EP3480895B1 - Device connection unit for an electrical device and electrical device - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device connection unit for an electrical device with at least two device supply elements for supplying electrical components of the electrical device with electrical energy. The invention also relates to an electrical device.

Electrical devices require electrical energy with a supply voltage of less than or more than 250 V to function, with household devices such as hobs and ovens, for example, requiring an operating voltage of more than 250 V.

In order to be able to ensure this energy supply, the devices must be securely connected to the building installation network.

On the device side, this is usually done by connecting a power line with the appropriate cross-section to the connection terminal built into the device and, on the network side, by connecting this power line to a device connection socket of the house electrical installation. For devices with a supply voltage of less than 250 V, a device connection system or a device connection plug is usually used instead of the connection terminal.

The problem here is that the power line is connected to the device connection unit and / or to the device connection box of the house electrical installation according to the prior art using screw terminals. For this purpose, for example, the stripped wires are provided with a wire end sleeve and the wire ends of the power line assembled in this way are each mounted on a contact terminal by means of a screw, the latter being connected to the internal wiring of the device via plug contacts.

The disadvantage here is that this connection has to be made on site by a qualified electrician or at least a person who has been trained in electrical engineering, which is very expensive to assemble and use.

The particular problem is that an electrical connection made by means of a screw terminal can only function safely and reliably in the long term if the screw is tightened precisely with the screw pretensioning force specified by the manufacturer.

Setting this precisely required screw pretensioning force represents a challenge according to the state of the art, which can only be implemented with a very high degree of inaccuracy using the mechanical auxiliary variable torque.

To do this, it is necessary to use a calibrated torque-controlled screwdriver. However, this can hardly be safely used in continuous operation in an industrial manufacturing process. All the more insecure and It is less likely that it will be used safely, precisely and as a matter of course in a manual service operation, such as the commissioning of a white goods device. In practice, the screws of the screw connection are here mostly tightened by chance, without knowing the required screw pretensioning forces, setting them in a targeted manner and / or even maintaining them.

This common practice results in an increased fault potential for the electrical safety of the device user and the device as well as an increased risk of fire due to thermally overloaded connection points.

Furthermore, the screw connection requires corresponding additional connection components, which increases the transmission losses between the network and the device due to additional contact and / or contact resistances. In addition, this screw connection technology requires high-quality and / or conductive materials for making the electrical connection. This is particularly disadvantageous with regard to the increasing high material prices, long delivery times for corresponding components and the general shortage of raw materials.

From the DE 10 2017 057 334 A1 a household appliance with a device junction box for the mains connection is known, the respective conductors being fastened to a terminal block of the device junction box by means of a screw or other clamp connection, in order to then have a Establish an electrically conductive connection by inserting the device connection socket into the mains connection.

In the DE 20 2013 101 698 U1 A protective conductor contact system for device connection systems of electrical devices for different supply voltages is described, with a protective conductor connection tab formed as part of the device housing on an insertion opening for the device connection system and being operatively connectable to a correspondingly designed protective conductor connection contact of the device connection system. The protective conductor connection is thus implemented here via a plug connection.

From the EP 2 978 075 A2 a plug with an integrated protective conductor connection for electrical devices is known in which a power contact clamping spring, which is arranged on the outer contour of the plug and forms the protective conductor connection, can be mechanically and thus also electrically connected directly to the device housing.

the U.S. 4,728,295 A discloses a connection block in which, by means of a wedge arranged on the outside of the insulating housing, a conductor is fixed in a connection terminal formed by resilient contact legs by pressing down the wedge or released by manually pulling out the wedge.

The object of the invention is to improve the state of the art.

The object is achieved by a device connection unit for an electrical device with at least two device supply elements for supplying electrical components of the electrical device with electrical energy, the device supply elements each being assigned a contacting element which, in the event of actuation, impresses a defined contacting force on an arranged supply conductor in the event of actuation, so that an electrical contact is realized between the respective device supply element and the supply conductor, the contacting elements having an actuating element, so that the contacting force is increased or reduced by actuating the actuating element and the actuating elements have a spring element, a clamping element and / or a latching element, which in each case the defined contact force impresses.

An assembly-friendly and material-saving electrical connection between the respective device supply element and the supply conductor of the network connection is thus achieved without the need for complex additional tools to establish the connection.

It is particularly advantageous that the electrical contact between the respective device supply element and the supply conductor is free of a screw connection with additional connecting components, which reduces transmission losses between the network and the electrical device, the susceptibility to errors and / or the risk of fire.

