EP3595090B1 - Cable connection terminal - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a conductor connection terminal with a contact frame and with a clamping spring for clamping an electrical conductor, the contact frame having a busbar section, a partition wall and a wall opening, the clamping spring having a clamping leg with a at least partially arranged in the space between the busbar section and the partition wall has a clamping edge aligned to the busbar section, a spring arch and a contact leg, and the clamping edge and the busbar section form a clamping point for the electrical conductor and an actuating section for opening and closing the clamping point is arranged on the clamping leg of the clamping spring, the actuating section protruding into the wall opening and extends at least in the closed state of the clamping point on a side facing away from the clamping point next to the partition.

DE 36 37 316 A1 shows a connection terminal with a connection plate and a clamping spring, the clamping spring and the connection plate forming a clamping point for an electrical conductor to be clamped. A release element is guided through an opening in the connection plate and rests on a sliding surface of the clamping spring, the release element being set up to open or close the clamping point.

DE 10 2015 115 791 B4 discloses a conductor connection contact element with a busbar and a clamping spring, the clamping spring being arranged within the busbar piece. The busbar piece has two side walls, an actuating section of the clamping spring protruding through a recess on one of the side walls and the actuating section being set up to open and close a clamping point for an electrical conductor to be clamped by means of an actuating tool.

The US 2015/0303594 A1 a circuit board connection terminal can be seen which has a housing, a contact element, a clamping spring with a first leg and a second leg, and an actuating element. On its first leg, the clamping spring has tabs protruding laterally from the contact element, which rest against contact surfaces of the actuating element, which are designed, for example, as groove walls, and are thus received in a form-fitting manner. To open a clamping point formed between the contact element and the clamping spring, the actuating element is pressed down, whereby the tabs of the clamping spring received by the actuating element are displaced together with the first leg in the direction of the second leg of the clamping spring and an electrical conductor is inserted into the space between the first leg and the contact element is insertable.

Based on this, the object of the present invention is to create an improved conductor connection terminal.

The object is achieved by the conductor connection terminal with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are described in the subclaims.

It is proposed that the conductor connection terminal have an actuating element which is arranged pivotably above the busbar section and is in operative connection with the actuating section of the clamping spring with an actuating finger extending next to the partition wall to the actuating section and is designed to open or close the clamping point. In this way, a lever-operated conductor connection terminal can be provided, the connection area of which for the electrical conductor and the lever movement area are separated from one another and thus undesirable interactions can be avoided.

It is conceivable that the busbar section and the partition wall are formed in one piece from the contact frame and thus from the same material. Alternatively, the busbar section can be formed from a different material than the partition wall. For example, the partition wall can consist of a plastic, while the busbar section is made of an electrically conductive metal.

It is also conceivable that the function of the busbar section and the partition are combined in one element. The busbar section functions as an electrically conductive connection and as a partition for the actuating section of the clamping spring, in that it is passed through the wall opening of the partition. The clamping point and the actuating section of the clamping spring are thus spatially separated by the busbar section.

The partition wall is arranged between the busbar section and the wall opening and the actuating finger protrudes into the wall opening. This has the advantage that the structural dimensions for the conductor connection terminal according to the invention can be reduced in order to provide a particularly compact conductor connection terminal.

The actuating element can be mounted with a bearing opening and a pin dipping into the position opening. It is also advantageous if the bearing opening is an elongated hole and the pin is mounted displaceably in the elongated hole. In this way, reliable guidance of the actuating element can be provided, which enables the clamping point to be opened or closed.

The actuating element can be fixable in a self-locking manner in its position in an open and / or a closed position of the clamping point. It is also advantageous if the actuating finger is directed from a pivot bearing area of the actuating element to rest on the actuating section of the clamping spring out of the direction of force of the clamping spring pointing towards the pivot bearing area and towards the spring arch, the actuating finger in the open position between one of the clamping legs leading to the pivoting bearing area The perpendicular of the clamping leg and the spring bow rests on the actuating section. In this way, an actuating element can be provided which remains self-locking in the open position without having to rely on additional aids or structural measures. The swivel bearing area is included the area in which the actuating element can be pivoted into an open position or closed position.

