EP3852198B1 - Conductor connecting 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 and a wall opening, the clamping spring having a clamping leg which is arranged at least partially in the space between the busbar section and the partition and has a has a clamping edge aligned with the busbar section, a spring bow 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 inside the busbar piece. The conductor rail piece has two side walls, with an actuating section of the clamping spring protruding through a recess in one of the side walls and with the actuating section being set up to open and close a clamping point for an electrical conductor to be clamped using an actuating tool.

From the US 2015/0303594 A1 a circuit board terminal is known. From the DE 10 2016 115 601 A1 a spring clamp connection for connecting an electrical conductor is known.

Proceeding from this, it is the object of the present invention 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 dependent claims.

The conductor connection terminal can have an actuating element which is arranged pivotably above the busbar section and is operatively connected to 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 whose connection area for the electrical conductor and the lever movement area are separate from one another and thus undesired 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 are therefore made of the same material. Alternatively, the bus bar portion may be formed from a different material than the partition wall. For example, the partition wall can be made of a plastic, while the busbar section is made of an electrically conductive metal.

It is also conceivable that the function of the conductor rail section and the partition wall are combined in one element. The busbar section acts as an electrically conductive connection and as a partition for the actuating section the clamping spring by passing it 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 can be arranged between the busbar section and the wall opening and the actuating finger can protrude into the wall opening. This has the advantage that the design dimensions for the conductor terminal according to the invention can be reduced in order to provide a particularly compact conductor terminal.

The actuating element can be mounted with a bearing opening and a pin that dips into the position opening. It is also advantageous if the bearing opening is an elongated hole and the pin is slidably mounted 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 fixed in a self-locking 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 to the pivot bearing area and towards the spring bow, with the actuating finger in the open position between one leading from the clamping leg to the pivot bearing area Perpendicular of the clamping leg and the spring bow rests on the actuating section. In this way, an actuating element can be provided that remains self-locking in the open position without having to rely on additional tools or design measures. The pivot bearing area is the area in which the actuating element can be pivoted into an open position or a closed position.

The contact leg of the clamping spring has at least one bulge. The spring root is relieved by a curvature of the contact leg and thus increases the elastic deformability. 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 conductor rail section, with no additional fixing elements having to be used in contrast to known conductor connection terminals. This has the advantage that a conductor terminal suitable for bulk goods 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 rather 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 mounted on a bearing surface of the contact frame diametrically opposite the busbar section. It is also advantageous if the contact leg is held in a form-fitting manner on the bearing surface. This has the advantage that a conductor terminal suitable for bulk goods can be provided. It is advantageous if the contact leg is arched. It is conceivable that the contact leg rests at two points on the bearing surface of the contact frame due to the curvature.

A plug-in contact connection for plug-in contacting of a plug-in element can be arranged on the contact frame. It is also advantageous if the plug-in contact connection is a fork contact formed in one piece with the contact frame. In this way, a conductor terminal can be provided that enables an electrically conductive connection to a plug-in contact element that is inserted into the conductor 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 are arranged in the insulating material housing. It is also advantageous if a plurality of contact frames, each with associated actuating elements and clamping springs, are accommodated in the insulating material housing, with a conductor insertion opening each opening out to a clamping point being in the insulating material housing. It is thus conceivable conductor connection terminals with different numbers of poles depending on the application.

The indefinite term "a" is to be understood as such and not as a numerical value. The insulating housing can therefore also have additional conductor entry openings, plug-in contact openings, conductor rail 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 attached drawings. Show it:

figure 1

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

figure 2

- a conductor connection terminal figure 1 with an open terminal point in a lateral sectional view;

figure 3

- A contact frame in a perspective view;

figure 4

- a contact frame after figure 3 in a rotated position;

figure 5

- A clamping spring for use in a contact frame Figure 3 and 4 ;

figure 6

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

figure 7

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

figure 8

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

figure 1 shows a conductor terminal 1 in a lateral sectional view. The conductor 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 wall 5 and the conductor rail section 4 can be made of different materials.

It is clear that the contact leg 10 rests against the contact frame 2 on the side opposite the busbar section 4 and is curved in this area. The contact leg 10 thus does not lie flat on the contact frame 2, but rather only touches it at 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 goods.