In addition, high-quality additional materials for forming the electrical contact between the respective device supply element and the supply conductor of the supply network can be dispensed with.

This provides a secure, low-loss connection between the electrical device and the respective country-specific supply network.

Furthermore, non-specialists can now, for example, safely connect such a household appliance to the house network, this also being done without tools. As a result, a torque wrench is no longer necessary in the present case for secure contact.

An essential idea of the invention is based on the fact that the electrical contact takes place via a contacting element which, by designing a loading element, exerts a defined contacting force on the supply conductor when it is actuated. Thus, by means of the loading element, the contacting force is prepared and / or set in a targeted and defined manner, in that the loading element acts on at least one arranged supply conductor in each case.

• Eine "Geräteanschlusseinheit" ist insbesondere ein Geräteanschlussterminal, eine Geräteanschlussdose, ein Geräteanschlusssystem oder ein Geräteanschlussstecker. Eine Geräteanschlusseinheit stellt insbesondere eine elektrische Verbindung zwischen der Geräteinnenverdrahtung des Elektrogerätes und den Versorgungsleitern des Netzanschlusses (Stromnetz) dar.
• Ein "Elektrogerät" ist ein durch elektrische Energie betriebenes Gerät für private und/oder gewerbliche Nutzung. Das Elektrogerät wird insbesondere direkt vom Stromnetz mit Energie versorgt. Ein Elektrogerät ist beispielsweise eine Lötstation, ein medizinisches Gerät oder ein Haushaltsgerät. Bei einem "Haushaltsgerät" handelt es sich insbesondere um ein elektrisches Gerät, welches üblicherweise im Privathaushalt genutzt wird. Unter ein Haushaltsgerät fallen beispielsweise ein Elektroherd, eine Geschirrspülmaschine oder eine Waschmaschine. Ein Haushaltsgerät wird insbesondere auch als Weiße Ware bezeichnet.
• Ein "Geräteversorgungselement" ist insbesondere ein Element in der Geräteanschlusseinheit, welches im Kontakt zur Geräteinnenverdrahtung des Elektrogerätes steht. Ein Geräteversorgungselement kann beispielsweise als fester und/oder unflexibler Kontakt oder als Leiter ausgeführt sein. Zum Beispiel ist ein Geräteversorgungselement eine Leiterlitze eines Kabelbaumes der Geräteinnenverdrahtung oder ein Anschlusspin eines Leuchtmittels. Ist das Geräteversorgungselement beispielsweise eine Litze als Bestandteil einer Innenverdrahtung, so ist diese Litze entsprechend flexibel.
• Ein "Versorgungsleiter" ist insbesondere ein stromführender Leiter (auch "Ader" genannt) in einem Netzkabel. Der Versorgungsleiter ist insbesondere mit einer Isolierung umhüllt, jedoch insbesondere im Bereich des elektrischen Kontaktes abisoliert, sodass freier ("blanker") Draht und/oder freie Litzen an der Stelle des elektrischen Kontaktes vorliegt oder vorliegen. Hierbei ist es entscheidend, dass der blanke Leiter der Netzleitung direkt, das bedeutet ohne ein zusätzliches Kontaktelement, wie beispielsweise 6,3 mm Flachsteckkontakt, mit dem Geräteversorgungselement verbunden ist. Der Draht oder die Litzen des Versorgungsleiters weist oder weisen insbesondere Kupfer oder Aluminium auf.
• Unter einem "elektrischen Kontakt" wird eine leitende elektrische Verbindung zwischen dem jeweiligen Geräteversorgungselement und dem Versorgungsleiter verstanden. Der elektrische Kontakt besteht insbesondere direkt, das bedeutet, der abisolierte Versorgungsleiter steht in direkter mechanischer Verbindung zum Geräteversorgungselement, oder indirekt, wobei bei letzterem der elektrische Kontakt über ein zusätzlich stromleitendes Verbindungselement erfolgt, sodass sich Geräteversorgungselement und Versorgungsleiter nicht direkt berühren.
• Ein "Kontaktierungselement" ist insbesondere ein Element oder Bauteil, welches den elektrischen Kontakt zwischen dem jeweiligen Geräteversorgungselement und dem Versorgungsleiter herstellt oder diese in einen elektrischen Kontakt bringt. Bei einem Kontaktierungselement kann es sich beispielsweise um ein Käfigzugfederkontaktmodul oder ein Leiterdirektverbindungskontaktmodul handeln.
• Ein "Beaufschlagungselement" ist ein Element des Kontaktierungselementes, welches zumindest dem Versorgungsleiter im Betätigungsfall eine definierte Kontaktierungskraft aufprägt.
• Unter einer "definierten Kontaktierungskraft" wird insbesondere eine Kraft verstanden, mit welcher der Versorgungsleiter und/oder das Geräteversorgungselement in der Geräteanschlusseinheit in eine elektrische Verbindung gebracht werden. Die definierte Kontaktierungskraft wird insbesondere auf die elektrische Verbindung zwischen dem Geräteversorgungselement und dem Versorgungsleiter und/oder einem weiteren Verbindungselement aufgebracht. Somit liegt der Betätigungsfall und/oder ein Wirkungsfall vor.

