EP3367510A1 - Line connection clamp - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a conductor terminal (1) having the following features:
a) at least one insulating housing (2),
b) at least one contact insert (3, 5) arranged at least partially in the insulating housing, comprising at least one contact piece (3) and at least one clamping spring (5),
c) wherein the contact piece with the clamping spring forms at least one conductor terminal point (30) for an electrical conductor (8) to be contacted by means of the conductor connection terminal (1), which can be acted on at the conductor terminal point (30) by a spring force of the clamping spring (5),
d) at least one in the insulating housing (2) pivotally mounted actuating lever (7) for actuating the clamping spring (5), wherein the actuating lever (7) from a closed position to an open position and vice versa relative to the insulating housing (2) and / or Contact piece (3) is pivotable and at least in the open position in the conductor terminal (1) inserted electrical conductor (8) at the conductor clamping point (30) is not acted upon by the spring force of the clamping spring (5),
e) wherein the actuating lever (7) is mounted floating and at least in the open position at least partially supported on the contact piece (3).

Description

The invention relates to a conductor terminal with the features of claim 1.

Generally, the invention relates to the field of electrical conductor connection technology. Conductor terminals, for example in the form of terminal blocks, for example, from DE 10 2011 110 640 A1 or the EP 02 53 239 B1 known.

The invention has for its object to further develop such conductor terminals in terms of ergonomics, manufacturing costs and / or ease of installation.

This object is achieved by a conductor terminal according to claim 1.

As a result of the floating bearing, the operating lever adapts itself to the force relationships occurring and is thus subject to reduced wear compared to a fixed axle bearing. In addition, the floating mounting allows easy, even retrofitting the operating lever with already closed Isolierstoffgehäuse. The support of the actuating lever on the contact piece, which is usually made of metal, provides a robust counter bearing for the actuating lever. Accordingly, the contact piece together with a corresponding part of the actuating lever forms a pivot bearing which is very wear-resistant. Since the actuating lever advantageously made of plastic, eg an insulating material of Isolierstoffgehäuses, can be made, also results with the metallic contact piece a favorable material pairing, which is low-friction and at the same time wear.

In addition, the actuating lever, at least in certain pivoting angles, also be supported with its back on an inner wall of the insulating material.

The actuating lever can act on the clamping spring directly or indirectly to cancel the clamping action of the clamping spring at the conductor terminal point and not to apply an inserted into the conductor terminal electrical conductor with the spring force of the clamping spring, or to open the nip.

The clamping spring can act on the electrical conductor at the conductor terminal point directly to the spring force by the clamping spring contacts the conductor, or indirectly via an intermediate component.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention it is provided that the contact piece has a clamping portion in which the contact point is arranged, and a bearing portion on which the actuating lever is at least partially supported in the open position, wherein the conductor receiving chamber between the clamping portion and the bearing portion is arranged. This has the advantage that unbundling of the areas of the bearing section and clamping section is achieved by the intermediate region of the conductor receiving chamber. In this way, more favorable design and space conditions of the conductor terminal are created.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the clamping spring has a contact leg, via which the clamping spring on one of the conductor receiving chamber facing first side of the bearing section on Contact piece is supported. This has the advantage that the clamping spring is securely supported at low material and production costs.

