EP3465830B1 - Contacting device for contacting a shielding conductor of an electrical line with a grounding section - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a contacting device for contacting a shield conductor of an electrical line with a grounding section according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such a contacting device comprises a housing which encloses a receiving space into which an electrical line with a shielding conductor can be inserted. The housing can be attached to a grounding section in such a way that the grounding section extends into the accommodation space.

Such a contacting device, also referred to as a shield clamp, is used to contact a shield conductor, for example in the form of a shield gender surrounding the conductors of the electrical cable, with a large-area grounding section - for example a busbar or a housing edge of an electrical system (e.g. a control cabinet). In this case, the contact should be stable, in particular temperature and corrosion-resistant (even in an aggressive environment), in order to establish reliable grounding of the shield conductor with the grounding section over the service life of the electrical system.

Conventional contacting devices have a comparatively complex structure, use a large number of components and are correspondingly expensive to produce.

At one from the DE 20 2015 102 037 U1 known shield clamp, a grounding section in the form of a metallic conductor and an electrical line can be used in a housing. A clamping screw is arranged on the housing, via which the electrical line can be contacted with the metallic conductor in a clamping manner.

At one from the DE 200 14 918 U1 known connection element for connecting a cable shield of a shielded cable to conductor connections of at least one module is a Web biased by spring elements in relation to a housing. A shielded cable can be electrically contacted via the bridge.

At one from the DE 196 108 541 A1 known terminal arrangement, a shield conductor of an electrical line can be attached to spring terminals for electrical contact with a busbar.

From the DE 196 13 557 A1 a contacting device according to the preamble of claim 1 is known, which has a spring element which is arranged on the housing and can be pivoted about a pivot axis and which can be pivoted from an open position into a clamping position in order to connect a shield conductor of an electrical cable inserted in the receiving space with a To contact the grounding section to which the housing is attached.

The contacting device thus has a spring element which can be pivoted relative to the housing and which can be moved between an open position and a clamped position. The spring element can be made of spring steel, for example, and is therefore elastic in itself, so that a clamping contact is established between the shield conductor and the grounding section and, for example, an aging-related change in shape of the shield conductor or the grounding section can be compensated for without the contact between the shield conductor and the grounding section being damaged Ground section is affected.

Because the spring element is pivotably mounted on the housing, the spring element can be actuated easily. By pivoting, the spring element can be easily adjusted between the open position and the clamped position, for example to contact the shielding conductor with the grounding section attached to the housing or to detach the electrical conductor from the contacting device.

The contacting device can be realized with few components. The contacting device can thus be manufactured inexpensively.

For example, the housing and the spring element can be designed as stamped and bent parts.

The spring element can clamp, for example, an actuating limb pivotably mounted on the housing and an actuating limb bent over to form the actuating limb have clamping legs that can be brought into contact with the shield conductor of the electrical line inserted into the receiving space. The actuating leg can be latched to the housing in order to fix the position of the spring element relative to the housing in the clamped position. A user can, for example, manually act on the spring element via the actuating leg and press the spring element, for example, in the direction of its clamping position in order to electrically contact the shield conductor with the grounding section. The spring element comes into clamping contact with the shielding conductor via the clamping leg, so that the shielding conductor is pressed against the grounding section in a contacting manner and electrical contact is established between the shielding conductor and the grounding section.

The object of the present invention is to provide a contacting device that enables reliable and consistent contacting of a shield conductor of an electrical line with a grounding section (e.g. a busbar or a housing edge of an electrical system), while being easy to operate and, under certain circumstances, even from a clamped position can be released again and also reliably avoids damage to the conductor.

The object is solved by an object with the features of claim 1.

In a specific embodiment, the clamping leg has an end edge remote from the actuating leg and a contact section which is spaced apart from the end edge and is curved about the pivot axis. In this case, the spring element is designed to come into contact in the clamped position via the contact section with the shield conductor of the electrical line inserted into the receiving space. Since the terminal leg does not come into contact with the shielding conductor of the electrical cable with its end edge, but via the curved contact section spaced apart from the end edge, a flat contact of the clamping leg with the shielding conductor can be achieved. Due to the curvature of the contact section, the clamping leg nestles against the shielding conductor and contacts the shielding conductor over a large area without sharp edges coming into contact with the shielding conductor (which could otherwise damage the shielding conductor).

The spring element is preferably latched to the housing in the clamped position via the actuating leg. For this purpose, the actuating limb preferably has a latching device which can be formed, for example, by latching lugs on an end section of the actuating limb remote from the clamping limb. The actuation arm latches, for example, via the latching lugs Latching projections on the housing, so that the actuating leg is positively fixed in its clamped position and thus held in the clamped position.