The following terms are explained:

• A “device connection unit” is in particular a device connection terminal, a device connection socket, a device connection system or a device connection plug. A device connection unit is in particular an electrical one Connection between the internal wiring of the electrical device and the supply conductors of the mains connection (mains).
• An "electrical device" is a device operated by electrical energy for private and / or commercial use. In particular, the electrical device is supplied with energy directly from the power grid. An electrical device is, for example, a soldering station, a medical device or a household device. A “household appliance” is, in particular, an electrical appliance that is usually used in private households. A household appliance includes, for example, an electric stove, a dishwasher or a washing machine. A household appliance is also referred to in particular as white goods.
• A “device supply element” is in particular an element in the device connection unit which is in contact with the internal wiring of the electrical device. A device supply element can, for example, be designed as a fixed and / or inflexible contact or as a conductor. For example, a device supply element is a stranded conductor of a cable harness of the device's internal wiring or a connection pin of a light source. If the device supply element is, for example, a stranded wire as part of internal wiring, then this stranded wire is correspondingly flexible.
• A "supply conductor" is in particular a current-carrying conductor (also called a "wire") in one Power cord. The supply conductor is in particular sheathed with insulation, but stripped in particular in the area of the electrical contact, so that free ("bare") wire and / or free strands are or are present at the point of the electrical contact. It is crucial here that the bare conductor of the mains cable is connected directly to the device supply element, i.e. without an additional contact element, such as a 6.3 mm blade terminal contact. The wire or the strands of the supply conductor has or have in particular copper or aluminum.
• An "electrical contact" is understood to mean a conductive electrical connection between the respective device supply element and the supply conductor. The electrical contact is particularly direct, that is, the stripped supply conductor is in direct mechanical connection to the device supply element, or indirectly, with the latter making electrical contact via an additional current-conducting connection element, so that the device supply element and supply conductor do not touch each other directly.
• A “contacting element” is, in particular, an element or component which establishes the electrical contact between the respective device supply element and the supply conductor or brings them into electrical contact. A contacting element can be, for example, a Act cage-clamp spring contact module or a direct conductor connection contact module.
• A "loading element" is an element of the contacting element which applies a defined contacting force to at least the supply conductor when it is actuated.
• A “defined contacting force” is understood to mean, in particular, a force with which the supply conductor and / or the device supply element are brought into electrical connection in the device connection unit. The defined contacting force is applied in particular to the electrical connection between the device supply element and the supply conductor and / or a further connecting element. The case of actuation and / or an effect case is thus present.

In a further embodiment, the device connection unit has three, four, five, six or further device supply elements, each of which is assigned a contacting element that applies a defined contacting force to an arranged supply conductor in the event of actuation by means of a respective loading element.

Thus, depending on the number of wires in the power cable, due to direct current, alternating current or three-phase current and the corresponding protection class, each supply conductor (wire of the power cable) is connected to an impingement element by means of an associated contacting element electrically connectable to the respectively assigned device supply element.

In this case, the same defined contacting force can be applied to all contacting elements or different defined contacting forces can be applied to each contacting element due to the design of its respective loading element. Thus, for example, the defined contacting force can be specifically adapted to the diameter of supply conductors of different thicknesses.

It is particularly advantageous if the device supply elements are designed as essentially stable webs. While conventional supply conductors thus offer a certain flexibility due to their core cross-section, the stable and thus solid design of the device supply elements is suitable for ensuring that the device supply elements do not bend under the forces exerted by the contacting elements via the supply conductor. The supply elements, which are designed as essentially stable webs, thus offer a force resistance against the contacting forces applied to the supply conductors.