According to an advantageous development of the invention, it is provided that the actuating lever is at least partially supported on the second side of the bearing section of the contact piece facing away from the conductor receiving chamber, at least in the open position. This has the advantage that the operating lever is securely supported at low material and production costs.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention it is provided that the bearing portion is connected to the clamping portion via a connecting portion of the contact piece. In this way, the contact piece with the bearing portion and the clamping portion can be easily provided as a one-piece component, e.g. in the form of a stamped and bent part. Advantageously, the connecting section can be guided laterally past the region in which the conductor is to be received in the conductor receiving chamber. In this way, the connecting portion can also form a lateral boundary of the conductor receiving chamber. Thus, the arrangement of bearing portion, connecting portion and clamping portion may be e.g. be formed in a U-shape. In particular, the clamping portion, the bearing portion and the connecting portion of a material, in particular metal, be integrally formed.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention it is provided that the bearing portion of the contact piece is formed as a plate, in particular as a metallic plate. In particular, the first side of the bearing portion and the second side of the bearing portion may be spaced from each other by the thickness of the plate of the bearing portion.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention it is provided that at least in the open position of the actuating lever a closed Force chain is formed by a driver element of the clamping spring via a the driver element acted upon pulling arm of the actuating lever, on the outer contour, and on the first side and the second side of the bearing portion on the contact leg of the clamping spring. This allows a kinematically favorable force management at the same time low power load of Isolierstoffgehäuse parts. By such a closed power chain, which is characterized in that the force vector sum is zero, the forces exerted by the open position of the actuating lever forces are transmitted particularly efficiently to the plant leg of the clamping spring.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention it is provided that the conductor receiving chamber is separated by the upper portion, in particular the bearing portion of the contact piece of the actuating lever. This has the advantage that unbundling of the areas of the bearing section and clamping section is achieved by the intermediate region of the conductor receiving chamber. In this way, more favorable design and space conditions of the conductor terminal are created.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, a pull arm of the actuating lever between the outer contour of the actuating lever and a handle portion of the actuating lever is arranged. This has the advantage that, despite the compact outer dimensions of the conductor connection terminal, a large lever arm can be realized on the actuating lever.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the actuating lever has an eccentric outer contour, via which the actuating lever is supported on the contact piece. The pivot bearing contour of the actuating lever is thus formed by the eccentric outer contour. This has the advantage that the actuating lever can exert relatively large forces for actuating the clamping spring at low manual actuating forces (large force transmission), which results in a pleasantly smooth operation of the conductor connection terminal accompanied.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the actuating lever during pivoting in addition to a rotational movement translationally relative to the insulating material and / or the contact piece displaced. As a result, the actuating lever has improved degrees of freedom in the pivoting movement, which in turn is conducive to a low-wear bearing, easy mounting of the operating lever in the insulating housing of the conductor terminal and a pleasant feel during actuation.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the actuating lever on at least one pull arm, which engages behind a driver element of the clamping spring, so that the clamping spring is deflected by the tensile arm by pulling the clamping spring during pivoting of the actuating lever in the open position. This has the advantage that the clamping spring can simultaneously exert a reaction force on the actuating lever, which acts on it in the direction of the closed position. In addition, a self-locking toggle lever principle with respect to the actuating lever can be realized in this way with little effort, so that no or little additional effort is required for its locking in the open position.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the clamping spring has a window-like recess into which the pulling arm of the actuating lever engages. In this way, the driver element of the clamping spring can be realized by an upper edge of the window-like recess, or in other words a transverse web of the clamping spring formed there. This allows a coupling of the clamping spring to the pulling arm in a simple and cost-effective manner. It is only the window-like recess to produce by Austanzen a piece of material from the material of the clamping spring. In addition, a self-coupling system can be created in this way, in which the actuating lever in already inserted in the insulating housing clamping spring can be inserted into the insulating material and the pulling arm can then snap into the window-like recess. Thereafter, the traction arm engages behind the driver element, so that henceforth an actuation of the clamping spring by pivoting the actuating lever is possible.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the conductor connection terminal on first latching means by which the actuating lever is locked in the open position. This has the advantage that the actuating lever remains in the open position in a defined position, without having to be held by a user. This allows a practical and ergonomic handling of the conductor terminal, and in particular results in a plurality of conductor terminals, e.g. a terminal block assembly, for a simplified handling.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the first locking means on a first lever locking means, which is part of the actuating lever, and a first contact piece locking means, which is part of the contact piece. The first lever latching means and the first contact piece latching means cooperate with each other for latching the operating lever in the open position. Thus, e.g. the first lever locking means may be formed as a groove, trough or other recess in the operating lever, and the first contact piece locking means as in terms of the shape of the first lever locking means adapted protruding nose, edge or as a similar projection. A reverse assignment is advantageous in that the first lever locking means is designed as a nose or other projection and the first contact piece locking means as a groove or other recess. In particular, the first contact piece locking means may be formed by the front edge or a rounded end edge at the front end of an actuating lever facing the upper portion of the contact piece.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the conductor connection terminal on second locking means, through which the actuating lever in the closed Position is locked. This has the advantage that the actuating lever can be kept in a defined manner in the closed position and does not open unintentionally.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the second locking means on a second lever locking means, which is part of the actuating lever, and a second housing latching means, which is part of the insulating material on. The second lever latching means and the second housing latching means cooperate with each other for latching the operating lever in the closed position.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the actuating lever has parallel to the axis of rotation of the pivoting projecting bearing pin, which are designed to secure the actuating lever against removal of the actuating lever of the insulating material. In this way, the floating operating lever in operating situations of the conductor terminal, in which the operating lever is not otherwise, for. be secured by the clamping spring, is held in the insulating housing. Here, the journals do not act, or at least not primarily, for the storage of the operating lever in the insulating housing for carrying out the pivoting movement, but mainly as a securing means against removal of the actuating lever from the insulating material.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the insulating housing has a Hebeleinführkanal for inserting the actuating lever, wherein the Hebeleinführkanal has a guide contour for guiding the bearing pin at least during insertion of the actuating lever. In this way, the journals next to the safeguard against removal of the actuating lever has a further function, namely a guiding function of the actuating lever during insertion into the insulating material. By the leadership of the bearing pin along the guide contour in Hebeleinführkanal put in the insulating material to be arranged areas of the actuating lever a defined path in it, which is formed by design of the guide contour so that the lever reaches its desired end position in the insulating material and is not prevented by other components, such as the clamping spring on insertion. In addition, it is ensured that the pull arm of the actuating lever ultimately engages behind the driver element of the clamping spring, so that the actuating lever can perform its function for actuating the clamping spring.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the part of the contact piece on which the actuating lever is supported at least in the open position, as in the rotational direction of the actuating lever when opening sloping ramp. As a result, the required actuating forces, which are to be applied to the actuating lever for pivoting in the open position, can be reduced. The ramp may be formed as a linear ramp or non-linear ramp, i. with a linearly sloping contour or with a non-linear sloping contour, e.g. progressive or degressive sloping contour.