To close the contacting device, the spring element is pressed in the direction of the clamping position, for example by pressure on the actuating leg. In the clamping position, the spring element clamps the shielding conductor of the electrical line with the grounding section attached to the housing, so that the shielding conductor is electrically contacted with the grounding section. The spring element can be released from the closed position, for example by a user using a tool, e.g. a screwdriver, to engage in a tool grip on the end section of the actuating arm and in this way release the locking between the latching lugs of the actuating arm and the latching projections of the housing. When the latching is released, the spring element jumps out of the clamped position due to the elastic preload of the clamping leg (caused by the contact with the shielding conductor of the electrical cable), so that the contacting device is opened and the housing is removed from the grounding section and the electrical cable is removed from the housing can become.

The spring element is mounted on the housing so that it can pivot about the pivot axis. For the pivotable mounting, two opposing joint brackets can be formed on the actuating arm, which protrude from the actuating arm and engage, for example, with pivot pins arranged on the housing, so that the spring element is connected in an articulated manner to the housing.

The housing can be designed in one piece, for example. In one configuration, the housing can have, for example, two side walls which extend parallel and are spaced apart from one another in a transverse direction, between which the receiving space is formed, and a base which connects the side walls to one another. The housing can thus have a U-shaped cross section, for example, into which the electrical line with the stripped shielding conductor can be inserted.

The shielding conductor can, for example, be inserted into the housing in such a way that, in the clamped position, the shielding conductor extends through the receiving space along a longitudinal axis between the side walls. In this case, the shielding conductor can be inserted into the receiving space, for example, in an insertion direction transverse to the longitudinal axis and transverse to the transverse direction, along which the side walls are spaced apart from one another. The electrical line therefore does not have to pass through the housing be threaded, but can be used in a simple manner along the insertion direction in the housing, so that the shield comes to rest in the receiving space of the housing.

For electrical contacting of the shielding conductor of the electrical line with a grounding section, the electrical line with the stripped shielding conductor is preferably first inserted into the housing of the contacting device. The housing, together with the electrical line arranged on it, can then be attached to the grounding section, for example a collecting line providing grounding or a section of a housing wall of an electrical system, e.g. a switch cabinet or the like. When the housing has been attached to the grounding section, the grounding section preferably extends through the receiving space along the transverse direction along which the side walls of the housing are spaced apart from one another. For this purpose, the side walls of the housing can have recesses whose shape is adapted to the shape of the grounding section and can thus accommodate the grounding section, for example a metal conductor with a rectangular cross section.

The electrical line and the grounding section thus extend along different directions to the housing. While the electrical line is routed through the housing along the longitudinal axis, the grounding section extends transversely to the electrical line along the transverse direction through the receiving space.

In the clamping position, the spring element on the one hand and the grounding section on the other hand of the insulated shielding conductor of the electrical line preferably come to rest. The screen conductor is thus received between the spring element and the grounding section and is pressed into direct, electrically contacting system with the grounding section by the spring element clamping against the screen conductor.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Ansicht einer Kontaktierungseinrichtung zum elektrischen Kontaktieren eines Schirmleiters einer elektrischen Leitung mit einem Erdungsabschnitt, beispielsweise in Form eines elektrischen Sammelleiters oder in Form einer Gehäusekante einer elektrischen Anlage;

Fig. 2

eine Seitenansicht der Kontaktierungseinrichtung;

Fig. 3

eine Vorderansicht der Kontaktierungseinrichtung; und

Fig. 4

eine Draufsicht auf die Kontaktierungseinrichtung.

The idea on which the invention is based is to be explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the figures. Show it:

1

a schematic view of a contacting device for electrically contacting a shield conductor of an electrical line with a grounding section, for example in the form of an electrical busbar or in the form of a housing edge of an electrical installation;

2

a side view of the contacting device;

3

a front view of the contacting device; and

4

a plan view of the contacting device.

1 shows a schematic view of a contacting device 1, which is used for electrically contacting a shielding conductor 20 in the form of an electrically conductive braided shielding of an electrical line 2.

The electrical line 2 has, for example, a plurality of electrical line wires 22 which are surrounded by the shielding conductor 20 in the form of the shielding gender. In this case, the shielding conductor 20 is encased towards the outside by means of an electrically insulating sheathing, so that the shielding conductor 20 is insulated towards the outside.

The shielding conductor 20 of the electrical line 2 can be electrically contacted by means of the contacting device 1 with a grounding section 3 in the form of a metallic conductor, for example a busbar or a housing edge of an electrical system. In this way, the shielding conductor 20 can be brought to the ground potential of the grounding section 3 , so that the shielding conductor 20 is grounded via the contacting device 1 .

In principle, a plurality of electrical lines 2 can be arranged and electrically grounded on the grounding section 3 .