In order to set the defined contacting force in a targeted manner and / or to provide a self-adjusting electrical connection technology, the loading elements have a spring element, a clamping element and / or a latching element, each of which impresses the defined contacting force.

Thus, the necessary contacting force acting on the supply conductor can be set, changed and / or maintained for a long time in a targeted manner by means of the design of the spring element, the clamping element and / or the latching element.

A “spring element” is in particular a metallic technical component which can be elastically deformed. A spring element is in particular a helical spring, for example a wire wound in a helical shape. Here, the contacting force can be adjusted in particular via the spring constant (spring hardness) of the spring element. In the case of the spring element, in particular the material, the number and the diameter of the windings can be varied in order to set a defined contacting force. When the spring acts and / or is actuated, elastic deformation occurs in particular as stretching, bending, shearing and / or torsion.

A “clamping element” is in particular a component which is geometrically designed in such a way that when it is attached to the supply conductor, the latter is mechanically fixed. For this purpose, the clamping element has, for example, a recess that is becoming smaller, in which the supply conductor is mechanically fixed.

A “latching element” (also “latching element”) is in particular a component which latches when it is moved into a predetermined position and thereby exerts a pressing force on the supply conductor. For example, by a vertical shift and thereby realized Snapping into place exerts a vertical compressive force on the supply ladder. The contacting element preferably has several latching steps of the latching element, so that the pressing force and thus the contacting force can be set and / or adapted in a targeted manner. For example, the latching element engages in the interior of the contacting element on different latching hooks on the inner housing wall of the contacting element. The latching element can also be designed as a bracket, for example, which moves into a latching position by pivoting and thereby presses the supply conductor with the corresponding device supply element.

In a further embodiment of the device connection unit, the device supply elements and / or the supply conductors are each assigned an insertion device, so that the respective device supply element and the respective supply conductor can be arranged in a defined manner with respect to one another.

As a result, both the device supply elements and the supply conductors can each be introduced into the contacting element through an insertion device and / or guided through the insertion device inside the contacting element in such a way that they each occupy a defined arrangement in the contacting element and with respect to one another.

An “insertion device” is, in particular, a device which enables targeted insertion and thus Bringing a device supply element and / or supply conductor into the device connection unit and / or the contacting element enables and / or guides the device supply element and / or the supply conductor specifically in its respective course within the device connection unit and / or the contacting element. An insertion device can in particular be an insertion opening and / or an implemented guide track of the device connection unit and / or of the contacting element.

In order to set and / or adapt the contacting force in a targeted manner, the contacting elements have an actuating element so that the contacting force is increased or decreased by actuating the actuating element.

An “actuating element” is, in particular, a mechanically actuated component which acts on the impingement element and thereby changes the contacting force. An actuating element can be, for example, a mechanical and / or electronic switch. The actuating element can also be designed as a cover (cover) of the contacting element so that, for example, when the cover is open, the loading element is relieved and the device supply element and / or the supply conductor can be inserted through an insertion hole into the contacting element and, when the cover of the contacting element is subsequently closed, by direct Action of the cover on the loading element a defined contacting force is set. For example, for this purpose the cover and / or the actuating element presses directly on the spring element and / or the latching element when the contacting element is closed.

The contacting element is set up in such a way that the defined contacting force is impressed on the arranged supply conductor and the respective conductor when actuated by means of the loading element.

A defined contacting force can thus be simultaneously impressed on the respective conductor of the internal wiring of the housing of the electrical device and the associated supply conductor in a contacting element. Depending on the design of the contacting element, for example with a spring or with two separate springs each for the conductor of the device internal wiring and the supply conductor, the same contacting force or different contacting forces can thus be applied.

In order to set the necessary contacting force by means of the configuration of the contacting element, one of the contacting elements or a plurality of contacting elements or all of the contacting elements has a cage tension spring.

If the conductor of the device's internal wiring and the assigned supply conductor have a different wire cross-section, it is particularly advantageous if the contacting element has two different cage tension springs so that different defined contacting forces can be applied to the conductor and the supply conductor depending on the wire cross-section.

