EP4246729A2 - Compact conductor connection terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention discloses a conductor connection terminal (1), having a housing (10) with a conductor receiving space (12) accessible via a conductor insertion opening (11) for receiving an electrical conductor (L), the conductor (L) being in a conductor insertion direction (R). can be inserted into the conductor receiving space (12), with a current bar (20) arranged in the conductor receiving space (12) for contacting an electrical conductor (L) inserted into the conductor receiving space (12) via the conductor insertion opening (11), with a in the housing (10) arranged clamping spring (30) with a contact leg (31) and a clamping leg (32) connected to this via a bending joint (33), the clamping spring (30) being between a release position in which an electrical conductor (L) enters the conductor receiving space (12 ) can be inserted and/or removed, and a clamping position in which the clamping leg (32) applies force to an electrical conductor (L) inserted into the conductor receiving space (12) in the direction of the current bar (20), and can be actuated, and with an actuating element (40 ) with a handling section (41) and a pressure section (42) which can be brought into contact with the clamping leg (32), the actuating element (40) being displaceable parallel to the conductor insertion direction (R) between a clamping position and a release position, and wherein by transferring the actuating element (40) from its clamping position to its release position, the clamping leg (32) is subjected to force by means of the pressure section (42) and the clamping spring (30) is transferred from its clamping position to its release position, the conductor connection terminal (1) being characterized in that the actuating element ( 40) has a receiving pocket (43) for receiving the clamping spring (30).

Description

The present invention relates to a conductor connection terminal.

Conductor connection terminals are known from the prior art, by means of which an electrical conductor can be reversibly electrically connected to an electrical contact.

That's how it describes DE 10 2008 062 137 A1 a conductor connection terminal with an insulating material housing and with at least one clamping point for electrical conductors, each of which has a conductor insertion opening in the insulating material housing and a clamping spring which protrudes with a clamping leg into the conductor insertion opening for clamping an electrical conductor guided into the conductor insertion opening, wherein one clamping spring is used to actuate the at least one clamping spring Actuating pusher is provided, which is slidably mounted in an actuating opening arranged adjacent to the conductor insertion opening and has a spring contact section resting against the clamping spring for actuation when moved in the direction of the clamping spring and an actuating section which is opposite the spring contact section and is accessible from the outside of the insulating material housing.

The ones in the DE 10 2008 062 137 A1 The conductor connection terminal described has relatively large external dimensions. Depending on the area of application of a conductor connection terminal, there is only very limited space available, so that the in the DE 10 2008 062 137 A1 The conductor connection terminal described is too large for various purposes or areas of application.

The present invention is based on the object of providing a compact conductor connection terminal with small external dimensions. This object on which the present invention is based is achieved by a conductor connection terminal with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the conductor connection terminal are described in the dependent claims.

More specifically, the object on which the present invention is based is achieved by a conductor connection terminal with a housing with a conductor receiving space accessible via a conductor insertion opening for receiving an electrical conductor, the conductor being insertable into the conductor receiving space in a conductor insertion direction. The conductor connection terminal further has a current bar arranged in the conductor receiving space for contacting an electrical conductor inserted into the conductor receiving space via the conductor insertion opening. Furthermore, the conductor connection terminal has a clamping spring arranged in the housing with a contact leg and a clamping leg connected to this via a flexible joint, the clamping spring being between a release position in which an electrical conductor can be inserted and / or removed into the conductor receiving space, and a clamping position, in which the clamping leg applies force to an electrical conductor inserted in the conductor receiving space in the direction of the current bar and can be actuated. Furthermore, the conductor connection terminal has an actuating element with a handling section and a pressure section that can be brought into contact with the clamping leg, the actuating element being displaceable parallel to the conductor insertion direction between a clamping position and a release position, and by transferring the actuating element from its clamping position to whose release position the clamping leg is subjected to force by means of the pressure section and the clamping spring is transferred from its clamping position to its release position. The conductor connection terminal according to the invention is characterized in that the actuating element has a receiving pocket for receiving the clamping spring.

