EP3180817B1 - Connection terminal for a continuous electrical conductor - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a terminal for a continuous electrical conductor, in particular a ground conductor.

Electrical equipment, such as machinery and equipment, are grounded to protect people and animals from electrical shock. For this purpose, electrically conductive components of the devices, in particular housing components, in which there is the possibility of a touch contact with a person, and which do not belong to the operating circuit of the electrical machine or the device, connected to a ground line. The ground line is connected to an operating ground of the supply voltage network. On the consumer side, the devices can also be connected together or separately via a protective earth, e.g. grounded in the ground.

To ground the electrical equipment together, a grounded earth wire is connected to all equipment. For this, a continuous earth conductor is used.

The US 2012/088380 A1 discloses a terminal for connecting an electrical device to a continuous electrical conductor in which a conductor in a kind of clamp with relatively pivotable legs can be inserted, which can be pulled together by a screw passing through a threaded cylindrical threaded nut to clamp the conductor and to contact.

The US 2013/013 72 94 A1 shows a terminal according to the preamble of claim 1.

Object of the present invention is to provide an easy-to-handle terminal that allows in other ways a fast and secure connection of the electrical equipment to a continuous ground wire without disconnecting it.

The object is achieved with a terminal according to claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are the dependent claims.

The terminal is for connecting an electrical device to a continuous electrical - in particular multi-stranded and stripped - conductor, in particular a ground wire, is provided.

The electrical conductor can be connected to the terminal only by being inserted into the recess in its direction of extent and by adjusting the holding means from the open position to the closed position.

In this case, the holding means is rotatably mounted.

In order to arrange the holding means in the indentation, it is preferred that it has a bearing surface for placing the electrical line in the open position. Preferably, the support surface holds the electrical conductor in the closed position in the recess. For this purpose, the holding means preferably has a first leg on which the support surface is arranged. In this embodiment, the resting on the support surface electrical conductor is placed in the indentation during rotation of the holding means. This is fast and easy.

The first leg is intended to at least partially close the indentation in the closed position.

Particularly preferably, the connection body and the holding means, in particular the first leg, jointly surround the electrical conductor in the closed position. Most preferably, they surround the electrical conductor in full, or at least surround it captively.

Thus, the holding means does not dissolve in the closed position, and safely holds the ground conductor in the terminal even under heavy vibration load, the terminal connection on the clamping means. The clamping means is for it provided to clamp the holding means simply and safely in the closed position.

In this case, the clamping means interacts directly with the holding means. The clamping means is a clamping screw which is adjustable in and against a clamping direction transversely to the extension direction and secures the contact position particularly good and easy. It preferably has a clamping surface. The clamping surface is preferably arranged at an open end of the clamping screw and extends transversely to the direction of rotation of the clamping screw.

In the embodiment according to the invention, in the closed position the clamping surface lies directly on the holding means, in particular on a second leg of the holding means. It prevents the clamping means an unintentional adjustment of the holding means from the closed to the open position, so that the electrical conductor is securely held in the closed position.

The holding means is L-shaped. In this embodiment, it is easy and inexpensive, in particular as a stamped part, produced.

The holding means is preferably rotatably mounted in a bearing bore of the connecting body, so that it is easily rotatable. Further preferably, the holding means has a through hole for receiving a rotary shaft, in particular a split pin, which is arranged between the first leg and the second leg. The holding means thereby forms in the open position a support, which leads the electrical conductor in turning the holding means in the direction of rotation in the recess into it. In the closed position, the first leg of the holding means for clamping the holding means can be used.

The rotary shaft is preferably formed by a web or a split pin. It is particularly preferably formed by a Federsplint. This keeps the sap by itself, even with rough tolerances.

Furthermore, it is preferred that the connection terminal comprises a conductor connection for connecting a further electrical conductor. The further electrical conductor is preferably a connection conductor of the electrical device, wherein the electrical conductor is preferably a ground conductor. The conductor connection can be designed both as a terminal connection according to the invention and as a conventional conductor connection.

Therefore, it is preferable in one embodiment that the connection terminal is designed to be surface-symmetrical or point-symmetrical. In this embodiment, it also has a clamping connection with a recess for the further conductor, into which the continuous conductor can be inserted and connected in its extension direction. However, it is also preferred an embodiment of the terminal, in which this also has such a terminal connection, but which is not symmetrical. Furthermore, an embodiment is preferred in which the conductor connection is a conventional conductor connection which is designed, for example, to connect a conductor end, for example as a push-in connection.