• a1) Bereitstellen des Isolierstoffgehäuses mit darin bereits angeordnetem Kontakteinsatz,
• b1) Einsetzen des Betätigungshebels zumindest mit seinem Schwenklagerbereich in das Isolierstoffgehäuse durch einen Hebeleinführkanal des Isol ierstoffgehäuses.

An advantageous method for mounting such a conductor terminal has the following steps to be carried out in the order indicated:

• a1) providing the insulating housing with a contact insert already arranged therein,
• b1) insertion of the actuating lever at least with its pivot bearing area in the insulating material housing by a Hebeleinführkanal of Isol ierstoffgehäuses.

This has the advantage of a simple and quick installation of the conductor terminal. The assembly of the conductor connection terminal hereby means the assembly of the individual components of the conductor connection terminal to the finished, finally functional conductor connection terminal.

To provide the insulating housing with the contact insert already disposed therein, the housing parts of the insulating housing, e.g. two housing half-shells are assembled before assembly with the components of the contact insert and then joined together.

• a1) Bereitstellen des Isolierstoffgehäuses mit darin bereits angeordnetem Kontakteinsatz,
• a2) Auslenken der Klemmfeder durch Einsetzen eines Hilfsmittels, z.B. eines Kerns oder eines Leiters, in eine Leitereinführungsöffnung der Leiteranschlussklemme,
• b1) Einsetzen des Betätigungshebels zumindest mit seinem Schwenklagerbereich in das Isolierstoffgehäuse durch einen Hebeleinführkanal des Isolierstoffgehäuses
• b2) Entfernen des Hilfsmittels von der Leiteranschlussklemme.

The aforementioned method can be advantageously developed as follows:

• a1) providing the insulating housing with a contact insert already arranged therein,
• a2) deflecting the clamping spring by inserting an aid, for example a core or a conductor, into a conductor insertion opening of the conductor connection terminal,
• b1) inserting the actuating lever at least with its pivot bearing portion in the insulating material by a Hebeleinführkanal the insulating material
• b2) Remove the tool from the conductor terminal.

This has the advantage that the operating lever can be used even easier in the insulating material and thereby an undesirable, too early contact with the clamping spring is avoided. In this way, an undesirable abrasion of material or scratching of the actuating lever as well as the risk of material abrasion at the conductor clamping point can be minimized.

The invention will be explained in more detail by means of embodiments using drawings.

• Figuren 1 bis 6 eine Leiteranschlussklemme in einer ersten Ausführungsform und
• Figuren 7 bis 14 eine Leiteranschlussklemme in einer zweiten Ausführungsform und
• Figuren 15 bis 18 eine Leiteranschlussklemme in einer dritten Ausführungsform, jeweils in unterschiedlichen Ansichten.