The conductor connection terminal according to the invention has the advantage that due to the accommodation of the clamping spring in the receiving pocket of the actuating element, positioning of the clamping spring relative to the actuating element is made possible in such a way that the actuating element and the clamping spring share a space area within the housing, whereby the housing of the conductor connection terminal and thus the conductor connection terminal is smaller/more compact.

The housing is preferably formed from an electrically insulating material. The housing can also be referred to as an insulated housing.

The electrical conductor can be inserted/inserted into the conductor receiving space in a conductor insertion direction via the conductor insertion opening.

The current bar has electrically conductive areas at least in one contact area. Preferably, the current bar is formed from an electrically conductive material, for example a metal. The current bar is further electrically/galvanically connected to a further electrical contact device, for example an electrical contact pin and/or an electrical contact socket.

The handling section of the actuating element can also be referred to as an operating section. The printing section can also be referred to as the pusher section.

Preferably, the pressure section of the actuating element is always in contact with the clamping leg of the clamping spring. Consequently, the pressure section of the actuating element is then in contact with the clamping leg of the clamping spring both in the release position and in the clamping position of the clamping spring.

In the clamping position of the actuating element, it preferably protrudes from an end face of the housing. In the release position of the actuating element, it preferably does not protrude from an end face of the housing.

Preferably, the bending joint of the clamping spring is deformed by transferring its clamping position into its release position in such a way that the contact leg and the clamping leg of the clamping spring enclose a smaller angle with one another in their release position than in the clamping position of the clamping spring.

The receiving pocket of the actuating element can also be referred to as a clamping spring receiving pocket. The receiving pocket defines a clamp spring receiving space within the actuator.

The receiving pocket of the actuating element is preferably formed by two side walls, a rear wall arranged between the two side walls and a top wall of the actuating element.

Preferably, the conductor connection terminal is designed such that the clamping spring is at least partially arranged in the receiving pocket, at least in the release position of the actuating element.

Preferably, a majority, preferably more than 50%, is in the release position of the actuating element, more preferably more than 60%, more preferably more than 70%, more preferably more than 80%, more preferably more than 90%, and more preferably the entire clamping spring is arranged in the receiving pocket of the actuating element.

Further preferably, the conductor connection terminal is designed such that in the clamping position of the actuating element, at least the flexible joint of the clamping spring is arranged in the receiving pocket of the actuating element.

If the conductor connection terminal is designed accordingly, it is particularly compact.

Further preferably, the conductor connection terminal is designed such that the handling section of the actuating element and the bending joint of the clamping spring are arranged relative to one another in such a way that a connecting line from the handling section to the bending joint runs parallel to the conductor insertion direction.

By appropriately designing the conductor connection terminal, the installation space within the housing of the conductor connection terminal is used particularly advantageously, so that the correspondingly designed conductor connection terminal is particularly compact.

Preferably, the conductor connection terminal is designed such that the actuating element has at least one slide rail which rests on a sliding edge of the current bar and/or the housing, with the slide rail sliding along the sliding edge when the actuating element is displaced between its clamping position and its release position.

By appropriately designing the conductor connection terminal, the actuating element can be guided during the movement between its clamping position and its release position are realized, so that reliable functionality of the conductor connection terminal is guaranteed.

Further preferably, the conductor connection terminal is designed such that the current bar is U-shaped and has a rear wall and two side walls connected to the rear wall, with end edges of the side walls being designed as sliding edges, with two sliding rails of the actuating element resting on the sliding edges.

The appropriately designed conductor connection terminal is particularly compact because the functionality of the sliding edges is taken over by the current bar. Furthermore, due to the U-shaped design of the current bar, even more reliable contacting of an electrical conductor inserted into the conductor connection terminal is achieved.

The rear wall can also be referred to as a contact wall and/or a contact plate. The side walls can also be referred to as side panels. The end edges of the side walls are preferably parallel to one another.