A “cage clamp spring” is, in particular, a spring clamp connection for an electrical connection. A cage tension spring has, in particular, a coarse and / or medium spring steel. The cage tension spring has in particular a clamping spring and / or a busbar (current bar). The current bar consists in particular of copper with a silver surface. The clamping spring is compressed in particular by the actuating element, whereby the conductor and / or supply conductor can be inserted into the recess of the clamping spring below the current bar and when the clamping spring is relieved, it returns to its rest position, so that the conductor and / or supply conductor due to the clamping or contact force is pressed from below against the current bar. An electrical contact is thus established between the conductor and / or the supply conductor and the current hook of the cage clamp spring. In the event that a clamping spring is arranged on both sides of the current bar, each with a clamped conductor of the device internal wiring and a clamped supply conductor, an indirect one is used electrical contact between the conductor and the supply conductor is realized via the current bar of the cage clamp spring. However, a single cage clamp spring can also be used to establish direct contact between the conductor and the supply conductor, in which the current bar is dispensed with, and when the cage clamp spring is compressed from one side of the supply conductor and on top of it from the other side of the conductor (or vice versa) be introduced into the recess of the cage tension spring and clamped.

In a further embodiment of the device connection unit, one of the contacting elements or several contacting elements or all contacting elements is or are designed as a direct conductor connection contact module, so that a direct electrical connection exists between the respective device supply element and the conductor and the respective supply conductor by means of the defined contacting force of the impingement element.

A "conductor direct connection contact module" is in particular a component which is set up in such a way that the stripped wires and / or strands of the conductor and the supply conductor directly form an electrical contact by means of the conductor direct connection contact module, whereby a direct electrical connection is established.

In order to establish an optimal direct electrical connection between the conductor and the supply conductor, the conductor direct connection contact module has a conductor guide element and / or conductor clamping element.

Thus, the conductor and the supply conductor are guided and brought into position by means of the conductor guide element and / or conductor clamping element in such a way that the stripped parts of the conductor and / or the supply conductor come into direct mechanical contact within the conductor direct connection contact module.

Since, in the case of the direct connection contact module, there is a direct electrical connection between the conductor and the supply conductor, further current-carrying parts, such as a current bar, are not necessary in this embodiment. As a result, transmission losses are minimized and high-quality, conductive materials, such as a current bar, can be dispensed with in the case of the direct conductor connection contact module.

It is particularly advantageous that the direct conductor connection contact module can be formed from metal stamped and bent parts, such as spring steel with material number 1.4310, so that no high-quality materials such as copper and / or silver are necessary. This reduces the dependency on high material prices and long delivery times due to the shortage of high-quality raw materials.

In a further embodiment, the device connection unit has a protective conductor connection with a power contact clamping spring.

In this way, the protective conductor can be connected in a simple form to the device connection unit by means of the power contact clamping spring, thus ensuring safety, for example for protection against electric shock.

A “power contact clamping spring” is, in particular, a spring-loaded terminal. The power contact clamping spring ensures a low-resistance and permanent connection between a protective conductor and the housing plate of a protection class I device, in particular with a high connection force and a large connection area.

In order to connect large household appliances in addition to household appliances with a direct current supply and smaller appliances with lower electrical energy requirements, the appliance connection unit is designed as an appliance connection terminal for a household appliance with an operating voltage above 250 V _eff , in particular with a three-phase alternating voltage.

To this end, it should be pointed out that the device connection unit according to the invention is in principle suitable both for devices with a mains connection of less than or equal to 250 V and for devices with a mains connection of more than 250 V and the functional principle is identical regardless of the operating voltage.

In a further aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by an electrical device which has a device connection unit as described above.

Thus, an electrical device is provided which can be connected to the power cord safely and with little loss in a household that is very easy to assemble and saves valuable resources. In particular, the electrical device is connected without using a screwing tool, the torque of which would have to be calibrated. As a result, the device connection unit and the electrical device have a safe, durable and long-lasting, precisely set electrical connection between the power cord and the internal wiring of the device.

Figur 1

eine stark schematisch-perspektivische Darstellung eines Backofens,

Figur 2

eine stark schematisch-perspektivische Darstellung eines Geräteanschlussterminals mit einer anschlossenen Netzanschlussleitung in geschlossener Form, bei der die Adern der abgemantelten Netzanschlussleitung in die Einführöffnungen für die Adern eingeschoben sind,

Figur 3

eine stark schematisch-perspektivische Darstellung des Geräteanschlussterminals ohne angeschlossene Netzleitung in geschlossener Form,

Figur 4

eine stark schematisch-perspektivische Darstellung eines Geräteanschlussterminals ohne angeschlossene Netzleitung in geöffneter Form,

Figur 5

eine stark schematisch-perspektivische Darstellung eines Geräteanschlussterminals mit angeschlossener Netzanschlussleitung und Leitern einer Geräteinnenverdrahtung mit fünf Käfigzugfederkontaktmodulen,

