EP3248248A1

EP3248248A1 - Electrical connection terminal with a two-part operating element

Info

Publication number: EP3248248A1
Application number: EP16701271.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Bernd Wilinski
Original assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2015-01-21
Filing date: 2016-01-20
Publication date: 2017-11-29
Anticipated expiration: 2036-01-20
Also published as: CN107210545B; WO2016116476A1; CN107210545A; US20180006385A1; DE102015100823A1; EP3248248B1; US10230179B2; DE102015100823B4

Abstract

The subject matter of the invention is an electrical connection terminal (100) comprising a connection terminal housing (10) which has a conductor insertion opening (11), a busbar (12) which is arranged in the connection terminal housing (10), a spring element (13) which is rotatably mounted in the connection terminal housing (10) and can be pivoted into an open position and into a closed position, wherein a conductor, which is inserted into the conductor insertion opening (11), can be clamped against the busbar (12) by means of the spring element (13) in the closed position, and an operating element (15) which is rotatably mounted in the connection terminal housing (10) and by means of which the spring element (13) can be operated in order to move into the open position and into the closed position, wherein the operating element (15) has a main body (16), which has a tool insertion opening (18), and an operating arm (17). The main body (16) and the operating arm (17) are of two-part design, wherein the operating arm (17) is designed such that it can be pivoted relative to the main body (16).

Description

ELECTRICAL CONNECTING TERMINAL WITH SECONDARY ACTUATING ELEMENT

The invention relates to an electrical connection terminal, which has a conductor insertion opening

Terminal housing, one in the

Terminal block arranged busbar, a rotatably mounted in the terminal housing

Spring element which is pivotable in an open position and in a closed position, wherein in the closed position an inserted into the conductor insertion opening conductor can be clamped by means of the spring element against the busbar, and in the

Terminal housing rotatably mounted

Actuator, by means of which the spring element for transfer to the open position and in the

closed position is actuated, wherein the actuating element has a tool insertion opening having a base body and an actuating arm. Such a terminal is known for example from DE 10 2012 011 794 AI. The actuating element is rotatable here via a bearing element in the

Terminal box mounted. The actuating element has a base body and an integral part of the

Basic body integrally formed actuating arm, which has a smaller thickness than the main body. Of the

Actuating arm is formed bent in the direction of the spring element and serves to a holding portion of the

Release spring element from its catch when the spring element from the closed position in the

opened position is to be transferred by the

Holding section is bent by means of the actuating arm in the direction of the actuating arm. As soon as the Holding portion is released from the latch, the spring element can pivot upward in the direction of the actuating element by the spring element with the holding portion and at least a portion of the actuating leg in a formed on the actuating element free space

einschwenkt, without a rotation of the

Trigger actuator. In order to transfer the spring element from the open position back to the closed position, the actuating element is rotated so that it with its base against the

Actuating leg of the spring element presses to push this down. The rotational movement of the

Actuator can by means of a tool,

in particular a screwdriver, carried out by this trained in a on the actuating element

Tool insertion opening is introduced, the

Tool insertion opening on the main body of

Actuating element is formed. A disadvantage of this actuator is the relatively large space required by the actuating element due to its relatively large pivot angle, wherein the pivot angle of the actuating element is determined by the relatively large pivot angle of the integrally formed on the main body actuating arm. To one

To allow pivoting movement of the actuator, must be in the terminal housing an additional

Freedom be created in which the

Actuator especially with its elongated

trained actuating arm during pivoting of the

Dipping actuator can. Due to the

additional clearance it is necessary to use the entire

Make terminal wider. The invention is therefore based on the object to provide an electrical terminal, which is characterized by a reduced space requirement

distinguished.

The object of the invention is achieved by the features of the independent claim. expedient

Embodiments and advantageous developments of

Invention are specified in the subclaims.

The invention is characterized in that the

Base body and the actuating arm are formed in two parts, wherein the actuating arm is designed to be pivotable relative to the base body.