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

The conductor terminal 1 has an insulating housing 12, the contact frame and the clamping spring being arranged as a contact insert in the insulating housing 12. The insulating material housing 12 has a conductor insertion opening 13 for inserting the electrical conductor. It is clear that an actuating element 14 is arranged on the insulating material housing 12 , with the actuating element 14 being arranged pivotably over the busbar section 4 . The actuating element 14 is operatively connected to 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 spigot 15, the spigot 15 being inserted in a bearing opening 16, designed as an elongated hole, in the insulating material housing 12 is immersed and thus the actuating element 14 can be guided pivotably in the bearing opening 16 . figure 1 shows the conductor terminal 1 in a closed position.

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

It is also clear that the actuating element 14 has an actuating finger 18, with the actuating finger 18 extending next to the partition wall 5 on the side facing away from the clamping point to the actuating section 17 of the clamping spring 3 and being operatively connected to the actuating section 17 in such a way that the actuating element 14 is designed to open or close the terminal 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 easy handling of the conductor connection terminal 1.

Actuating element 14 can be locked in the open position in a self-locking manner by moving actuating finger 18 of actuating element 14 from the pivot bearing area in the region of pin 15 of actuating element 14 to rest on actuating section 17 of clamping spring 3 from the direction of force of clamping spring 3 pointing to the pivot bearing area and is directed towards the spring bow 9 , with the actuating finger 18 resting on the actuating section 17 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 bow 9 . 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 automatic closing of the actuating element 14 .

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

Alternatively, however, it is also conceivable for the partition wall to consist of a material that is different from the conductor rail section 4, such as a plastic, in order to electrically insulate 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 leg 10 , a spring bow 9 and a clamping leg 7 , the clamping leg 7 having a clamping edge 8 and an actuating section 17 . The clamping spring 3 is designed to be used in a form-fitting manner in a contact frame 2 . 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 conductor rail 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, wherein the actuating element 14 on the busbar section 4 of a contact frame 2 according to Figures 3 and 4 can be stored. It is clear that when the actuating finger 18 of the actuating element rests on the busbar section 4 next to the partition wall 5 towards the actuating section 17 of a clamping spring 3 inserted in the contact frame 2 figure 5 extends and is operatively connected to the actuating section 17 in such a way that the actuating element 14 is set up to open or close the terminal 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 adapted for this purpose to pivotally mount the actuating element 14 on a bearing opening (not shown) of an insulating material housing (not shown). The axis of the pin 15 thus forms the pivot bearing area of the actuating element 14.

It is 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 from the pivot bearing area in order to thus laterally encompass the partition wall 5 of the contact frame 2 . The actuating element 14 is thus only supported by a single pin 15 . However, it is also conceivable that the actuating lever 14 can be mounted with a plurality of 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 in a self-locking manner 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 FIG Figures 3 and 4 , a clamping spring 3 after the figure 5 and an actuator 14 after 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, with the side of the partition wall 5 facing away from the clamping point being visible.

It is clear that the actuating section 17 of the clamping spring 3 protrudes through the wall opening 6 and extends to the side facing away from the clamping point. It is also clear that the actuating finger 18 of the actuating element 14 laterally encompasses 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 of the pivot bearing area, in the area the mounting of the actuating element 14 on the busbar section 4, for resting 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 directed towards the spring bow 9, with the actuating finger 18 in the open position between one of the clamping leg 7 and the pivot bearing area leading vertical 21 of the clamping leg 7 and the spring bow 9 rests on the actuating portion 17. As a result, the actuating element 14 is self-locking in the open position without additional elements. It is conceivable that the actuating finger can rest on the actuating section 17 up to the perpendicular 21 of the clamping leg 7 leading from the clamping leg 7 to the pivot bearing area, 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 an associated actuating element 14 and clamping springs (not shown), are accommodated in an insulating material housing 12, with a conductor entry opening 13 leading to a clamping point being arranged in the insulating material housing 12. It is clear that the conductor connection terminal 1 according to the invention can be multi-pole in order to enable the simultaneous connection of several electrical conductors. The design of the conductor terminal 1 is not limited to a three-pole conductor terminal 1; rather, any configuration with regard to the number of poles of such a conductor terminal 1 is conceivable.