Figur 6

eine stark schematisch-perspektivische Darstellung eines Käfigzugfederkontaktmoduls mit geöffnetem Moduldeckel,

Figur 7

eine stark schematisch-perspektivische Darstellung von zwei Käfigzugfedern auf einem Strombalken,

Figur 8

eine stark schematisch-perspektivische Darstellung eines Geräteanschlussterminals mit angeschlossener Netzanschlussleitung, unangeschlossenen Leitern einer Geräteinnenverdrahtung und fünf Leiterdirektverbindungskontaktmodulen,

Figur 9

ein Leiterdirektverbindungskontaktmodul mit geöffnetem Moduldeckel und einem Einraster, und

Figur 10

ein Leitungsführungs- und -klemmelement des Leiterdirektkontaktmoduls mit einem Leiter der Geräteinnenverdrahtung und einer Ader.

The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of exemplary embodiments. Show it

Figure 1

a highly schematic perspective view of an oven,

Figure 2

a highly schematic perspective view of a device connection terminal with a connected power cord in a closed form, in which the wires of the stripped power cord are inserted into the insertion openings for the wires,

Figure 3

a highly schematic perspective view of the device connection terminal without connected mains cable in closed form,

Figure 4

a highly schematic perspective view of a device connection terminal without a connected power line in an open form,

Figure 5

a highly schematic perspective view of a device connection terminal with a connected mains connection line and conductors of internal device wiring with five cage clamp contact modules,

Figure 6

a highly schematic perspective view of a cage tension spring contact module with an open module cover,

Figure 7

a highly schematic perspective illustration of two cage tension springs on a current bar,

Figure 8

a highly schematic perspective view of a device connection terminal with a connected mains connection cable, unconnected conductors of internal device wiring and five direct conductor connection contact modules,

Figure 9

a conductor direct connection contact module with an open module cover and a snap-in, and

Figure 10

a cable routing and clamping element of the direct conductor contact module with a conductor of the internal wiring of the device and a wire.

A device connection terminal 102 is arranged on the rear of an oven 101. This device connection terminal 102 has contacts 107 for connecting the internal wiring of the device, insertion openings 106 assigned to these contacts 107 and assigned cage tension springs 110.

The contacts 107 for connecting the internal wiring of the device are connected via wires (not shown) to an electrical component such as the heater, the fan and / or the light of the oven 101.

To connect the oven 101 to a house network, the ends of the five wires 105 of the mains connection line 103 of the house are stripped. Three of the wires are called phase, one wire is called the neutral wire and one is called the earth. The stripped ends of the wires 105 are pushed in through the insertion openings 106 and positioned in relation to the contacts for connecting the internal wiring 107 of the device. The cage tension springs 110 are pressed downwards so that the stripped wires 105 can be inserted completely. As soon as the wire 105 is inserted, the respective cage tension spring 110 "released" so that the stripped part of the wire 105 is connected to the contacts for connecting the internal wiring 107 of the device via an eyelet of the cage tension spring 110 with the corresponding tension spring force. This is done accordingly for all cores.

This enabled the oven to be securely connected to the house connection without using a torque wrench.

In an alternative, a device connection terminal 202 has a network connection line 203. The mains connection line 203 is firmly clamped in the interior of the device connection terminal 202 by means of a retaining clip 204. A cable sheathing of the mains connection line 203 was removed behind the retaining clip 204, so that then five wires 205 of the mains connection line 203 are individually routed. The five wires 205 are each guided into a cage tension spring contact module 213 via an insertion opening 206. On the opposite side, five conductors 217 of internal device wiring are guided into one of the five cage tension spring contact modules 213 by means of five insertion openings 203 (not shown).

On the underside, the device connection terminal 202 has a protective conductor connection 218, which is connected to the device connection terminal 202 on the underside with a power contact clamping spring (not shown).

Each cage tension spring contact module 213 has a movable module cover 215 and two opposite insertion openings 206. In each A cage tension spring contact module 213 has a first cage tension spring 210 and a second cage tension spring 211 on a current bar 212 inside. The current bar 212 is made electrically conductive from copper with a silver surface.