Show it

• FIGS. 1 to 6 a conductor terminal in a first embodiment and
• FIGS. 7 to 14 a conductor terminal in a second embodiment and
• FIGS. 15 to 18 a conductor terminal in a third embodiment, each in different views.

In the figures, like reference numerals are used for corresponding elements.

The FIGS. 1 to 4 show the conductor terminal in a side view with an opened Isolierstoffgehäuse so that the inner structure can be seen in different operating positions of the actuating lever. Here, Figure 1 shows the conductor terminal in the closed position without a connected conductor, the FIG. 2 in closed position with connected conductor. The FIG. 3 shows the conductor terminal in partially open position and the FIG. 4 in fully open position, each without a connected conductor. The structure and function of the conductor terminal will be described below with reference to FIGS FIGS. 1 to 4 explained in more detail.

The conductor connection terminal 1 has an insulating housing 2, which may be formed, for example, as a flat, essentially parallelepiped-shaped housing, so that a plurality of conductor connection terminals can be arranged side by side. The insulating housing 2 may be formed, for example in the form of two housing halves, which are connected to each other after installation of the internal components. Advantageously, the insulating housing 2 receives the internal components, wherein the open side is finally closed with a cover 9 or an adjacent conductor connection terminal 1. Accordingly, the show FIGS. 1 to 4 a view of the conductor terminal with removed cover part. 9

The conductor terminal 1 has, as further components, at least one contact piece 3, a clamping spring 5 and an actuating lever 7. The contact piece 3 forms with the clamping spring 5 a contact insert of the conductor connecting terminal 1. The clamping spring 5 and the contact piece 3 are made, for example, completely made of electrically conductive material, in particular of metal. The actuating lever may be made of basically any materials, for example of the same material as the insulating material 2, for example of a plastic material.

The insulating housing 2 has a conductor insertion opening 6, through which an electrical conductor 8 to be connected can be inserted into the conductor connection terminal 1. The conductor 8 can be performed with a stripped end 80 ahead through the conductor insertion opening 6 into a conductor receiving chamber 60, as the FIG. 2 shows. In the region of the conductor receiving chamber 60 is the contact piece 3. The conductor receiving chamber 60 may be formed in particular funnel-shaped. The contact piece 3 has for electrical external contacting of the conductor terminal 1 electrically conductive contact pins 4, which protrude from the insulating material 2. The contact piece 3 can be designed, for example, as a U-shaped component in the direction of the conductor connection opening 6, which extends from a lower portion designated by the reference numeral 3 via a connecting portion 33 to an upper portion 32. The upper portion 32 is connected to a tapered portion 31 in the conductor insertion direction of the contact piece 3, which acts as a conductor insertion slope. The chamfered portion 31 may also be formed as part of the housing 2 of the conductor terminal 1.

The clamping spring 5 extends from a first end region 52 toward a second end region 50 over a plurality of arcuate regions. The second end region 50 forms, with a contact point of the contact piece 3, a conductor terminal 30 with which a connected electrical conductor can be connected between the second end region 50 and the second end region 50 Contact piece 3 can be clamped, in particular the FIG. 2 shows. The clamping spring 5 is in this case accordingly deflected.

The clamping spring 5 also has a driver element 51. This can be made in a one-piece design of the clamping spring 5 by punching an inner portion of the material of the clamping spring. The punched inner portion then forms the second end portion 50 of the clamping spring 5. The driver element 51 having the part of the clamping spring, which then has a in the Figures 10 and 11 recognizable, durchdurch from the first end portion 52 of the clamping spring 5, window-like recess 59 is in the in FIG. 1 shown, angled upward position. An eg end-side transverse web of the window-like recess 59 rests against the pull arm 73 of the actuating lever 7 and forms the entrainment element 51.

The clamping spring 5 is accommodated and held within a clamping spring receiving area of the insulating housing 2, which is surrounded by an inner wall 23 of the insulating housing 2. The clamping spring 5 is supported with its first end portion 52 at one end of the upper portion 32 of the contact piece 3 from below. The clamping spring 5 is supported with its second end portion 50 at the lower portion of the contact piece 3 and the connected electrical conductor 8, 80 from.