The terminal is particularly preferably formed electrically conductive. Preferably, it is made of a metal or a metal alloy, for example brass. It is particularly preferred that it has a low resistance and has good current carrying capacity.

In the following the invention will be described with reference to figures. The figures are merely exemplary and do not limit the general idea of the invention.

Figur 1

eine erste Ausführungsform einer nicht unter Anspruch 1 fallenden Anschlussklemme, und zwar in (a) in einer explosionsartigen Ansicht, und in (b) in einem Schnittbild;

Figur 2

eine zweite Ausführungsform einer - erfindungsgemäßen - Anschlussklemme, und zwar in (a) in einer explosionsartigen Ansicht, und in (b) in einer perspektivischen Ansicht; und

Figur 3

eine dritte Ausführungsform einer - erfindungsgemäßen - Anschlussklemme, und zwar in (a) in einer explosionsartigen Ansicht, in (b) und (c) in einem Schnittbild.

Show it:

FIG. 1

a first embodiment of a not falling under claim 1 terminal, in (a) in an exploded view, and in (b) in a sectional view;

FIG. 2

a second embodiment of a - inventive - terminal, in (a) in an exploded view, and in (b) in a perspective view; and

FIG. 3

a third embodiment of a - inventive - terminal, in (a) in an exploded view, in (b) and (c) in a sectional view.

The FIG. 1 shows the terminal 1 in a first embodiment.

The connection terminal 1 has a connection body 2, with a clamping connection 20, which has at least one indentation 21, which extends in an extension direction 43. In the indentation 21 is a continuous electrical conductor 5 (s. Fig. 1 (b) ) inserted in the direction of extension 43. The connection terminal 1 is preferably provided for producing an electrically conductive connection of an electrical conductor 5 designed as a ground conductor 51 to a connection conductor 52 (not shown) for earthing an electrical device. However, it is also generally usable for establishing an electrical connection between two electrical conductors 5 of another function.

In order to hold the inserted into the recess 21 electrical conductor 5 in this, the terminal 1 has a retaining means 31. The holding means 31 is intended to close the indentation 21 at least partially, or preferably completely. For this purpose, the holding means 31 in the connecting body 2 is rotatably mounted about an axis 4 which extends in the extension direction 4.

The holding means 31 has a first leg 312 and a second leg 313. It is here formed L-shaped. In the region in which the first leg 312 adjoins the second leg 313, a through-bore 314 is provided.

The connection body 2 has a bearing bore 24. In an assembled state M, the bearing bore 24 of the terminal body 2 and the through hole 314 of the holding means 31 are arranged in alignment with each other, serving as a receptacle for supporting a rotary shaft 32 which extends concentrically about the axis 4.

The holding means 31 is rotatably mounted on the rotary shaft 32 in an assembled state M. In this case, the rotary shaft 32 passes through the bearing bore 24 and the through hole 314. As a result, the holding means 31 with the rotary shaft 32 in and against a rotational direction 41 about the axis 4 is rotatable. In this state M, it is from an open position O, in which the electrical conductor 5 is inserted into the recess 21, in a closed position G, in which the holding means 31, the electrical conductor 5 in a radial direction 40 about the axis 4 in the indentation 21 holds, rotatable in the direction of rotation 41.

The holding means 31 has a bearing surface 311 for the electrical conductor 5 to be connected. The bearing surface 311 is arranged here on the first and second legs 312, 313. It extends on an inner side (not labeled) of the first and second limb 312, 313, which faces the connection body 2, in particular in the closed state G.

In order to place the electrical conductor 5 in the indentation 21, the electrical conductor 5 to be connected can be placed on a support surface 311 in the open state O. This is in the Fig. 1 (b) shown. By rotating the holding means 31 in the direction of rotation 41, it is inserted into the indentation 21 and placed there. In doing so, it is closed simultaneously with the holding means 31, namely with the first leg 312 of the holding means 31. This is in the Fig. 1 (c) shown.

In the closed state G, the electrical conductor 5 is therefore held with the first leg 312 of the holding means 31 in the indentation 21. The first leg 312 then closes the indentation 21 almost completely. The first leg 312 and the connecting body 2 therefore surround the electrical conductor 5 in the closed position G together almost completely. The electrical conductor 5 is then held captive in the recess 21. The indentation 21 is dimensioned such that the (stripped) electrical conductor 5 in the closed position G contacts the connection body 2 in an electrically conductive manner. The connection body 2 is preferably itself electrically conductive, so that in a simple manner no further components (not shown) for the production of an electrically conductive contact between the electrical conductor 5, in particular the ground conductor 51, and a further electrical conductor 5, in particular the connecting conductor 52, connected to the connection body 2.