It is now envisaged that the actuating element is no longer formed in one piece, but the

Base body and the actuating arm of the actuating element are characterized by the two-part design of the

Actuator two separately formed components which are joined together within the terminal so that a relative movement between the actuating arm and the base body is made possible. Characterized in that the actuating arm is now formed or arranged pivotably on the base body, it is no longer necessary for a rotational movement of the actuating element that the actuating arm the entire

Pivoting movement of the body must perform with, but it is possible that the actuating arm of the pivotal movement of the body only over a

Part of this pivotal movement follows the body. As a result, the necessary pivot angle of the Actuating arm for actuating the spring element,

in particular for releasing the latching of the spring element and for transferring the spring element from the closed position into the open position.

In this way it can be achieved that the pivoting angle of the actuating arm is smaller than the pivot angle of the base body. Thus, it is no longer necessary that for the actuator and in particular the

Actuating arm an additional space in the

Terminal housing must be provided to ensure sufficient rotational movement or pivoting movement of the

To ensure actuator. Due to the now no longer necessary additional free space within the terminal housing, the width of the entire terminal with constant

Functionality of the terminal can be reduced, whereby the entire space required for the

Terminal can be reduced. The space requirement of the actuating element within the terminal is thereby determined in relation to the width of the terminal only by the dimension or the dimensions of the main body of the actuating element and is independent of the dimension or dimensions of the actuating arm. In addition, compared to the previously known solutions a symmetrical arrangement of the actuating arm for spring element allows, whereby upon actuation of the spring element of the actuating arm in the middle of the width of the spring element, a force on the spring element, in particular the downwardly bent

Holding portion of the spring element, can apply. As a result, when the spring element is actuated, it is uniformly loaded, in particular in the region of the holding section, in order to release the spring element or the holding section of the spring element from the undercuts on the busbar can. Tilting or bending of the spring element or the holding portion of the spring element when actuated by means of the actuating arm can be prevented.

The actuating arm is preferably in a in the

Base body formed recess pivotally mounted. The actuating arm can thus within the

Be taken body, so that a defined pivotal movement of the actuating arm is made possible. The

Recess is preferably shaped such that at least part of the actuating arm is encompassed in a U-shape of the body, so that a lateral tilting of the

Actuating arm can be safely prevented during a pivoting movement. The actuating arm is then

Preferably surrounded by a wall of the recess and thus of the body both at its two end faces and at its two longitudinal side surfaces, so that the recess has a slot-like opening in the

Body forms. The actuating arm is preferably not received over its entire length within the recess, but only over a portion of its length. The other portion of the actuating arm projects out of the base body, so that by means of this partial area, the actuation of the spring element can be made possible by means of the actuating arm. The recess may also be designed to be open so that the wall of the recess only the two end faces of the

Operating arm covered and the longitudinal side surfaces of the actuating arm are exposed and are not covered by a wall of the recess or the base body, so that these longitudinal side surfaces of the actuating arm itself form an outer surface of the actuating element. In particular, if the recess is open and not in the form of a slot-shaped opening, it can preferably be provided that in the recess, a web is formed, wherein the actuating arm can embrace the web in a U-shape. By the web and the U-shaped embracing the actuating arm of the web can be a secure hold of the actuating arm within the open

Recess of the body can be achieved as a

Tilting movement of the actuating arm through the web

can be prevented. The actuating arm in this embodiment preferably has a recess into which the web can engage and through which

Actuating arm can embrace the bridge U-shaped. Of the

Actuating arm can thereby be pushed onto the web within the recess of the base body.