Preferably, the conductor connection terminal is designed such that the actuating element has a recess oriented towards the conductor receiving space.

A corresponding design of the conductor connection terminal makes it even more compact, since a distance between an electrical conductor inserted into the conductor receiving space and the actuating element can be reduced. Furthermore, insertion of an electrical conductor into the conductor receiving space is made possible in a simplified manner, since the electrical conductor is also guided through the recess provided in the actuating element when inserted into the conductor receiving space.

Further preferably, the conductor connection terminal is designed such that the housing has at least one guide groove and the actuating element has at least one guide rib, which is arranged in the guide groove, so that the actuating element can be moved between its clamping position and its release position, guided via the guide groove and the guide rib.

The guide groove therefore preferably has a longitudinal extent parallel to the conductor insertion direction.

By appropriately designing the conductor connection terminal, guidance of the actuating element is realized during the movement between its clamping position and its release position, so that reliable functionality of the conductor connection terminal is guaranteed.

Figur 1:

eine räumliche Darstellung einer erfindungsgemäßen Leiteranschlussklemme mit einem teilweise aufgeschnittenen Gehäuse, wobei sich ein Betätigungselement der Leiteranschlussklemme in dessen Klemmstellung befindet;

Figur 2A:

eine räumliche Darstellung eines Betätigungselements der Leiteranschlussklemme mit Blick auf Vorderseite des Betätigungselements;

Figur 2B:

das in Figur 2A gezeigte Betätigungselement in räumlicher Darstellung mit Blick auf eine Rückseite des Betätigungselements;

Figur 2C:

eine Ansicht der Vorderseite des in den Figuren 2A und 2B gezeigten Betätigungselements;

Figur 2D:

eine Seitenansicht des in den Figuren 2A bis 2C dargestellten Betätigungselements;

Figur 2E:

eine seitliche Schnittdarstellung des in Figur 2D gezeigten Betätigungselements;

Figur 2F:

eine Draufsicht auf eine Oberseite das in den Figuren 2A bis 2E gezeigte Betätigungselement;

Figur 3A:

eine seitliche Schnittdarstellung eines in den Figuren 2A bis 2F gezeigten Betätigungselements in dessen Klemmposition mit einer teilweise in einer Aufnahmetasche des Betätigungselements aufgenommenen und sich in Ihrer Klemmstellung befindlichen Klemmfeder, wobei die restlichen Bauteile der erfindungsgemäßen Leiteranschlussklemme nicht dargestellt sind;

Figur 3B:

das in Figur 3A dargestellte Betätigungselement in dessen Freigabeposition mit sich größtenteils in der Aufnahmetasche des Betätigungselements befindlicher und sich in Ihrer Freigabestellung befindlichen Klemmfeder;

Figur 4:

eine seitliche Schnittdarstellung eines in die erfindungsgemäße Leiteranschlussklemme eingeführten elektrischen Leiters, der die Klemmfeder in Richtung ihrer Freigabestellung betätigt, wobei die Klemmfeder größtenteils in der Aufnahmetasche des sich in dessen Freigabeposition befindlichen Betätigungselements angeordnet ist, und wobei die übrigen Bauteile der Leiteranschlussklemme nicht dargestellt sind; und

Figur 5:

eine seitliche Schnittdarstellung eines Teils der in Figur 4 dargestellten Leiteranschlussklemme, wobei das Betätigungselement nochmals weiter in Richtung dessen Freigabeposition in das Gehäuse der Leiteranschlussklemme gedrückt ist.