To electrically connect the mains connection line 203 with its five wires 205 to the five wires 217 of the internal wiring of the device, the following operations are carried out:

The mains connection line 203 is inserted into the device connection terminal 202 and clamped by means of the retaining clip 204 inside the device connection terminal 202. Behind the retaining clamp 204, the five wires 205 are routed individually, free of the cable sheathing of the mains connection line 203, inside the device connection terminal 202, each to one of the cage clamp spring contact modules 213. Likewise, the conductors 217 of the device's internal wiring in the device connection terminal 202 are each led individually to the corresponding cage clamp contact modules 213. The conductors 217 of the internal wiring of the device and the wires 205 of the mains connection line 203 are stripped at their respective free ends.

When the module cover 215 of the cage tension spring contact modules 213 is open, the first cage tension spring 210 and the second cage tension spring 211 (as in FIG Figure 7 shown) relaxed. In this position there is a recess 220 in the first cage tension spring 210 and a recess in the second cage tension spring 211 above the current bar 212.

The module covers 215 of the respective cage tension spring contact modules 213 are now closed one after the other by manually pressing the respective module cover 215. As a result, a pressure is applied to the first cage tension spring 210 and the second cage tension spring 211 from above and the two cage tension springs 210 and 211 are compressed. Due to the shape of the two cage contact springs 210, 211 with a lower horizontal section of the respective cage contact springs 210, 211 lying parallel to and above on the current bar 212, the recess 220, 221 shift from the top of the current bar 212 to the bottom of the current bar 212 through the opposite insertion openings 206 of each contact module 213 on one side a stripped wire 205 and on the other side a stripped conductor 217 of the device internal wiring through the insertion opening 206 and the recess 220 or 221 shifted downwards. Due to the spring force of the first cage tension spring 210 and the second cage tension spring 211, the stripped wire 205 and the stripped conductor 217 are clamped to the underside of the current bar 212 with a defined contacting force due to the corresponding spring tension. Here, the first cage tension spring 210 and the second cage tension spring 211, depending on the cross-sections of the stripped wire 205 and the stripped conductor 217, partly move to their relaxed position against the due to their spring force Module cover 315 back. As a result of the clamping, the clamped stripped wire 205 and the clamped stripped conductor 217 are in electrical contact via the current bar 212.

As a result, an indirect electrical connection between each wire 205 of the mains connection line 203 and each associated conductor 217 of the internal wiring of the device is realized without the use of a tool.

In an alternative, a device connection terminal 302 has a mains connection line 303, a retaining clip 304, five conductor direct contact modules 313 and five conductors 317 of internal device wiring (in Figure 8 shown when not connected). The mains connection line 303 again has five wires 305 at its end, which are stripped at their ends so that individual strands are exposed. The conductors 317 are also stripped at their end.

A protective conductor connection 318, as described above, is in turn arranged on the underside of the device connection terminal 302. Each conductor direct contact module 313 has an actuatable, movable module cover 315 and, on opposite sides, an insertion opening 306 for a wire 305 and a conductor 317.

In the interior of each direct conductor contact module 313, a line guiding and clamping element 314 with a central catch 311 is arranged. The line guiding and clamping element 314 has two recesses 320 on opposite sides for the implementation of the conductor 317 and the Core 305 (see Fig. 10 ), whereby the recess 320 for the conductor 317 of the internal wiring of the device is higher than the recess 320 for the core 305. This is realized by a corresponding design of the conductor guiding and clamping element 314 with a correspondingly higher guide track for the conductor 317.

To establish the direct electrical connection between each stripped wire 305 of the mains connection line 303 and the respective stripped conductor 317 of the internal wiring of the device, the following work steps are carried out.

With the module cover 315 of each direct conductor contact module 313 open, the stripped wire 305 of the mains connection cable 303 is inserted into the one insertion opening 303 in the cable routing and clamping element 314 of the direct conductor contact module 313, so that the stripped wire 305 lies at the bottom in the cable routing and clamping element 314. The corresponding stripped conductor 317 is inserted into the line guiding and clamping element 314 through the opposite insertion opening 306, so that the stripped conductor 317 lies above the stripped wire 305. This is supported by the fact that the line guiding and clamping element 314 presses at its free ends with a respective clamping element from above onto the stripped wire 305 and the stripped conductor 317. The module cover 315 is then closed by manually pressing it on, whereby the module cover 315 presses from above against the catch 311, which in the middle area of the line guiding and clamping element 314, in which the stripped conductor 317 lies on the stripped wire 305, presses and engages on a corresponding snap-in hook (not shown) on the inside of the direct conductor module 313, so that a defined contacting force is applied to the direct electrical connection of the stripped wire 305 and the stripped conductor 317 is exerted due to their abutment.