The operating lever 7 has a grip area 70, which is designed for manual actuation of the actuating lever 7. In the closed position, the actuating lever 7 is pivoted downwardly and is only slightly, in particular only in the grip portion 70, from the insulating 2 out. In the partially open position and in the fully open position, the actuating lever 7 is pivoted upwardly and stands up out of the insulating material 2 out.

Further, the actuating lever 7 has two laterally protruding from the material of the lever 7 bearing pin 71. The operating lever 7 is not mounted on the bearing pin 71 in the insulating 2. Rather, the bearing pins 71 serve to prevent the operating lever 7, which is floating in the insulating 1 and thus loosely stored, can be lost from it. This will be discussed later in connection with the installation of the operating lever 7 in the insulating housing 2 in more detail.

The floating mounting of the actuating lever 7 is realized by a support of the actuating lever 7 via a support surface forming an outer contour 72 of the actuating lever 7, via which the actuating lever 7 relative to the contact piece 3, in particular its upper portion 32 is supported.

The actuating lever 7 has a trained example in the form of a protruding nose pulling arm 73 which engages in the window recess 59 of the clamping spring 5 and thereby engages behind the driver 51. Further, the actuating lever 7, for example, in the form of a protruding nose formed second lever latching means 74, via which the actuating lever 7 in his in FIG. 1 shown closed position by latching of the second lever latching means 74 with a housing latching means designed as, correspondingly shaped latching portion on an inner wall 22 of the insulating housing 2 locked and thus can be fixed.

Furthermore, the actuating lever 7 has a first lever locking means 75, for example designed in the form of a recess or a groove. About this first lever latching means 75, the actuating lever 7 can be fixed in its fully open position, by latching the first lever latching means 75 with a portion of serving as an abutment contact piece 3, in particular in the FIG. 4 is recognizable. The first lever locking means 75 engages at an edge, for example, the front edge 32a and the possibly rounded end edge at the front end of the upper portion 32 of the contact piece 3 a. This is in the FIG. 4 shown as detent R1. There may be an additional detent R2 be formed between a lower portion of the Zugarms 73 and a arranged for example on the inner housing wall 22 of the insulating housing 2 paragraph.

Upon actuation of the actuating lever 7 from the closed position to the partially open or fully opened position, the latter draws, via the pulling arm 73, the entrainment element 51 of the clamping spring 5, i. the driver 51 is deflected upward. As a result of the connection of the driving element 51 with the second end portion 50 in the lower region of the clamping spring 5, this area is also moved upward, so that the second end portion 50 is pulled away from the conductor clamping point 30. In this way, an electrical conductor 8 can be removed from the conductor terminal 1 or plugged in with less effort. In particular, in finely stranded versions of the electrical conductor, thereby introducing into the conductor terminal 1 is only possible.

During its movement from the closed position to the partially or completely open position or during the correspondingly reverse movement of the actuating lever 7, the outer contour 72 of the actuating lever 7 slides on the contact piece 3. The outer contour 72 is designed so that the actuating lever 7 moves during the pivoting movement relative to the insulating material 2 and thus also to the contact piece 3. This can e.g. be observed by an upward movement of the bearing pin 71 during the opening movement and a downward movement in the closing movement of the actuating lever 7.

During a pivoting movement, the actuating lever 7 is thus supported, at least as a rule, not via the bearing pins 71 on the surrounding insulating housing 2, but via its rear outer contour 72, which bears against the upper section 32 of the contact piece 3, which thus forms a pivot bearing surface. In addition, the lever 7, at least in certain pivoting angles, even with a rear side 79 on an inner wall 21 of the insulating housing 2 are supported.

In the fully open position, as in FIG. 4 shown holding the clamping spring 5 as a result of its exerted on the driver 51 tensile force the operating lever 7 in the position shown, wherein the fixation on the first lever latching means 75 in conjunction with the first contact piece latching means is supported by the force of the clamping spring 5.

In the closed position of the operating lever 7 and connected electrical conductor 8, as in FIG. 2 illustrated, the clamping spring 5 is deflected. The driver element 51 of the clamping spring 5 is therefore not in this state on the pull arm 73 of the actuating lever 7 and is located in a space below the operating lever 7. In this state, the actuating lever 7 by the second lever latching means 74 in conjunction with the second housing means in the position shown in the insulating material fixed.