The contact leg of the clamping spring can have at least one curvature. A curvature of the contact leg relieves the spring root and thus increases the elastic deformability. In this way, on the one hand, a low overall height can be achieved in that the maximum deflection of the spring can be increased. Thus, the occurrence of fatigue can be reduced and thus the frequency of operations can be increased. On the other hand, the curvature of the contact leg prevents the spring from falling out of the busbar section, with no additional fixing elements having to be used in contrast to known conductor connection terminals. This has the advantage that a conductor connection terminal suitable for bulk material can be provided.

The curvature of the contact leg of the clamping spring is not limited to one of the embodiments described above and below, but can also be used in other conductor connection terminals in order to achieve a low overall height and / or fixation of the clamping spring without additional elements.

The contact leg can be supported on a support surface of the contact frame that is diametrically opposite the busbar section. It is also advantageous if the contact leg is held in a form-fitting manner on the support surface. This has the advantage that a conductor connection terminal suitable for bulk material can be provided. It is advantageous if the contact leg is arched. It is conceivable that the contact leg is supported selectively at two points on the bearing surface of the contact frame due to the curvature.

A plug contact connection for plug contacting of a plug element can be arranged on the contact frame. It is also advantageous if the plug contact connection is a fork contact formed in one piece with the contact frame. In this way, a conductor connection terminal can be provided which enables an electrically conductive connection to a plug contact element inserted into the conductor connection terminal.

The conductor connection terminal can have an insulating material housing with a conductor insertion opening for inserting the electrical conductor, the contact frame and the actuating element being arranged in the insulating material housing. It is also advantageous if a plurality of contact frames with respectively associated actuating elements and clamping springs are received in the insulating material housing, with a conductor entry opening opening out to a terminal point being in the insulating material housing in each case. Thereby conductor connection terminals with different numbers of poles are conceivable depending on the application.

The indefinite term "a" is to be understood as such and not as a numerical value. The insulating material housing can therefore also have further conductor entry openings, plug contact openings, busbar sections and associated clamping springs, for example for a multi-pole conductor connection terminal.

Figur 1

- eine Leiteranschlussklemme mit einer geschlossenen Klemmstelle in einer seitlichen Schnittansicht;

Figur 2

- eine Leiteranschlussklemme nach Figur 1 mit einer geöffneten Klemmstelle in einer seitlichen Schnittansicht;

Figur 3

- ein Kontaktrahmen in einer perspektivischen Ansicht;

Figur 4

- ein Kontaktrahmen nach Figur 3 in einer gedrehten Stellung;

Figur 5

- eine Klemmfeder zum Einsatz in einem Kontaktrahmen nach Figur 3 und 4;

Figur 6

- ein Betätigungselement zur Lagerung in einem Kontaktrahmen nach den Figuren 3 und 4;

Figur 7

- ein Kontakteinsatz aus den Komponenten der Figuren 3 bis 6 in einer Seitenansicht;

Figur 8

- Eine mehrpolige Leiteranschlussklemme in einer perspektivischen Ansicht.

The invention is explained in more detail below by way of example with the accompanying drawings. Show it:

Figure 1

- A conductor connection terminal with a closed clamping point in a side sectional view;

Figure 2

- a conductor connection terminal after Figure 1 with an open clamping point in a side sectional view;

Figure 3

- A contact frame in a perspective view;

Figure 4

- a contact frame according to Figure 3 in a rotated position;

Figure 5

- A clamping spring for use in a contact frame according to Figures 3 and 4 ;

Figure 6

- An actuator for storage in a contact frame according to the Figures 3 and 4 ;

Figure 7

- a contact insert from the components of the Figures 3 to 6 in a side view;

Figure 8

- A multi-pole conductor connection terminal in a perspective view.