In order to limit the pivotal movement of the actuating arm within the body and also to be able to exert a compressive force of the actuating arm on the spring element, it is preferably provided that on the

Base body is formed at least one stop. If the actuating arm abuts against this stop, then the

Actuating arm pivoted together with the base body, whereby in particular an actuation of the spring element and in particular a force application can be realized by the actuating arm to the spring element. The stop is preferably formed within the recess in the base body. For example, the stop may be formed by a wall of the recess or else an additional rib may be formed in the recess. Preferably, a second stop is formed, which is arranged opposite to the first stop so that the actuating arm between the two

Stops can be pivoted. As a result, the pivoting movement of the actuating arm between two

defined positions and the pivot angle of the actuating arm can be limited to a defined maximum dimension. For example, a first stop may be formed as a pressure edge and a second stop may be formed as a holding edge. It may further be provided that a locking means for locking the actuating arm in a position relative to the base body is arranged on the base body and / or on the actuating arm. By means of the

Arretierungsmittels can pivot a movement of the

Actuating arm can be prevented relative to the body, since by means of the locking means a fixation of the actuating arm can be made possible on the body. Such a fixation can for example

Assembly purposes or during certain switching positions, for example when operating the spring element by means of the actuating arm serve. The locking means may be formed for example in the form of locking means, for example, on the base body openings and on the actuating arm locking pins may be formed, wherein the locking pin can engage in the recesses of the openings to the actuating arm in a

be able to fix the defined position on the body. Alternatively, it is also possible that, for example, the openings on the actuating arm and the locking pins are formed on the base body. Other embodiments of

Locking means or locking means instead of openings and locking pins are also possible. In order to facilitate the assembly of the actuating element, it is preferably provided that the main body and the actuating arm to a on the

Terminal housing formed bearing element

are mounted pivotably. The bearing element may be formed, for example in the form of a journal, on which both the base body and the

Actuating arm are arranged. For this purpose, the

Base body having an opening which is

preferably extends into the recess of the base body for receiving the actuating arm into it. Of the

Actuating arm may preferably have a bearing eye, by means of which the actuating arm can be pushed onto the bearing element. During assembly, the actuating arm can thus first be introduced into the basic body in such a way, in particular in the recess of the

Base body are introduced so that the bearing eye is arranged in alignment with the opening on the base body, in order subsequently to the base body together with the

To mount actuating arm on the bearing element by the actuator with the opening of the

Main body and the bearing eye of the actuating arm is pushed onto the bearing element. Through a common

Bearing point of the body and the actuating arm on the terminal housing or on the bearing element also the necessary space for the actuator and thus for the entire terminal can be further reduced. Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the

Terminal housing has two conductor insertion openings and in the housing two spring elements and two actuators are arranged, the two Actuating elements opposite to each other are rotatable and opposite each other so that the actuating arms of the actuating elements are arranged in the direction of division one behind the other. Due to this special arrangement with multiple actuators in a housing a

Terminal can the necessary space in a

Provision of two conductor connections should be as space-saving as possible, whereby the entire electrical

Terminal can be made very compact.

In the following, the invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings

Embodiments explained in more detail. Show it:

Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of an electrical

Terminal according to the invention without a housing cover, wherein the spring element is in an open position,

Fig. 2 is a further schematic representation of the

electrical terminal according to the invention without a housing cover, wherein the spring element is in a closed position,

Fig. 3 is a schematic sectional view of

electrical terminal according to the invention with the spring element in a closed

Position,

Fig. 4 is a schematic sectional view of the

Actuating element and the spring element of in an electrical connection terminal shown in Fig. 1-3 during actuation of the spring element by means of the actuating arm of the actuating element, a schematic representation of a base body and an actuating arm of a

Actuating element according to one embodiment of the invention, a schematic representation of a base body and an actuating arm of a

Actuating element according to another embodiment of the invention, a schematic representation of the actuator shown in Fig. 6 in an assembled state, and Fig. 8 is a schematic representation of an electrical

Terminal according to the invention with two conductor insertion openings and two

Actuators. Fig. 1 shows an electrical terminal 100 in a detailed view. The electrical connection terminal 100 has a conductor insertion opening 11 formed in a terminal housing 10, via which a conductor (not shown here) can be inserted into the connection terminal 100, around the conductor inside the connection terminal

100 electrically conductively connect or connect. For electrically conductive terminals or connecting the inserted conductor is within the

Terminal housing 10 a busbar 12th

arranged, which is U-shaped in the embodiment shown here.

