EP4358310A1 - Connection terminal for connecting an electrical line - Google Patents

Abstract

A connection terminal (1) for connecting an electrical line (2) comprises a housing (10), a contact element (11) arranged on the housing (10), a spring element (12) arranged on the housing (10) which has a clamping leg (120) for acting on the electrical line (2), and an actuating element (14) arranged on the housing (10) so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis (D) and which is adjustable to adjust the clamping leg (120). The clamping leg (120) can be elastically adjusted relative to the housing (10) by actuating the actuating element (14) into a release position. A trigger element (13) which is additional to the spring element (12) and is adjustably mounted relative to the housing (10) has a trigger section (130), wherein the clamping leg (120) is designed to latch with the trigger element (13) in the release position so that the clamping leg (120) is held in the release position. The release section (130) is designed to cooperate with the electrical line (2) when inserted into the plug opening (100) to release the clamping leg (120) from the release position.

Description

The invention relates to a connection terminal for connecting an electrical line according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such a connection terminal comprises a housing which has a plug-in opening into which the electrical line can be plugged in order to connect to the connection terminal. A contact element for making electrical contact with the electrical line is arranged on the housing. A spring element is also arranged on the housing, which has a clamping leg which is designed to act on the electrical line in order to bring the electrical line into contact with the contact element when the electrical line is inserted into the plug-in opening. An actuating element is arranged on the housing so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis and is adjustable to adjust the clamping leg. For this purpose, the actuating element can be adjusted from a non-actuated position to an actuated position, for example using a tool, in order to adjust the clamping leg in the actuated position, for example to make it easier to insert the electrical line into the plug-in opening or to remove the electrical line from the plug-in opening. The clamping leg can be adjusted elastically relative to the housing (10) by actuating the actuating element into a release position and is held in position relative to the housing in the release position.

Such a connection terminal realizes a spring force connection by using the spring element, in which the electrical line in the connected position is clamped to the contact element under the elastic spring action of the spring element and is thus electrically connected to the contact element.

In one of the EN 10 2019 127 464 B3 The known connection terminal has a spring element in the form of a tension spring, which draws a connected electrical cable into contact with an associated contact element by means of an elastic spring effect and thus creates a clamped connection between the electrical cable and the contact element. When attached, the electrical cable is pushed through an opening in the clamping leg and clamped between the clamping leg and the contact element in the connected position.

At the connection terminal of the EN 10 2019 127 464 B3 A locking device is provided by which the clamping leg is in a release position relative to the Housing is locked. When the electrical cable is plugged in, the locking device is triggered and the locking mechanism is released, so that the clamping leg is moved from the release position and the electrical cable is thereby clamped to the contact element. In order to move the clamping leg into the release position, in particular to enable the electrical cable to be attached or to release a connected electrical cable from the connection terminal, a tool, for example a screwdriver, can be placed on the connection terminal and a force can be exerted on the clamping leg.

While the EN 10 2019 127 464 B3 If the clamping leg is adjusted directly by a tool, the EN 10 2019 135 203 A1 and the EN 10 2020 104 140 A1 In the known terminals, an actuating element in the form of a so-called pusher is provided, which can be pressed into the housing of the terminal in order to act on the clamping leg and to move the clamping leg into its release position. The actuating element is spring-loaded in relation to the housing of the terminal via a tension spring in the form of a compression spring. In the EN 10 2019 135 203 A1 In the known connection terminal, an actuating nose is arranged on the actuating element, which is hooked onto a fastening section of a holding element when the actuating element is in the actuated position.

The object of the present invention is to provide a connection terminal which makes it possible in a simple manner to adjust the clamping leg of the spring element into the release position, with a space-saving arrangement and convenient operation.

This object is solved by an article having the features of claim 1.

Accordingly, the connection terminal has a trigger element which is additional to the spring element and is adjustably mounted relative to the housing and which has a trigger section, wherein the clamping leg is designed to latch with the trigger element in the release position so that the clamping leg is held in the release position, wherein the trigger section is designed to cooperate with the electrical line when inserted into the plug opening to release the clamping leg from the release position.

With the connection terminal, the electrical line is electrically contacted with the electrical contact element by the clamping leg acting on the electrical line when the electrical line is plugged into the plug opening and applying a spring-elastic load to it in the direction of contact with the contact element. To make it easier to plug in the electrical line, the clamping leg of the spring element can be elastically deflected by actuating the actuating element in order to move the clamping leg into a release position in which a space in the area of the plug opening is released and the electrical line can thus be plugged into the plug opening with essentially no force or (alternatively) a connected electrical line can be easily removed from the connection terminal.

In this case, the clamping leg is held in the release position relative to the housing. The fact that the clamping leg is held in position relative to the housing in the release position results in simple handling, in which the clamping leg can be transferred to the release position for connecting an electrical line in order to enable the electrical line to be connected to the connection terminal with essentially no force.

In order to hold the clamping leg in the release position, the connection terminal has a release element that is separate from the spring element and forms a release section. The clamping leg is designed to lock into the release position with the release element so that the clamping leg is held in the release position. The release section is designed to work together with the electrical cable when it is inserted into the plug opening to release the clamping leg from the release position.

The release element is therefore used to lock the clamping leg into the release position. By operating the actuating element, the clamping leg can be adjusted relative to the housing and moved into the release position, so that in particular an electrical cable can be easily inserted into the plug opening of the housing to connect the cable to the connection terminal. In the release position, the clamping leg is then held in position relative to the housing via the release element.