Figure 1 shows a conductor connection terminal 1 in a side sectional view. The conductor connection terminal 1 has a contact frame 2 and a clamping spring 3 for clamping an electrical conductor, the clamping spring 3 being arranged on the contact frame 2. The contact frame 2 has a busbar section 4 and a partition wall 5, the partition wall 5 having a wall opening 6. The clamping spring 3 has a clamping leg 7 with a clamping edge 8 aligned with the busbar section 4, the clamping edge 8 and the busbar section 4 forming a clamping point for an electrical conductor to be clamped. The clamping spring 3 also has a spring bow 9 which merges into a contact leg 10. The busbar section 4 and the partition wall 5 are formed in one piece from the same material. However, it is also conceivable that the partition 5 and the busbar section 4 can be formed from different materials.

It becomes clear that the contact leg 10 rests against the contact frame 2 on the side opposite the busbar section 4 and is arched in this area. The contact leg 10 thus does not lie flat on the contact frame 2, but rather only touches it in two points. Such a curvature of the contact leg 10 can on the one hand relieve the bending joint so that the number of load changes of the clamping spring 3 can be increased and on the other hand no additional elements are required to hold the clamping spring 3 in the contact frame 2. The clamping spring 3 is thus positively connected to the contact frame 2 and thus provides a contact insert suitable for bulk material.

It is also clear that a plug contact connection 11 for plug contacting of a plug contact element is arranged on the contact frame 2. The plug contact connection 11 is in this case as a fork contact formed in one piece with the contact frame 2. It can be seen that the clamping point for the electrical conductor to be clamped is formed from the clamping edge 8 of the clamping spring 3 and the busbar section 4, the clamping point being arranged below the actuating element 14 and above the plug contact connection 11.

The conductor connection terminal 1 has an insulating material housing 12, the contact frame and the clamping spring being arranged as a contact insert in the insulating material housing 12. The insulating material housing 12 has a conductor insertion opening 13 for inserting the electrical conductor. It becomes clear that an actuating element 14 is arranged on the insulating material housing 12, the actuating element 14 being arranged pivotably above the busbar section 4. The actuating element 14 is in operative connection with an actuating section (not shown) of the clamping spring 3 in such a way that the actuating element 14 is designed to open or close the clamping point.

It can also be seen that the actuating element has a pin 15, the pin 15 dipping into a bearing opening 16 in the insulating material housing 12, which is designed as an elongated hole, and thus the actuating element 14 can be pivotably guided in the bearing opening 16. Figure 1 shows the conductor connection terminal 1 in a closed position.

Figure 2 shows a conductor connection terminal 1 according to Figure 1 in an open position. It becomes clear that the clamping spring 3 has an actuating section 17, the actuating section 17 protruding from the clamping leg 7 of the clamping spring 3. The actuation section 17 protrudes into the wall opening 6 and extends onto a side facing away from the clamping point next to the partition 5.

It is also clear that the actuating element 14 has an actuating finger 18, the actuating finger 18 extending next to the partition 5 on the side facing away from the clamping point to the actuating section 17 of the clamping spring 3 and being in operative connection with the actuating section 17 such that the actuating element 14 is designed to open or close the clamping point. The actuating section 17 is arranged at one end of the clamping leg 7 so that a small actuating force leads to the deflection of the clamping leg 7 of the clamping spring and thus to the opening of the clamping point. This enables simple handling of the conductor connection terminal 1.

The actuating element 14 can be fixed in the open position in a self-locking manner in that the actuating finger 18 of the actuating element 14 moves from the pivot bearing area in the area of the pin 15 of the actuating element 14 to rest on the actuating section 17 of the clamping spring 3 from the direction of force of the clamping spring 3 pointing towards the pivoting bearing area and is directed towards the spring arch 9, the actuating finger 18 in the open position between a perpendicular of the clamping leg 7 leading from the clamping leg 7 to the pivot bearing area and the spring arch 9 resting on the actuating section 17. The actuating section 14 is thus held in the open position in that the force of the clamping spring 7 acting on the actuating finger 18 counteracts an independent closing of the actuating element 14.

Figures 3 and 4 show a contact frame 2 for a conductor connection terminal in a perspective view. It becomes clear that the contact frame is designed in one piece. The contact frame 2 is U-shaped, the busbar section 4 merging into the partition 5 and then merging into a contact surface 19 opposite the busbar section 4.