Further, in the terminal housing 10 is a

Spring element 13 is arranged rotatably mounted by the spring element 13 is positioned on a pivot pin 14. By the rotatable mounting of the spring element 13, this can be pivoted into an open position and a closed position, wherein in the closed position in the conductor insertion opening 11th

inserted conductor can be clamped by means of the spring element 13 against the busbar 11. A closed one

Position of the spring element 13 is shown for example in Fig. 2. Fig. 1 shows the spring element 13, however, in an open position. Further, in the terminal housing 100 is a

Actuator 15 rotatably mounted, by means of which the spring element 13 can be actuated for transfer into the open and in the closed position. The

Actuating element 15 has a base body 16 and an actuating arm 17. The actuating arm 17 and the

Base 16 are formed as two separate components, so that the actuating element 15 is formed in two parts. Due to the two-part training of

Actuator 15, it is possible that the

Actuating arm 17 relative to the base body 16th

is designed to pivot. On the main body 16, a tool insertion opening 18 is formed, in which a tool, such as a screwdriver, can be introduced to actuate the actuator 15, in particular to turn or to pivot. By means of the actuating arm 17, the actuation of the spring element 13 takes place in order to transfer this from the closed position to the open position.

Fig. 2 shows the spring element 13 in the closed

Position. For the transfer of the spring element 13 from the open position shown in Fig. 1 in the closed position shown in Fig. 2, a rotational movement of the actuating element 15 takes place counterclockwise. During this counterclockwise rotation, an edge 19 formed on the outer circumference of the main body 16 presses on the spring element 13, in particular on an upper side 20 of the spring element 13, so that the spring element 13 is pressed downwards in the direction of the busbar 12 by means of the edge 19, one in the terminal 100th

inserted conductor against the busbar 12 to press. During the rotational movement of the actuating element 15 in the counterclockwise direction of the base body 16 against the

Turned clockwise and the actuating arm 17 is at least over a portion of the rotational movement of the

Base 16 with this together against the

Turned clockwise. The rotational movement or

Swiveling movement of the actuating arm 17 thus does not take place over the entire pivoting angle of the main body 16, but only over a partial area, so that in addition to the entire pivoting movement of the actuating element 15, a pivoting movement is carried out within the actuating element 15 by the actuating arm 17 pivoted relative to the base body 16 is so that the actuating arm 17 in an end position, as shown in Fig. 2, in contrast to the position shown in Fig. 1 relative to the base 16 is pivoted downward. In this pivoted end position, a longitudinal side edge 21 of the actuating arm 17 is parallel to a vertical

formed wall 22 of the terminal housing 10 is arranged. Would not pivoting of the

Actuating arm 17 may be possible relative to the base body 16, for example, when the actuating arm 17 is integrally formed with the base body 16, in the end position shown in Fig. 2, the longitudinal side edge 21 of the actuating arm 17 would not be parallel to the wall 22 of

Terminal housing 10 may be arranged, but at a substantially right angle to the wall 22nd

be positioned so that the wall 22 to the

Pivoting movement of the actuator 15 does not hinder, further away from the actuator 15 should be designed to be shifted to the right, so that the entire terminal housing 10 would have to be wider and thus would require more space. FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of that in FIG. 2

shown terminal 100 with the actuating element 15 in the end position shown in Fig. 2. In Fig. 3, the pivot angle alpha of the base body 16 and the

Pivoting angle beta of the actuating arm 17 at a

Rotary movement of the actuating element 15 is shown from the open position of the spring element 13 in the closed position of the spring element 13, wherein it can be seen that the pivot angle beta of the actuating arm 17 is smaller than the pivot angle alpha of the base body sixteenth

Furthermore, it can be seen in the sectional view of the actuating element 15 shown in FIG Base 16, the tool insertion opening 18th

is formed, which is formed in the form of an acute angle. Further, in the base body 16, a recess 23rd

formed, within which the actuating arm 17 is pivotally mounted. The recess 23 has a first stop 24 and a second stop 25 for limiting the pivoting movement of the actuating arm 17, wherein the two stops 24, 25 by a wall of the

Recess 23 are formed. In the end position of the actuating element 15 shown in FIG. 3, when the

Spring element 13 is in the closed position, the actuating arm 17 is located with a first end face 26 flat against the lower second stop 25, wherein the stop 25 is formed here in the form of a retaining edge. The upper, first stop 24 forms a pressure edge, wherein the actuating arm 17 with one of the first

End face 26 opposite second

End face 27 upon actuation of the spring element 13, as shown in Fig. 4, abuts against this formed as a pressure edge stop 24 to a force or

Pressure force on the spring element 13 to open the

Exercise spring element 13 can.