In the illustrated embodiment, the contacting device 1, as shown in the views Figures 2 to 4 As can be seen, a housing 10 which is formed from two parallel side walls 100 which are spaced apart from one another along a transverse direction Q and a base 104 which connects the side walls 100 to one another. The housing 10 is preferably manufactured in one piece, for example as a stamped and bent part made from sheet metal.

A spring element 11 is arranged on the housing 100, pivotable about a pivot axis S, which has an actuating arm 110 and an actuating arm 110 bent clamping leg 112 has. The spring element 11 is made, for example, as a stamped and bent part from spring steel and is inherently elastically resilient, so that the position of the actuating leg 110 and the clamping leg 112 can be adjusted elastically relative to one another.

Figures 2 to 4 show the spring element 11 in a clamping position, in which the spring element 11 is in clamping contact via the clamping leg 112 with the partially stripped shielding conductor 20 of the electrical line 2 and presses the shielding conductor 20 into electrically contacting contact with the grounding section 3 extending through the housing 10 . In this clamping position, the spring element 11 is latched via latching lugs 114 on an end section 113 of the actuating leg 110 remote from the clamping leg 112 with latching projections 102 on the opposite side walls 100, so that the spring element 11 is held in its clamping position in a form-fitting manner relative to the housing 10.

In this clamping position, the clamping leg 112 rests against the shielding conductor 20 of the electrical line 2 with a contact section 116 spaced apart from an end edge 117 . In the area of this contact section 116, the clamping leg 112 is curved (in the plane perpendicular to the pivot axis S), so that no sharp-edged areas of the clamping leg 112 (in particular not the end edge 117) are in contact with the shielding conductor 20 and thus a flat contact of the clamping leg 112 with the shielding conductor 20 is provided.

In the clamping position, the spring leg 112 is elastically tensioned relative to the actuating leg 110 in that the spring element 11 is pressed into the clamping position and in this clamping position is latched to the housing 10 via the actuating leg 110 . Due to the elasticity of the spring element 11, for example, an (aging) yielding of the shielding conductor 20 of the electrical line 2 can be compensated for without the electrical contacting of the shielding conductor 20 with the grounding section 3 being impaired by the yielding.

The spring element 11 has, on the actuating leg 110, two opposing joint straps 111 which are each connected in an articulated manner to one of the side walls 100 of the housing 10 and are arranged in an articulated manner on articulated pins 103 of the side walls 100 for this purpose. The spring element 11 is thus pivotable about the pivot pin 103 and can in particular between an open position in which the spring element 11 counter a closing direction Z is open out of the clamping position, and the clamping position can be adjusted.

On the side walls 100 of the housing 10, recesses 101 are formed opposite one another, in which the grounding section 3 can be accommodated in such a way that the grounding section 3 extends in a position attached to the housing 10 along the transverse direction Q by a gap formed between the side walls 100 Receiving space 14 of the housing 10 extends therethrough, as is the case, for example 3 is evident.

The electrical line 2, on the other hand, can be inserted into the receiving space 14 with the partially stripped shielding conductor 20 in an insertion direction E from a side facing away from the base 104 of the housing 10, so that the electrical line 2 in the inserted position extends along a longitudinal axis L transverse to the transverse direction Q and extends transversely to the insertion direction E through the receiving space 14 of the housing 10 .

For the purpose of electrically contacting the shielding conductor 20 of the electrical line 2 with the grounding section 3 , the electrical line 2 with the shielding conductor 20 stripped of insulation in sections is first inserted in the insertion direction E into the receiving space 14 . Here, the spring element 11 is in its open position, in which the spring element 11 is moved counter to the closing direction Z out of the clamping position.

The contacting device 1 together with the electrical line 2 arranged thereon is then attached to the grounding section 3 by the housing 10 being brought into engagement with the grounding section 3 via the recesses 101 . The grounding section 3 thus extends through the receiving space 14 of the housing 10 in such a way that the spring element 11 and the grounding section 3 come to rest on different sides of the electrical line 2 .

Now, by pressing the actuating arm 110, the spring element 11 is in Figures 2 to 4 shown clamping position and pressed in the closing direction Z until the actuating leg 110 latches via its latching lugs 114 arranged on the end section 113 with the latching projections 102 on the side walls 100 of the housing 10 . In this way, the spring leg 112 comes into clamping contact with the shielding conductor 20 and is elastically braced, so that the Shield conductor 20 is pressed into contacting contact with the grounding section 3 with a sufficient contact force.