Alternatively, it is also conceivable that the partition consists of a material different from the busbar section 4, such as a plastic, in order to electrically isolate the clamping point and the actuating section 17 of the clamping spring from one another.

Figure 5 shows a clamping spring 3 with a curved contact limb 10, a spring bow 9 and a clamping limb 7, the clamping limb 7 having a clamping edge 8 and an actuating section 17. The clamping spring 3 is set up to be inserted in a contact frame 2 in a form-fitting manner. The actuating section 17 protrudes into the wall opening 6 of the partition 5 and thus extends to a side of the partition 5 facing away from the clamping point formed between the busbar section 4 and the clamping edge 8, in order to spatially separate the actuating section 17 from the clamping point.

Figure 6 shows an actuating element 14, the actuating element 14 on the busbar section 4 of a contact frame 2 according to the Figures 3 and 4 can be stored. It is clear that when it is supported on the busbar section 4, the actuating finger 18 of the actuating element next to the partition 5 to the actuating section 17 follows a clamping spring 3 inserted in the contact frame 2 Figure 5 extends and is in operative connection with the actuating section 17 in such a way that the actuating element 14 is set up to open or close the clamping point. The actuating finger 18 can protrude into the wall opening 6 in order to come into operative connection with the actuating section 17 of the clamping spring 3. The actuating element has a pin 15 extending transversely to the actuating finger 18, the pin 15 being designed to pivot the actuating element 14 on a bearing opening (not shown) of an insulating material housing (not shown). The axis of the journal 15 thus forms the pivot bearing area of the actuating element 14.

It becomes clear that the actuating finger 18 protrudes laterally along a longitudinal axis L of the actuating element 14 from the side opposite the pin 15 of the pivot bearing area in order to thus laterally encompass the partition 5 of the contact frame 2. The actuating element 14 is thus only about a single Pin 15 stored. However, it is also conceivable that the actuating lever 14 can be mounted with several pins 15 or in some other way.

It is also clear that the actuating finger 18 protrudes from a plane that is spanned by the longitudinal axis L and a transverse axis Q of the actuating element 14, so that the actuating element 14 can be fixed self-lockingly on the busbar section 4 of the contact frame 2 in an open or closed position is, wherein a force resulting from the clamping spring 3 counteracts a closing movement of the actuating element 14 in the open position.

Figure 7 shows a contact insert 20 for use in an insulating housing (not shown) with a contact frame 2 according to the Figures 3 and 4 , a clamping spring 3 according to the Figure 5 and an actuating element 14 according to the Figure 6 , wherein the actuating element 14 rests on the busbar section 4 of the contact frame 2. The contact insert 20 is shown in a side view, the side of the partition 5 facing away from the clamping point being visible.

It becomes clear that the actuating section 17 of the clamping spring 3 protrudes through the wall opening 6 and extends onto the side facing away from the clamping point. It is also clear that the actuating finger 18 of the actuating element 14 laterally engages around the contact frame 2 and rests on the actuating section 17 of the clamping spring 3.

The actuating element 14 is shown in an open position. The actuating finger 18 of the actuating element 14 is directed from the pivot bearing area, in the area of the mounting of the actuating element 14 on the busbar section 4, to rest on the actuating section 17 of the clamping spring 3 from the direction of force of the clamping spring pointing towards the pivot bearing area and towards the spring bow 9, whereby the In the open position, the actuating finger 18 rests on the actuating section 17 between a perpendicular 21 of the clamping leg 7 leading from the clamping leg 7 to the pivot bearing area and the spring bow 9. As a result, the actuating element 14 is fixed in the open position in a self-locking manner without additional elements. It is conceivable that the actuating finger extends up to the perpendicular 21 of the Clamping leg 7 can rest on the actuating section 17 so that the actuating element 14 can be fixed in the open position in a self-locking manner.