In order to hold the holding means 31 in the closed position G, the clamping connection 20 also comprises a clamping means 33. The clamping means 33 is advantageously designed here as a clamping screw. It is reversibly screwed into a through hole 23 of the connecting body 2, which extends transversely to the extension direction 43, wherein it moves from a basic position P into a position S securing the holding means 31 in the closed position G in a clamping direction 42. The clamping means 33 has a clamping surface 331, which is arranged on an indentation 21 facing the open end 332 of the clamping means 331. The clamping surface 331 extends here transversely to the clamping direction 42.

In the embodiment shown here, displaced into the locking position S clamping means 33 presses the electrical conductor 5 in the recess 21 when the holding means 31 is in the closed position G. So that the clamping means 33 holds the holding means 31 in the closed position G, the second leg 313 is provided. It is at least partially in a receiving groove 22 which is arranged in the clamping direction 42 below the indentation 21 arranged. The receiving groove 22 extends into the connector body 2 of the terminal 1 inside. The receiving groove 22 is arranged transversely to the extension direction 43.

In the closed position G, the second leg 313 is received in the receiving groove 22. Since the electrical conductor 5 is pressed in the locking position 42 in the recess 21 in the securing position S in the clamping direction 42, the clamping means 33 acts indirectly in this position S, namely via the electrical conductor 5, with the holding means 31 together. Thereby, the holding means 31 is held in the closed position G.

The terminal 1 is formed surface symmetrical to a symmetry plane 13 shown here only schematically, which extends in the extension direction 43. The terminal 1 therefore has two terminal connections 20, to each of which a continuous electrical conductor 5 can be connected. The clamping connections 20 are arranged on opposite sides 11, 12 of the plane of symmetry 13.

In the illustrated embodiment of the terminal 1, two mutually parallel holding means 31 spaced from one another in the direction of extent 43 are provided for each clamping connection 20. The clamping means 32 of the two terminal connections 20 is in each case arranged in the extension direction 43 between the two holding means 31 of the respective clamping connection 20.

Fig. 2 shows a further - inventive - embodiment of such a terminal 1. In this terminal 1 is provided for each electrical conductor 5, or for each terminal connection 20, but only a holding means 31. The terminal 1 is formed point symmetrical to an axis of symmetry 14. It is also designed to connect two continuous electrical conductors 5.

The terminal 1 of this embodiment is different from that of the embodiment of FIG Fig. 1 Furthermore, by the holding means 31 each interact directly with the same clamping connection 20 associated clamping means 33.

For this, the clamping means 33 is in its basic position P in the open position O of the holding means 31 at a first contact point 315 of the second leg 313 of the holding means 31 at. By turning the holding means 31 in the direction of rotation 41, this is rotated to the closed position G. In order to secure the holding means 31 in the closed position G, the clamping means 33, which is also designed here as a clamping screw, displaced by rotation in the clamping direction 42 until it rests against a second bearing point 316 of the second leg 313 of the holding means 31.

An advantage of this embodiment is that the clamping means 33 does not press on the electrical conductor 5. In addition, the electrical conductor 5 is clamped between the connecting body 2 and the first leg 312 of the holding means 31. As a result, the terminal connection 20 of this embodiment can be used for electrical conductors 5 of different conductor cross-sections. Both types of closure work with different conductor cross sections.

In the embodiment shown here, the first leg 312 of the holding means 31 extends in the closed position G against the clamping direction 42 beyond the recess 21 addition. Therefore, in the connection body 2 in alignment with the receiving groove 22 for the holding means 31, an incision 25 is provided into which the first leg 312 protrudes in the closed position G. An inserted in the indentation 21 electrical conductor 5 is therefore completely surrounded in the closed position G of the connection body 2 and the holding means 31.

In the embodiment of the terminal 1 of the Fig. 3 only one of the conductor terminals is formed as a clamping terminal 20. This is arranged here on the second side 12 of the terminal 1. The terminal 1 also has two conventional conductor terminals 26, which are formed for example as a push-in connections. One of the two conductor connections 26 is arranged on the first side 11 of the connection terminal 1, and the other between the clamping connection 20 and the conductor connection 26 arranged on the first side 11. The terminal 1 is therefore formed asymmetrically. The conventional conductor terminals 26 are each schematically represented by a conductor connection opening 261 and a clamping screw 33 arranged in a bore 27.