Further advantages, details and features of the invention result from the exemplary embodiments explained below. Show in detail:

Figure 1:

a spatial representation of a conductor connection terminal according to the invention with a partially cut-away housing, an actuating element of the conductor connection terminal being in its clamping position;

Figure 2A:

a spatial representation of an actuating element of the conductor connection terminal looking at the front of the actuating element;

Figure 2B:

this in Figure 2A shown actuating element in a spatial representation with a view of a rear side of the actuating element;

Figure 2C:

a view of the front of the in the Figures 2A and 2B actuating element shown;

Figure 2D:

a side view of the in the Figures 2A to 2C illustrated actuating element;

Figure 2E:

a side sectional view of the in Figure 2D actuating element shown;

Figure 2F:

a top view of a top that in the Figures 2A to 2E actuating element shown;

Figure 3A:

a side sectional view of one in the Figures 2A to 2F shown actuating element in its clamping position with a clamping spring partially accommodated in a receiving pocket of the actuating element and located in its clamping position, the remaining components of the conductor connection terminal according to the invention not being shown;

Figure 3B:

this in Figure 3A illustrated actuating element in its release position with the clamping spring located largely in the receiving pocket of the actuating element and in its release position;

Figure 4:

a side sectional view of an electrical conductor inserted into the conductor connection terminal according to the invention, which actuates the clamping spring in the direction of its release position, the clamping spring being largely arranged in the receiving pocket of the actuating element located in its release position, and the remaining components of the conductor connection terminal not being shown; and

Figure 5:

a side sectional view of part of the in Figure 4 conductor connection terminal shown, the actuating element being pressed further into the housing of the conductor connection terminal in the direction of its release position.

In the following description, the same reference numerals denote the same components or the same features, so that a description made with reference to one figure with regard to a component also applies to the other figures, so that a repetitive description is avoided. Furthermore, individual features that were described in connection with one embodiment can also be used separately in other embodiments.

Figure 1 shows a spatial representation of a conductor connection terminal 1 according to the invention. The conductor connection terminal 1 has a housing 10 which is in Figure 1 is shown in partially cutaway form. The housing 10, which is formed from an electrically insulating material or at least has electrically insulating material, has a conductor insertion opening 11, via which a conductor receiving space 12 of the housing 10 is accessible. An in Figure 4 Electrical conductor L shown and not shown in the other figures can be inserted into the conductor receiving space 12 via the conductor insertion opening 11 by inserting or pushing the electrical conductor L into the conductor receiving space 12 in a conductor insertion direction R.

The conductor connection terminal 1 also has a current bar 20 arranged in the conductor receiving space 12, which is designed to contact an electrical conductor L inserted into the conductor receiving space 12 via the conductor insertion opening 11. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the current bar 20 is U-shaped and has a rear wall 21 and two side walls 22 connected to the rear wall 21. The current bar 20 is made of an electrically conductive material, for example sheet steel. The current bar 20 is also electrically connected to a further electrical contact device, for example an electrical contact pin and/or an electrical contact socket, the further electrical contact device not being shown in the figures.

A clamping spring 30 is also arranged in the housing 10. The clamping spring 30 is in Figure 1 not visible, but is in the Figures 3A, 3B and 4 shown together with an actuating element 40 in a side sectional view. The clamping spring 30 has a contact leg 31 and a clamping leg 32, the contact leg 31 being connected to the clamping leg 32 via a flexible joint 33. The clamping spring 30 is between one in the Figures 3B and 4 Release position shown and one in Figure 3A shown clamping position can be operated. In the release position of the clamping spring 30, an electrical conductor L can be inserted and/or removed into the conductor receiving space 12. In the clamping position of the clamping spring 30, the clamping leg 20 applies force to an electrical conductor L inserted into the conductor receiving space 12 in the direction of the current bar 20, more precisely in the direction of the rear wall 21 of the current bar 20. The clamping leg 32 projects further in the direction of the clamping spring 30 in the clamping position Rear wall 21 of the current bar 20 than in its release position.

From the Figures 3A and 3B it can be seen that the bending joint 33 of the clamping spring 30 is transferred by transferring it into Figure 3A clamping position shown in Figure 3B The release position shown is deformed in such a way that the contact leg 31 and the clamping leg 32 of the clamping spring 30 enclose a smaller angle with one another in their release position than in the clamping position of the clamping spring 30.