Figure 8 shows a multi-pole conductor connection terminal 1, wherein a plurality of contact frames 2, each with the associated actuating element 14 and clamping springs (not shown) are accommodated in an insulating material housing 12, with a conductor entry opening 13 opening out to a terminal point being arranged in the insulating material housing 12. It becomes clear that the conductor connection terminal 1 according to the invention can be configured with multiple poles in order to enable the simultaneous connection of several electrical conductors. The design of the conductor connection terminal 1 is not limited to a three-pole conductor connection terminal 1; rather, any configuration with regard to the number of poles of such a conductor connection terminal 1 is conceivable.

List of reference symbols

1

Conductor connection terminal

2

Contact frame

3

Clamp spring

4th

Busbar section

5

partition wall

6th

Wall opening

7th

Clamp leg

8th

Clamping edge

9

Spring bow

10

Contact leg

11

Plug contact connection

12th

Insulated housing

13th

Conductor entry opening

14th

Actuator

15th

Cones

16

Warehouse opening

17th

Operating section

18th

Actuating finger

19th

Contact surface

20th

Contact insert

21

Plumb lines

L.

Longitudinal axis

Q

Transverse axis

Claims (13)

1. Conductor terminal (1) with a contact frame (2) and with a clamping spring (3) for clamping an electrical conductor, the contact frame (2) having a busbar section (4), a partition wall (5) and a wall opening (6), the clamping spring (3) having a clamping limb (7) arranged at least partially in the space between the busbar section (4) and the partition wall and having a clamping edge (8) aligned with the busbar section (4), a spring bend (9) and an abutment leg (10), and the clamping edge (8) and the busbar section (4) form a clamping point for the electrical conductor, and an actuating section (17) for opening and closing the clamping point is arranged on the clamping leg (7) of the clamping spring (3), wherein the actuating section (17) projects into the wall opening (6) and, at least in the closed state of the clamping point, extends on a side facing away from the clamping point next to the partition wall (5), wherein the conductor terminal (1) has an actuating element (14) which is pivotably arranged above the conductor rail section (4) and is in operative connection with the actuating section (17) of the clamping spring (3) by means of an actuating finger (18) extending next to the partition wall (5) to the actuating section (17) and is designed to open or close the clamping point, the partition wall (5) being between the conductor rail section (4) and the wall opening (6), characterized in that the actuating finger (18) projects into the wall opening (6).
2. Conductor terminal (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuating element (14) is supported on the busbar section (4).
3. Conductor terminal (1) according to one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the actuating element (14) is mounted with a bearing opening (16) and a pin (15) dipping into the bearing opening (16).
4. Conductor terminal (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the bearing opening (16) is an elongated hole and the pin (15) is displaceably mounted in the elongated hole.
5. Conductor terminal (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the actuating element (14) can be fixed in position in a self-locking manner in an open and/or a closed position of the clamping point.
6. Conductor terminal (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the actuating finger (18) is directed from the pivot bearing area for resting on the actuating section (17) of the clamping spring (3) out of the direction of force of the clamping spring (3) pointing towards the pivot bearing area and towards the spring bend (9), wherein the actuating finger (18) in the open position rests on the actuating section (17) between a perpendicular of the clamping leg (7) leading from the clamping leg (7) to the pivot bearing region and the spring bend (9).
7. Conductor terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact leg (10) of the clamping spring (3) has at least one curvature.
8. Conductor terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact leg (10) is supported on a support surface of the contact frame (2) diametrically opposite the busbar section (4).
9. Conductor terminal (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the contact leg (10) is held positively against the support surface.
10. Conductor terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a plug-in contact terminal (11) for plug-in contacting of a plug-in contact element is arranged on the contact frame (2).
11. Conductor terminal (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the plug-in contact terminal (11) is a fork contact formed integrally with the contact frame (2).
12. Conductor terminal (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conductor terminal (1) has an insulating material housing (12) with a conductor insertion opening (13) for insertion of the electrical conductor, the contact frame (2) and the actuating element (14) being arranged in the insulating material housing (12).
13. Conductor terminal (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that a plurality of contact frames (2), each with an associated actuating element (14) and clamping spring (3), are accommodated in the insulating material housing (12), a conductor entry opening (13) opening out to a clamping point being in each case in the insulating material housing (12).

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