If the electrical line 2 is to be removed from the grounding section 3, a user can use a suitable tool, for example a screwdriver, to engage in a tool grip 115 in the form of an opening on the end section 113 of the actuating leg 110 in order in this way to (elastic) Bending the end portion 113 to release the latching of the actuating arm 110 with the housing 10 . Due to the preload of the spring leg 112, the spring element 11 jumps out of its clamping position, so that the contacting device 1 is opened and the housing 10 can be removed from the grounding section 3 and the electrical line 2 can be removed from the housing 10.

The idea on which the invention is based is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described above, but can also be implemented in a completely different manner.

The contacting device that is provided can have a simple structure and only use a few components. In particular, the contacting device can basically be produced by a housing part and a spring element; other components can be omitted. The result is a simple, inexpensive production with a compact design.

The contacting device can also provide a favorable, reliable, consistent contact force for electrically contacting a shielding conductor with a grounding section. The contacting device can be operated simply and intuitively and can also enable contacting to be released.

In principle, the contacting device can also be designed differently than described here. For example, the housing can have a different shape.

The housing can preferably be made of a metal, for example as a stamped and bent part. However, this is not absolutely necessary. In principle, it is also conceivable and possible to construct the housing from plastic.

Reference List

1

contacting device

10

Housing

100

side walls

101

recess

102

locking projection

103

pivot pin

104

Base

11

spring element

110

actuating arm

111

joint strap

112

clamp legs

113

end section

114

detents

115

tool engagement

116

investment section

117

trailing edge

14

recording room

2

Management

20

shield conductor

21

sheathing

22

line cores

3

ground section

E

insertion direction

L

longitudinal axis

S

pivot axis

Z

closing direction

Claims (12)

1. Contacting device (1) for contacting a shielding conductor (20) of an electrical line (2) with an earthing section (3), having

   - a housing (10) which encloses a receiving space (14) into which an electrical line (2) with a shielding conductor (20) is insertable, wherein the housing (10) is attachable to an earthing section (3) in such a manner that the earthing section (3) extends into the receiving space (14),

   - a spring element (11) which is arranged on the housing (10) so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis (S) and is pivotable from an open position into a clamping position in order, in the clamping position, to contact a shielding conductor (20) of an electrical line (2) inserted into the receiving space (14) with an earthing section (3) to which the housing (10) is attached, wherein the spring element (11) has an actuating limb (110) arranged pivotably on the housing (10) and a clamping limb (112) which can be bent over to the actuating limb (110) and can be brought into contact in a clamping manner with the shielding conductor (20) of the electrical line (2) inserted into the receiving space (14), characterized in that the clamping limb (112) has an end edge (117) remote from the actuating limb (110) and a contact section (116) which is spaced apart from the end edge (117) and is curved about the pivot axis (S), wherein the spring element (11) is designed so as, in the clamping position, to enter into contact via the contact section (116) with the shielding conductor (20) of the electrical line (2) inserted into the receiving space (14).
2. Contacting device (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the actuating limb (110) has a latching device for latching connection to the housing (10) in the clamping position.
3. Contacting device (1) according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the actuating limb (110) has, on an end section (113) remote from the clamping limb (112), at least one latching lug (114) for latching connection to at least one latching protrusion (102) of the housing (10) in the clamping position.
4. Contacting device (1) according to Claim 3, characterized in that a tool engagement (115) for releasing the spring element (11) from the clamping position is arranged on the end section (113) of the actuating limb (110).
5. Contacting device (1) according to one of Claims 2 to 4, characterized in that at least one articulated tab (111) for pivotably connecting to the housing (10) protrudes from the actuating limb (110).
6. Contacting device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (10) has two side walls (100) which extend in parallel, are spaced apart from each other along a transverse direction (Q) and between which the receiving space (14) is formed, and a base (104) connecting the side walls (100) to each other.
7. Contacting device (1) according to Claim 6, characterized in that the shielding conductor (20) of the electrical line (2) is insertable into the housing (10) in such a manner that the shielding conductor (20) extends through the receiving space (14) along a longitudinal axis (L) between the side walls (100).
8. Contacting device (1) according to Claim 7, characterized in that the shielding conductor (20) of the electrical line (2) is insertable into the receiving space (14) in an insertion direction (E) transverse to the longitudinal axis (L) and transverse to the transverse direction (Q).
9. Contacting device (1) according to one of Claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the housing (10) is attachable to the earthing section (3) in such a manner that the earthing section (3) extends through the receiving space (14) along the transverse direction (Q).
10. Contacting device (1) according to one of Claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the side walls (100) have recesses (101) for receiving the earthing section (3).
11. Contacting device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contacting device (1) is designed to receive the shielding conductor (20) of the electrical line (2) between the spring element (11) and the earthing section (3) in the clamping position.
12. Assembly with an electrical line (2) having a shielding conductor (20), with an earthing section (3) and a contacting device (1) according to one of the preceding claims.

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