The conductor connection terminal 1 further has an actuating element 40 which has a handling section 41 and a pressure section 42. Like from the Figures 3A, 3B and 4 As can be seen, the pressure section 42 is in contact with the clamping leg 32. The actuating element 40, which can also be referred to as a pusher element 40 or a pusher 40, is displaceably arranged in the housing 10. The displacement of the actuating element 40 takes place parallel to the conductor insertion direction R between a clamping position of the actuating element 40 and a release position of the actuating element 40. By transferring the actuating element 40 from it into Figure 3A shown clamping position in its in Figure 3B illustrated release position of the clamping legs 32 of the clamping spring 30 is subjected to force by means of the pressure section 42 in such a way that the clamping spring 30 is transferred from its clamping position into its release position.

Out of Figure 1 It can be seen that in the clamping position of the actuating element 40, it protrudes from an end face of the housing 10. In the release position of the actuating element 40, it preferably does not protrude from the front side of the housing 10.

From the Figures 3A, 3B and 4 It can be seen that the handling section 41 of the actuating element 40 and the bending joint 33 of the clamping spring 30 are arranged relative to one another in such a way that a connecting line from the handling section 41 to the bending joint 43 runs parallel to the conductor insertion direction R. Consequently, the actuating element 40 is displaced parallel to the insertion direction R.

The actuating element 40 has a receiving pocket 43 for receiving the clamping spring 30. The receiving pocket 43, which can also be referred to as a clamping spring receiving pocket 43, defines one Clamping spring receiving space 43, within which the clamping spring 30 can be at least partially received. In particular Figure 2B It can be seen that in the illustrated embodiment the receiving pocket 43 is formed by two side walls, a rear wall arranged between the side walls and a top wall of the actuating element 40.

How out Figure 3A As can be seen, in the clamping position of the actuating element 40 and consequently in the clamping position of the clamping spring 30, the bending joint 33 of the clamping spring 30 is received or arranged in the receiving pocket 43. By transferring or pressing down the actuating element 40 into the in Figure 3B In the release position shown, the clamping spring 30 is further received in the receiving pocket 43, so that in the release position of the actuating element 40 and consequently in the release position of the clamping spring 30 associated with it, the latter is largely received or arranged in the receiving pocket 43.

Out of Figure 5 It can be seen that by further pressing the actuating element 40 in the direction of its release position in the in Figure 5 housing 10, not shown, the bending joint 33 of the clamping spring 30 is positioned further in the direction of the handling section 41 and partially into an opening of the actuating element 40 arranged below the handling section 41. Due to the appropriate design of the actuating element 30, the entire conductor connection terminal 1 is very compact.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the actuating element 40 has two slide rails 44, each of which rests on a sliding edge 23 of the current bar 20. End edges 23 of the side walls 22 of the current bar 20 are designed as sliding edges 23. When the actuating element 40 is displaced, it slides between its clamping position and its release position the slide rails 44 along the sliding edges 23, so that the actuating element 40 is guided by the current bar 20.

The housing 10 also has two guide grooves 13, in each of which a guide rib 46 of the actuating element 40 is displaceably arranged. Consequently, the actuating element 40 can be displaced between its clamping position and its release position via the guide grooves 13 and the guide ribs 46.

Furthermore, the actuating element 40 has two holding surfaces 47, which prevent the actuating element 40 from falling out of the housing 10. For this purpose, an end cover (not shown in the figures) is preferably placed on the housing 10, which prevents the actuating element 40 from falling out by the holding surfaces 47 resting on a holding device arranged in the end cover (e.g. in the form of further holding surfaces or holding projections) as soon as the actuating element 40 threatens to slip out of the housing 10.

As can be seen from the figures, the actuating element 40 also has a conductor receiving trough 45 oriented towards the conductor receiving space 12. Due to the provision of the conductor receiving trough 45, the entire conductor connection terminal 1 is more compact, since a distance between an electrical conductor L inserted into the conductor receiving space 12 and the actuating element 40 can be reduced. Furthermore, insertion of an electrical conductor L into the conductor receiving space 12 is made possible in a simplified manner, since the electrical conductor L is also guided through the conductor receiving trough 45 provided in the actuating element 40 when inserted into the conductor receiving space 12.