As can be seen, the operating lever 7 and its support on the contact piece 3 is provided at a location remote from the contact point of the contact piece 3 and the conductor clamping point 30, such that between the conductor receiving chamber 60 is arranged. In this case, the actuating lever 7 is supported on a bearing section 3.2 of the contact piece 3, on one of the conductor receiving chamber 60 facing away from the second side 3.2b (here top side) of the bearing section 3.2. The plant leg 52 of the clamping spring 5, however, is supported on the opposite side of the contact piece 3, namely at one of the conductor receiving chamber 60 facing first side 3.2a (here underside) of the bearing section 3.2.

The FIG. 5 shows the operating lever as a single component in isometric view. It can be seen, in particular, that the bearing journals 71 can be flattened on the underside. This can be helpful for inserting the operating lever 7 in the already closed Isolierstoffgehäuse 2 be. The actuating lever 7 can then be inserted from above into the insulating material 2 in a position corresponding to the fully open position. At the same time, the operating lever 7 can not be removed from the insulating housing 2 in the closed position. For this purpose, a suitably designed Hebeleinführkanal 20 is provided with a guide contour 24 in the insulating housing 2, whose clear width is smaller than the largest diameter of the bearing pin 71 and slightly greater than or equal to the diameter in the region of the flattening. The FIG. 6 shows the advantageous possibility of introducing the operating lever 7 through the Hebeleinführkanal 20 in the insulating 2, of which in the FIG. 6 only the upper area is shown in fragmentary form. The journal is guided in such a way by the tapered Hebeleinführkanal 20 that the bearing pin 71 snaps when entering the interior of the insulating housing behind the Gehäuseinnenwandung.

It can also be seen that the actuating lever 7 can have recesses 76 and webs 77.

For the assembly of the actuating lever 7 in the insulating housing 2, it may be advantageous if the insulating 2 is already closed and therein the contact piece and the clamping spring are already used. In order to assist the insertion of the operating lever 7, the clamping spring can be deflected by an object inserted into the conductor insertion opening 6 as an auxiliary aid, for example a screwdriver or an electrical conductor, so that the entrainment element 51 as in FIG FIG. 2 recognizable pivoted counterclockwise. The operating lever 7 can then be inserted from above. In this case, the pulling arm 73 engages behind the driver 51 pivoted by the aid.

For fixing the operating lever 7 in the closed position can additionally arranged laterally locking means 78 may be present, for example, arranged on the left and right side, which fix the closed actuating lever 7 by projecting housing edges 25 of the insulating housing 2.

The second embodiment of the conductor terminal, which will now be explained, is in the FIGS. 7 to 9 represented in comparable views and positions as the first embodiments in the FIGS. 1 . 2 and 4 ie in the FIG. 7 in closed position without connected ladder, in the FIG. 8 in closed position with connected conductor and in the FIG. 9 in fully open position without connected conductor. The second embodiment is the same in many features as the first embodiment and differs, inter alia, by a different way of fixing the operating lever 7 in the closed position. Here, second lever locking means 74 is provided on this again for fixing the operating lever 7, but not as in the first embodiment spaced from the tension arm 73, but is formed on this pulling arm 73 itself. Further, in the insulating housing 2, a web 26 is provided which may be formed, for example in the manner of a flexible housing tab. This web 26, which then forms the second housing means, is thus deflected at a corresponding, not too high application of force, so that when opening the operating lever 7, the fixed closed position can be overcome with moderate effort.

The FIG. 7 shows the operating lever 7 in the closed position. When moving the operating lever 7 in the open position, the second lever latching means 74 pushes more against the web 26 and deflects this something. From a certain opening position, the second lever locking means 74 snaps over the web 26, so that the fixation is overcome. The actuating lever 7 can then in the open position according to FIG. 9 be guided. In this he is fixed as in the first embodiment via a latching between the first lever latching means 75 and the contact piece 3 (detent R1).

