage (2) has a longitudinal extension direction (60) opposite to the conductor insertion direction (80), and an inner space (24) in a circumferential direction (61) to the longitudinal direction (60) at least partially encloses.

8. Connection module (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the clamping cage (2) on two opposite end faces (25, 26), which are arranged transversely to the longitudinal direction (60), is open.

9. direct plug-in terminal (10) with a connection module (1) according to one of the preceding claims.

10. direct plug-in terminal (10) according to claim 10, characterized in that it is a spring-loaded terminal and an insulating housing (12).

1 1. Direct plug-in terminal (10) according to any one of claims 9 or 10, characterized in that it comprises a spring (4), in particular a V-shaped spring, at least partially in the interior (24) of the clamping cage (2), arranged and is intended to press or pull an electrical conductor (8) against the clamping cage (2) or the busbar (3).

12. A series connection device with at least two connection modules (2) according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that they have a common busbar (3) and a distance (A1) between adjacent ones

Clamping cages (2) is smaller than a width (B _w ) of one of the clamping cages (2), in particular a narrow wall (222, 223) of the clamping cage, is.

13. A method for producing a connection module (1) according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that a clamping cage (2), and a busbar (3) independently of each other in one piece from a well electrically conductive ribbon (200, 300) produced be, and that then either the clamping cage (2) formed on a narrow side (310) of the flat strip (300) of the busbar (3) narrow side (31) of the busbar (3), or the Conductor rail (3) on a by a narrow side (210) of the flat strip (200) of the clamping cage (2) formed narrow side (21) of the clamping cage (2), is firmly bonded, in particular by welding.