Reference List

1

conductor terminal

2

contact frame

3

clamping spring

4

busbar section

5

partition wall

6

wall opening

7

clamp legs

8th

clamping edge

9

spring bow

10

contact leg

11

plug contact connection

12

insulating housing

13

wire entry hole

14

actuator

15

cones

16

warehouse opening

17

operating section

18

actuating fingers

19

contact surface

20

contact insert

21

plumb lines

L

longitudinal axis

Q

transverse axis

Claims (15)

1. Conductor connection terminal (1) comprising a contact frame (2) and comprising a clamping spring (3) for terminal connection of an electrical conductor, wherein the contact frame (2) has a busbar section (4), a separating wall (5) and a wall opening (6), wherein the clamping spring (3) has a clamping limb (7) which is arranged at least partially in the space between the busbar section (4) and the separating wall and has a clamping edge (8) which is aligned with the busbar section (4), a spring bend (9) and a contact limb (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 limb (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 alongside the separating wall (5) on a side facing away from the clamping point, wherein the contact limb (10) of the clamping spring (3) has at least one curved portion, characterized in that the contact limb does not rest flat on the contact frame (2) owing to the at least one curved portion but rather is supported only at two points of a support surface of the contact frame (2) owing to the at least one curved portion.
2. Conductor connection terminal (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the convex side of the curved portion faces the clamping limb (7).
3. Conductor connection terminal (1) according to either of Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the conductor connection terminal (1) has an actuating element (14) which is arranged such that it can pivot over the busbar portion (4) and by way of an actuating finger (18) which extends alongside the separating wall (5) to the actuating section (17) is operatively connected to the actuating section (17) of the clamping spring (3) and is designed to open or close the clamping point.
4. Conductor connection terminal (1) according to Claim 3, characterized in that the actuating element (14) is supported on the busbar section (4).
5. Conductor connection terminal (1) according to Claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the separating wall (5) is located between the busbar section (4) and the wall opening (6) and the actuating finger (18) projects into the wall opening (6).
6. Conductor connection terminal (1) according to one of Claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the actuating element (14) is mounted by way of a bearing opening (16) and a pin (15) which enters the bearing opening (16).
7. Conductor connection terminal (1) according to Claim 6, characterized in that the bearing opening (16) is an elongate hole and the pin (15) is mounted displaceably in the elongate hole.
8. Conductor connection terminal (1) according to one of Claims 3 to 7, characterized in that the actuating element (14) can be secured in position in a self-locking manner in an open and/or a closed position of the clamping point.
9. Conductor connection terminal (1) according to Claim 8, characterized in that the actuating finger (18) is directed from the pivot bearing region for support on the actuating section (17) of the clamping spring (3) out of the direction of force pointing towards the pivot bearing region of the clamping spring (3) and towards the spring bend (9), wherein the actuating finger (18) in the open position rests between a perpendicular of the clamping limb (7), which perpendicular leads from the clamping limb (7) to the pivot bearing region, and the spring bend (9) on the actuating section (17).
10. Conductor connection terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact limb (10) is supported on a support surface of the contact frame (2) that is situated diametrically opposite the busbar section (4).
11. Conductor connection terminal (1) according to Claim 10, characterized in that the contact limb (10) is held on the support surface in an interlocking manner.
12. Conductor connection terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a plug-in contact connection (11) for making plug-in contact with a plug-in contact element is arranged on the contact frame (2).
13. Conductor connection terminal (1) according to Claim 12, characterized in that the plug-in contact connection (11) is a fork contact which is formed in one piece with the contact frame (2).
14. Conductor connection terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conductor connection terminal (1) has an insulating-material housing (12) with a conductor insertion opening (13) for inserting the electrical conductor, wherein the contact frame (2) and the actuating element (14) are arranged in the insulating-material housing (12).
15. Conductor connection terminal (1) according to Claim 14, 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), wherein a respective conductor insertion opening (13) which opens out to form a clamping point is located in the insulating-material housing (12).

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