For further illustration shows the FIG. 10 the conductor terminal according to FIG. 8 in isometric view from diagonally behind, the FIG. 11 in isometric view from diagonally forward and the FIG. 12 in a further isometric view obliquely from the front with a view of the side wall 27 of the insulating housing 2. The other side wall can, as can be seen in the figures, be designed partially open. By juxtaposing several conductor terminals, an open sidewall of a conductor terminal is covered by the closed sidewall 27 of the next conductor terminal. For the last open side wall of a row arrangement of conductor connection terminals formed in this way, a cover plate 9 can be placed on this last conductor connection terminal, like the FIG. 13 shows. The end plate 9 and the side wall 27 of a conductor connection terminal can each have a guide section 28, 98 at the upper edge, which serves for guiding and holding the operating lever 7 of an adjacent conductor connection terminal. In this case, the actuating lever 7 is supported with a guide contour (79a) facing the guide section 28, 98 at least in sections during its pivoting movement.

The FIGS. 13 and 14 show the conductor terminal according to the second embodiment in a cross-sectional view. The FIG. 13 indicates the conductor connection terminal with the position of the operating lever and inserted electrical conductor closed, the FIG. 14 with the operating lever open and also inserted electrical conductor.

The FIGS. 15 to 17 show a third embodiment of the conductor terminal respectively in perspective view. The FIG. 18 shows the operating lever 7 of this conductor terminal, also in perspective view. Both FIGS. 15 to 17 the actuating lever 7 is in the closed position. Both Figures 16 and 17 In addition, an electrical conductor is inserted in the conductor connection terminal. The presentation of the FIG. 17 corresponds to that of FIG. 16 with the difference that the contact piece 3 is shown cut in two places, in such a way that the connecting portion 33 is missing. As a result, the view of the stripped end 80 of the conductor 8 and its clamping on the second end portion 50 of the clamping spring 5 is further illustrated.

A difference of the third embodiment of the conductor terminal to the embodiments described above is the position and shape of an element lever lever 7 arranged for lever fixing in the closed position. The element 78a can in turn be regarded as a latching means, but differs from the above-described lever-locking means 74 in that the realized in this way lever fixation when opening the lever 7 does not lead to a short-term Betätigungskrafterhöhung. The element 78a may be e.g. be formed in the form of a web, which is arranged laterally on the lever 7 and runs in a franking in the adjacent housing 2 and determines in each case an end position of the actuating lever 7 / limited. The fixing of the actuating lever 7 relative to the insulating housing 2 takes place as in the previous embodiments via arranged in the front region of the actuating lever 7 side locking means 78th

The conductor terminal according to the invention in all the embodiments described additionally has an optimized overload protection to protect the clamping spring 5 in too inclined or otherwise improperly inserted conductor 8 in the conductor receiving chamber 60. For such cases, the clamp spring 5 must be protected from overstressing the second end portion 50 and the area extending from the second end portion 50 to the approximately half-round, along the wall 23 extending spring arc. This is realized in that the clamping spring 5 extends with its second end portion 50 up to the chamfered portion 31 of the insulating material, which acts as a conductor insertion slope. The running as part of the insulating housing 2 beveled portion 31 extends in the embodiment below below the upper portion 32 of the contact piece. This bevelled portion 31 thus acts at the same time as a stop for the second end portion 50 of the clamping spring 5, so that it can not be deflected further upwards.

The part of the contact piece 3, on which the actuating lever 7 is supported at least in the open position and possibly also other positions, in particular in positions before reaching the open position, as rising in the direction of rotation of the actuating lever when opening ramp, sloping ramp or neutral Be formed surface without inclination. The first and third embodiments of the terminal described above are in the form of a rising ramp, the second embodiment of a neutral area. Likewise, a sloping ramp can be realized by the upper portion 32 of the contact piece 3 not, as in FIG. 1 seen to the operating lever 7 towards the front of the terminal 1, that is formed to the side of the conductor insertion opening 6, rising, but with sloping slope. By such an embodiment, the required actuating forces, which are to be applied to the actuating lever 7 for pivoting in the open position, can be reduced. This results in a lighter and more pleasant operation of the terminal.