List of reference symbols:

1

Conductor connection terminal

10

Housing (of the conductor connection terminal)

11

Conductor insertion opening (of the housing)

12

Conductor receiving space (of the housing)

13

Guide groove (of the housing)

20

Current bar

21

Back wall (of the power bar)

22

Side wall (of the power bar)

23

Sliding edge (of the current bar) / front edge (of the side wall)

30

Clamping spring

31

Contact leg (of the clamping spring)

32

clamping leg (of the clamping spring)

33

Bending joint (of the clamping spring)

40

Actuator

41

Handling section (of the actuator)

42

Pressure section (of the actuator)

43

Receiving pocket / clamping spring receiving pocket / clamping spring receiving space (of the actuating element)

44

Slide rail (of the actuating element)

45

Ladder receiving trough / trough (of the actuating element)

46

Guide rib (of the actuating element)

47

Holding surface (of the actuating element)

L

electrical conductor

R

Conductor insertion direction

Claims (8)

Conductor connection terminal (1), with - a housing (10) with a conductor receiving space (12) accessible via a conductor insertion opening (11) for receiving an electrical conductor (L), the conductor (L) being insertable into the conductor receiving space (12) in a conductor insertion direction (R); - a current bar (20) arranged in the conductor receiving space (12) for contacting an electrical conductor (L) inserted into the conductor receiving space (12) via the conductor insertion opening (11); - a clamping spring (30) arranged in the housing (10) with a contact leg (31) and a clamping leg (32) connected to this via a flexible joint (33), the clamping spring (30) being between a release position in which an electrical conductor ( L) can be inserted and/or removed into the conductor receiving space (12), and can be actuated in a clamping position in which the clamping leg (32) applies force to an electrical conductor (L) inserted in the conductor receiving space (12) in the direction of the current bar (20). ; and - an actuating element (40) with a handling section (41) and a pressure section (42) which can be brought into contact with the clamping leg (32), the actuating element (40) being displaceable between a clamping position and a release position parallel to the conductor insertion direction (R), and wherein by transferring the actuating element (40) from its clamping position to its release position, the clamping leg (32) is subjected to force by means of the pressure section (42) and the clamping spring (30) is transferred from its clamping position to its release position, wherein the conductor connection terminal (1) is characterized in that the actuating element (40) has a receiving pocket (43) for receiving the clamping spring (30). Conductor connection terminal (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the clamping spring (30) is at least partially arranged in the receiving pocket (43) at least in the release position of the actuating element (40). Conductor connection terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the clamping position of the actuating element (40) at least the bending joint (33) of the clamping spring (30) is arranged in the receiving pocket (43) of the actuating element (40). Conductor connection terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the handling section (41) of the actuating element (40) and the bending joint (33) of the clamping spring (30) are arranged relative to one another in such a way that a connecting line from the handling section (41) to the bending joint (33) runs parallel to the conductor insertion direction (R). Conductor connection terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuating element (40) has at least one slide rail (44) which rests on a sliding edge (23) of the current bar (20) and/or the housing (10), wherein When the actuating element (40) is displaced between its clamping position and its release position, the slide rail (44) slides along the sliding edge (23). Conductor connection terminal (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the current bar (20) is U-shaped and has a rear wall (21) and two side walls (22) connected to the rear wall (21), with end edges (23) of the side walls (22) are designed as sliding edges (23), with two sliding rails (44) of the actuating element (40) resting on the sliding edges (23). Conductor connection terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuating element (40) has a conductor receiving trough (45) oriented towards the conductor receiving space (12). Conductor connection terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (10) has at least one guide groove (13) and the actuating element (40) has at least one guide rib (46) which is arranged in the guide groove (13), so that the actuating element (40) can be moved between its clamping position and its release position, guided via the guide groove (13) and the guide rib (46).

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