In Fig. 3 it can also be seen that the base body 16 and the actuating arm 17 together at one on the

Terminal housing 10 trained bearing element 28 are pivotally mounted. This bearing element 28 is here designed in the form of a bearing journal, on which both the base body 16 and the actuating arm 17 are pushed and supported. For this purpose, the main body 16 has an opening 29 in the region of the recess 23, as can be seen for example in Fig. 5 and 6 and the actuating arm 17 has a bearing eye 30, wherein the bearing eye 30 of the actuating arm 17 is arranged flush with the opening 29 to the actuator 15 and

in particular, the base body 16 and the actuating arm 17 together and thus to be able to mount at the same time on the bearing element 28.

Fig. 4 shows the actuating element 15 upon actuation of the spring element 13 for transferring the spring element 13 from the closed position shown here into an open position as shown in Fig. 1 in a

Sectional view. The actuating element 15 is rotated for this purpose in a clockwise direction, so that the actuating arm 17 of the actuating element 15 comes into contact with the spring element 13. In this case, both the base body 16 in

Turned clockwise and the actuating arm 17, wherein, however, the rotational movement or pivoting movement of the

Actuating arm 17 only starts when the base body 16 has already been rotated so far over a certain pivot angle that the upper, first stop 24 of the base body 16 abuts against the upper, second side surface 27 of the actuating arm 17, as shown in FIG. to pivot the actuating arm 17 in a further rotational movement of the actuating element 15 together with the base body 16 in the direction of the spring element 13. As soon as the actuating arm 17 rests with its end face 27 flat against the upper, first, formed as a pressure edge stop 24, in a further rotational movement of the actuating element 15 and the base 16, a force, in particular a compressive force of the body 16 on the actuating arm 17 and be exerted by the actuating arm 17 on the spring element 13 to the spring element 13th from the closed position to an open position as shown in FIG.

Fig. 5 shows a base body 16 and an actuating arm 17 of an actuating element 15 according to a possible embodiment. Fig. 6 shows the base body 16 and the actuating arm 17 of an actuating element 15 in a further possible embodiment. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 5 is the

Recess 23 formed in the form of a slot-shaped opening in the base body 16, so that in a mounted state of the actuating arm 17 on the base body 16 at least a portion of the actuating arm 17, in particular the part with the bearing eye 36, U-shaped is encompassed by the base body 16 , as can be seen in Fig. 1 and 2. The actuating arm 17 is both at its two end faces 26, 27 and at its two

Longitudinal side surfaces 37, 38 surrounded by a wall of the recess 23.

In contrast to the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, a web 30 is formed in the recess 23 of the base body 16 which extends between the first stop 24 and the second

Stop 25 extends. The actuating arm 17 has a recess 31, by means of which the actuating arm 17 can be inserted into the recess 23 such that the actuating arm 17 engages around the web 30 in a U-shape. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 6, in contrast to the embodiment shown in Fig. 5, the recess 23 is formed open so that the wall of the recess 23, only the two end faces 26, 27 of the actuating arm Covered 17 and the longitudinal side surfaces 37, 38 of the

Actuating arm 17 are exposed and not covered by a wall of the recess 23 and the base body 16. As can also be seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, on the main body 16 and the actuating arm 17

Locking means 32 formed, wherein the

Arretierungsmittel 32 are formed on the base body 16 in the form of openings 33 and the locking means 32 on the actuating arm 17 in the form of locking pin 34th

are formed, for fixing the actuating arm 17 at a certain position relative to the base body 16, the locking pin 34 engage in the openings 33 and can hook. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 6, the locking means 32 are in an inverted