Claims (18)

Conductor terminal (1) with the following features: a) at least one insulating housing (2), b) at least one contact insert (3, 5) arranged at least partially in the insulating housing, comprising at least one contact piece (3) and at least one clamping spring (5), c) wherein the contact piece with the clamping spring forms at least one conductor terminal point (30) for an electrical conductor (8) to be contacted by means of the conductor connection terminal (1), which can be acted on at the conductor terminal point (30) by a spring force of the clamping spring (5), d) at least one in the insulating housing (2) pivotally mounted actuating lever (7) for actuating the clamping spring (5), wherein the actuating lever (7) from a closed position to an open position and vice versa relative to the insulating housing (2) and / or Contact piece (3) is pivotable and at least in the open position in the conductor terminal (1) inserted electrical conductor (8) at the conductor clamping point (30) is not acted upon by the spring force of the clamping spring (5), e) wherein the actuating lever (7) is mounted floating and is at least partially supported on the contact piece (3), at least in the open position, f) wherein in the fully open position of the actuating lever (7), the clamping spring (5) as a result of its on a driver element (51) of the clamping spring (5) pulling force holding the actuating lever (7) in the fully open position. Conductor terminal according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the contact piece (3) includes a clamping section (3.1), in which the contact point is arranged, and a bearing portion (3.2), on which the actuating lever (7) in the open position at least partially is supported, wherein a conductor receiving chamber (60) between the clamping portion (3.1) and the bearing portion (3.2) is arranged. Conductor terminal according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the clamping spring (5) has an abutment leg (52) over which the clamping spring (5) on one of the conductor receiving chamber (60) facing first side (3.2a) of the bearing section (3.2) on the contact piece (3) is supported. Conductor terminal according to one of claims 2 to 3, characterized in that the actuating lever (7) at least in the open position at least partially on one of the conductor receiving chamber (60) facing away from the second side (3.2b) of the bearing section (3.2) of the contact piece (3) is supported. Conductor terminal according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the bearing portion (3.2) with the clamping portion (3.1) via a connecting portion (33) of the contact piece (3) is connected. Conductor terminal according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the bearing section (3.2) of the contact piece (3) is designed as a plate, in particular as a metallic plate. Conductor terminal according to one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that at least in the open position of the actuating lever (7) a closed force chain is formed by a driver element (51) of the clamping spring (5) via a the driver element (51) acted upon pulling arm (73) of the actuating lever (7), on the outer contour (72), and on the first side ( 3.2a) and the second side (3.2b) of the bearing section (3.2) on the bearing limb (52) of the clamping spring (5). Conductor terminal according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conductor receiving chamber (60) by the upper portion (32), in particular the bearing portion (3.2) of the contact piece (3) is separated from the actuating lever (7). Conductor terminal according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a pull arm (73) of the actuating lever (7) between the outer contour (72) of the actuating lever (7) and a handle portion (70) of the actuating lever (7) is arranged. Conductor terminal according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conductor terminal (1) has first latching means (32, 75) by which the actuating lever (7) is latched in the open position. A conductor terminal according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the first latching means (32, 75) is a first lever latching means (75) which is part of the actuating lever (7) and a first contact piece latching means (32) is part of the contact piece (3) , which cooperate with each other for locking the operating lever (7) in the open position. Conductor terminal according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuating lever (7) parallel to the axis of rotation the pivoting movement projecting bearing pin (71) which are formed to secure the actuating lever (7) against removal of the actuating lever (7) of the insulating material (2). Conductor terminal according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the insulating housing (2) has a Hebeleinführkanal (20) for insertion of the actuating lever (7), wherein the Hebeleinführkanal (20) has a guide contour (24) for guiding the bearing pin (71) at least during the Insertion of the actuating lever (7). Conductor terminal according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the part of the contact piece (3) on which the actuating lever (7) is supported at least in the open position, as in the rotational direction of the actuating lever (7) when opening sloping ramp is formed. Conductor terminal according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuating lever (7) is supported on an upper portion (32) of the contact piece (3) and a conductor receiving chamber (60) for receiving the electrical conductor (8) to be contacted between the upper portion (32) and a contact point of the contact piece (3) is arranged, on which with an end region (50) of the clamping spring (5), the conductor clamping point (30) is formed. Conductor terminal according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuating lever (7) comprises a first lever latching means (75), via which the actuating lever (7) in its fully open position by latching the first lever latching means (75) with a part of the as an abutment serving contact piece (3) in the form of a detent (R1) is fixable. Conductor terminal according to claim 16, characterized in that an additional detent (R2) in the fully open position of the actuating lever (7) between a lower portion of a Zugarms (73) of the actuating lever (7) and one on an inner housing wall (22) of the insulating material (2) arranged paragraph is formed. Conductor terminal according to claim 17, characterized in that the line of action of the tensile force of the driver element (51) extends between the detent (R1) and the additional detent (R2).

Images