Because of this direct electrical contact, the conductor direct contact module 313 does not require any additional electrical connecting element and thus no special conductive materials such as copper or silver, which means that it is inexpensively manufactured from stamped and bent metal parts. In addition, the direct conductor contact module 313 minimizes transmission losses and thus a long-lasting device connection terminal 302 and a permanent direct electrical connection between the wires 305 of the mains connection line 303 and the corresponding lines 317 of the device's internal wiring are implemented.

In an alternative, not shown, of the direct conductor contact module, the direct conductor contact module has a single cage tension spring 210 or 211 (cf. in Fig. 7 ) without a current bar. By closing the corresponding module cover, the cage tension spring 210 or 211 is compressed and passed through the recess 220 or 221, which is now below the lower horizontal section (which is shown in FIG Fig. 7 rests on the current bar 212) the cage tension spring 210 or 211 is, a bare conductor 317 is from one side of the Internal wiring of the device and a bare wire 305 from the other side. Here, the bare conductor 317 of the internal wiring of the device and the bare wire 305 are on top of each other and are clamped by means of the lower horizontal section of the cage tension spring 210 or 211, which is passed through the recess 220 or 221, so that there is direct contact between the bare wire 305 and the bare conductor 317 of the device internal wiring is made.

List of reference symbols

101

oven

102

Device connection terminal

103

Power cord

104

Device connection box

105

Vein

106

Insertion opening

107

Contacts for connecting the internal wiring of the device

108

Power contact spring clip

109

Actuating opening for cage clamp spring

110

Cage clamp

202

Device connection terminal

203

Power cord

204

Retaining clip

205

Vein

206

Insertion opening

210

first cage clamp

211

second cage clamp

212

Current bar

213

Cage clamp contact module

215

Module cover

217

Internal wiring conductor

218

Protective conductor connection

220

First cage clamp recess

221

Second cage clamp recess

302

Device connection terminal

303

Power cord

304

Retaining clip

305

Vein

306

Insertion opening

311

Snap

313

Conductor direct contact module

314

Cable guiding and clamping element

315

Module cover

317

Internal wiring conductor

318

Protective conductor connection

320

Recess of the cable routing and clamping element

Claims (10)

1. Device connection unit (102, 201, 302) for an electrical device (101) having at least two device supply elements (107, 217, 317) for supplying electrical components of the electrical device with electrical energy, wherein there is associated the device supply elements a contacting element (110, 212, 313) which, when actuated, respectively imparts to an arranged supply conductor (105, 205, 305) a defined contacting force by means of a loading element, so that electrical contact between the respective device supply element and the supply conductor is achieved, characterised in that the contacting elements have an actuating element (215, 315) so that, by actuation of the actuating element, the contacting force is increased or reduced, and the loading elements have a spring element (110, 210, 211), a clamping element and/or a latching element (311), each of which imparts the defined contacting force.
2. Device connection unit according to claim 1, characterised by three, four, five, six or further device supply elements, with each of which there is associated a contacting element, which in each case, when actuated, imparts to an arranged supply conductor a defined contacting force by means of in each case one loading element.
3. Device connection unit according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that there is associated with each of the device supply elements and/or with each of the supply conductors an insertion device (106, 206, 306), so that the respective device supply element and the respective supply conductor can be arranged relative to one another in a defined manner.
4. Device connection unit according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that, in a case in which the device supply elements are configured as conductors (217, 317), the respective contacting element is so adapted that, in case of actuation, the defined contacting force is imparted to the respective arranged supply conductor (105, 205, 305) and to the respective conductor by means of the loading element.
5. Device connection unit according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that one of the contacting elements or multiple contacting elements or all the contacting elements has or have a cage tension spring (110, 210, 211) .
6. Device connection unit according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that one of the contacting elements or multiple contacting elements or all the contacting elements is or are in the form of a conductor direct connection contact module (313), so that, by means of the defined contacting force of the loading element, there is a direct electrical connection between the respective device supply element or the conductor and the respective supply conductor.
7. Device connection unit according to claim 6, characterised in that the conductor direct connection contact module comprise a conductor guide element and/or conductor clamping element (314).
8. Device connection unit according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the device connection unit comprises a protective conductor connection (218, 318) with a power contact clamping spring (108).
9. Device connection unit according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the device connection unit is configured as a device connection terminal (102, 202, 302) for an electrical device (101) having an operating voltage above 250 V_eff, in particular having a three-phase alternating voltage.
10. Electrical device (101) which comprises a device connection unit according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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