Arrangement formed by on the base body 16, the locking means 32 in the form of a locking pin 34th

is formed and on the base body 16 the

Arretierungsmittel 32 is formed in the form of an opening 33. The locking means 32 are preferably positioned such that the actuating arm 17 can be fixed to the base body 16 by means of the locking means 32 in the position fixed to the base body 16, wherein the actuating arm 17 with its second end face 27 on the first, formed as a pressure edge stop 24 is applied and a force is exerted by the actuating arm 17 on the spring element 13 to open the spring element 13. FIG. 7 shows the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG

Actuating element 15 in an assembled state of the actuating arm 17 on the base body 16th FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of a connection terminal 100 in which two terminals are provided in the terminal housing 10

Conductor insertion openings 11 are formed and in the terminal housing 10 two not shown here

Spring elements 13 are arranged opposite each other and also two actuators 15 are arranged opposite one another. The terminal housing 10 has on its underside a latching foot 35, by means of which the terminal housing 10 and the terminal 100 can be snapped onto a support rail, not shown here. The two in the terminal housing 10th

arranged actuating elements 15 are opposite to each other rotatable and are opposite to each other such that the actuating arms 17 of the

Actuators 15 are arranged in the direction of division one behind the other.

Reference sign list

Terminal 100

Terminal housing 10

Conductor insertion opening 11

Busbar 12

Spring element 13

Pivot 14

Actuator 15

Basic body 16

Actuating arm 17

Tool insertion opening 18

Edge 19

Top 20

Longitudinal edge 21

Wall 22

Recess 23

First stop 24

Second stop 25

First end face 26

Second end face 27

Bearing element 28

Opening 29

Bridge 30

Recess 31

Locking means 32

Opening 33

Locking pin 34

Resting foot 35

Bearing eye 36

Longitudinal side surface 37

Longitudinal side surface 38

Claims

claims

1. Electrical connection terminal (100), with

a terminal housing (10) having a conductor insertion opening (11),

a bus bar (12) arranged in the terminal housing (10),

a in the terminal housing (10) rotatably mounted spring element (13), which in an open position and in a closed position

is pivotable, wherein in the closed position an inserted into the conductor insertion opening (11) conductor by means of the spring element (13) against the

Power rail (12) is clamped, and

a in the terminal housing (10) rotatably mounted actuating element (15) by means of which the spring element (13) for the transfer to the open position and in the closed position is actuated, wherein the actuating element (15) has a

Tool insertion opening (18) having

Main body (16) and an actuating arm (17)

having,

characterized in that

the base body (16) and the actuating arm (17) are formed in two parts, the actuating arm (17) being designed to be pivotable relative to the base body (16).

2. Electrical connection terminal (100) according to claim 1,

characterized in that the actuating arm (17) in a in the base body (16) formed recess (23) is pivotally mounted.

3. Electrical terminal (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that in the recess (23) has a web (30) is formed, wherein the actuating arm (17) surrounds the web (30) U-shaped.

4. Electrical connection terminal (100) according to one of

Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that on the base body (16) at least one stop (24, 25) for limiting the pivoting movement of the actuating arm (17) is formed.

5. Electrical connection terminal (100) according to one of

Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that on the base body (16) and / or on the actuating arm (17) has a locking means (32) for locking the

Actuating arm (17) is arranged in a position relative to the base body (16).

6. Electrical connection terminal (100) according to one of

Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the base body (16) and the actuating arm (17) on one of the terminal housing (10) formed

Bearing element (28) are pivotally mounted.

7. Electrical connection terminal (100) according to one of

Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the terminal housing (10) has two

Conductor insertion openings (11) and in the terminal housing (10) two spring elements (13) and two actuating elements (15) are arranged, wherein the two actuating elements (15)

are mutually rotatable and opposite each other so that the actuating arms (17) of the Actuating elements (15) are arranged one behind the other in the direction of division.