The terminal connection 20 of this terminal 1 is analogous to those in the Fig. 2 already described terminal 1 is formed. The Fig. 3 (b) and (c) each show the interaction of the clamping means 33 with the holding means 31 in the open position O (s. Fig. 3 (b) ) and in the closed position G (s. Fig. 3 (c) ).

Fig. 3 (d) shows a section through the connector body 2 of the terminal 1 of Fig. 3 (a) - (c) On the second side 12. Visible here is especially the extending in the extension direction 43 rotating shaft 32, and the non-rotatably mounted on the rotary shaft 32 holding means 31. To close the indentation 21, the holding means 31 and the rotary shaft 32 together around the Axis 4 is rotated until the first leg 312 of the holding means engages in the recess 25 of the connector body 2.

The rotary shaft 32 is formed as a Federsplint. This keeps the sap by itself, even with rough tolerances.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

terminal

11

First page

12

Second page

2

connection body

20

terminal connection

21

indentation

22

receiving groove

23

Through Hole

24

bearing bore

25

incision

26

wire connection

261

port opening

27

drilling

31

holding means

311

bearing surface

312

First leg

313

Second thigh

314

Through Hole

315, 316

contact point

32

Rotary shaft, bridge, split pin, spring split pin

33

Clamping means, clamping screw

331

clamping surface

4

axis

41

direction of rotation

42

clamping direction

43

extension direction

5

Electrical conductor

51

ground wire

52

connecting conductors

O

Open position of the holding means

G

Closed position of the holding means

P

Basic position of the clamping device

S

Securing position of the clamping device

M

Assembled condition

Claims (13)

1. A connection terminal (1) for connecting an electrical device to a continuous electrical conductor (5), in particular a ground conductor,

   a. comprising a connector body (2) which has at least one terminal connection (20), comprising a recess (21) which extends in a direction of extension (43) of the electrical conductor (5), and

   b. comprising a holding means (31) which is provided for at least partial closing of the recess (21),

   c. wherein the holding means is reversibly adjustable from an open position (O), in which the electrical conductor (5) can be inserted into the recess (21), into a closed position (G),

   d. in which the holding means (31) holds the electrical conductor (5) in the recess (21) in a radial direction (40) around the direction of extension (43),

   e. wherein the holding means (31) with a first arm (312) and a second arm (313) is designed in the shape of an L and is reversibly rotatable in a direction of rotation (41) around an axis (4) which extends in the direction of extension (43), and

   f. the terminal connection (20) has a clamping means (33) which clamps the electrical conductor (5) and the holding means (31) in the closed position (G) of the holding means (31),

   g. the clamping means (33) is a clamping screw which can be adjusted in a clamping direction (42) and counter to said clamping direction transversely to the direction of extension (43), and characterized in that

   h. the holding means (31) acts directly together with the clamping screw (33) associated with the terminal connection (20), so that the electrical conductor (5) is clamped between the connector body (2) and the first arm (312) of the holding means (31) in a closed position G.
2. The connection terminal (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the holding means (31) is rotatably mounted, in particular in a bearing bore (24) of the connector body (2).
3. The connection terminal (1) according to Claim 2, characterized in that the holding means (31) has a contact surface (311) for the application of the electrical conductor (5) in the open position (O), which holds the electrical conductor (5) in the recess (21) in the closed position (G).
4. The connection terminal (1) according to Claim 3, characterized in that the contact surface (311) is arranged on the first arm (312) of the holding means (31).
5. The connection terminal (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact surface (311) is arranged facing the connector body (2).
6. The connection terminal (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connector body (2) and the holding means (31) surround the entire periphery of the electrical conductor (5) in the closed position (G).
7. The connection terminal (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the clamping means (33) has a clamping surface (331) which, in the closed position (G), butts against the second arm (313) of the holding means (31).
8. The connection terminal (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holding means (31) has a through bore (314) for receiving a rotary shaft (32), in particular a cotter pin, which is arranged between the first arm (312) and the second arm (313).
9. The connection terminal (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, on the connector body (2), a conductor connection (26) is provided additionally for the connection of an additional electrical conductor, in particular a connection conductor of the electrical device.
10. The connection terminal (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has a plane symmetric or point symmetric design.
11. The connection terminal (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is designed to be electrically conductive.
12. The connection terminal (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first arm (312) of the holding means (31) in a closed position G extends counter to a clamping direction (42) beyond the recess (21).
13. The connection terminal (1) according to Claim 12, characterized in that in the connector body (2), in alignment with the receiving groove (22) for the holding means (31), an indentation (25) is provided, into which the first arm (312) protrudes in the closed position G.

Images