The release element also serves to release the clamping leg from the release position in order to automatically release the clamping leg when the electrical To release the cable in the plug-in opening from the release position and thus to transfer the clamping leg into a clamping position in which the electrical cable inserted into the plug-in opening is electrically contacted with the contact element of the connection terminal. To do this, the trigger section can be triggered by interaction with the electrical cable so that the locking of the clamping leg with the trigger element is canceled and the clamping leg is thus released from the release position.

Because the trigger section of the trigger element is deflected when the electrical cable is plugged in, the connection terminal closes automatically when the electrical cable is plugged in. This results in a simple connection process, with reliable contact between the electrical cable and the contact element due to the clamping effect of the clamping leg.

The trigger element is separate from the spring element and is therefore present as a separate element in addition to the spring element. The trigger element is mounted in an adjustable manner relative to the housing, for example pivotable or movable, and can therefore be adjusted relative to the housing to trigger the clamping leg.

The trigger element can be made of metal, for example as a stamped and bent part.

The spring element can, for example, be formed as a stamped and bent part made of an elastically springy metal material, for example a spring steel.

In one embodiment, the actuating element has an axle element that pivots the actuating element on the housing, an actuating section that can be actuated by a user, a lever section that connects the axle element to the actuating section, and an active section arranged on the lever section for acting on the clamping leg. While the actuating section is accessible from outside the housing, for example by a user being able to act on the actuating section using a tool, such as a screwdriver, or alternatively manually, the active section is in active connection with the clamping leg of the spring element. By adjusting the actuating element, an adjusting force is thus exerted on the clamping leg via the active section, so that, in particular when adjusting the actuating element the clamping leg is moved from a non-actuated position to an actuated position and thus in the direction of the release position.

The actuating element is pivotably mounted on the housing via an axle element and can thus pivot about the pivot axis relative to the housing. The axle element is connected to the actuating section via a lever section. The active section for acting on the clamping leg to adjust the clamping leg relative to the housing is arranged on the lever section.

In one embodiment, the clamping leg has a clamping section for acting on the electrical line and an adjusting edge. The adjusting edge is arranged axially next to the clamping section on one side of the clamping leg, viewed along the pivot axis. The actuating element is designed to act exclusively on the adjusting edge on the side of the clamping leg via the active section in order to adjust the clamping leg. The actuating element is therefore designed to act on the clamping leg on one side. In this embodiment, the adjusting edge formed on the clamping leg is arranged axially next to a clamping section on one side of the clamping leg. The actuating element acts exclusively on this adjusting edge via the active section when the actuating element is moved to adjust the clamping leg. While the adjusting edge is formed on the side of the clamping leg, there is no adjusting edge on a second side of the clamping leg facing away from this (first) side (along the pivot axis), so that the actuating element acts on the clamping leg exclusively on the first side in order to introduce adjusting forces for adjusting the clamping leg into the spring element.

Because the active section in this design only acts on the clamping leg on one side, the connection terminal can be shaped in a way that is economical in terms of installation space. For example, the lever section can only connect the axle element to the actuating element on one side, whereby the lever section is arranged axially next to the clamping leg, for example, viewed along the pivot axis, and faces the side of the clamping leg on which the adjusting edge is formed. On the other hand, there is no (further) lever section on the second side of the clamping leg facing away from the first side, so that the actuating element only grips around the spring element on one side in order to support the axle element inside the housing and to make the actuating element accessible from outside the housing.

Preferably, the actuating element is mounted on one side of the housing via the axle element. For example, the axle element can be mounted axially (viewed along the pivot axis) next to the contact element on the housing, so that the axle element for pivotably mounting the actuating element on the housing is arranged outside of an area on the housing that is aligned with the plug opening, into which the electrical cable is inserted when connected to the connection terminal.

The adjusting edge is formed on the clamping leg in order to introduce actuating forces into the clamping leg via the active section of the actuating element. The adjusting edge is, for example, functionally separate from the clamping section of the clamping leg and is arranged axially next to the clamping section. The adjusting edge can, for example, be formed on an edge section that protrudes axially relative to the clamping section. The adjusting edge can, for example, be cut free from the clamping section by a slot, wherein the adjusting edge can, for example, protrude relative to the clamping section with a free end, viewed in a projection plane perpendicular to the pivot axis. This means that when the clamping section and the adjusting edge are projected onto the (imaginary) projection plane along a projection direction pointing along the pivot axis, the adjusting edge protrudes relative to the clamping section in the projection plane, so that the adjusting edge with its free end points in a different direction than a free edge of the clamping section, for example.

In one embodiment, the active section is designed to slide against the adjusting edge. When the actuating element is adjusted to adjust the clamping leg, the active section slides against the adjusting edge, so that adjusting forces are introduced into the clamping leg and the clamping leg is adjusted relative to the housing.

In one embodiment, the housing defines a receiving space into which the electrical cable can be inserted by inserting it into the plug-in opening. The trigger section extends into the receiving space for interaction with the electrical cable. In particular, the electrical cable can be inserted into the plug-in opening along a plug-in direction, with the trigger section extending approximately transversely to the plug-in direction in the receiving space. The The trigger section can be elastically deflected so that when it interacts with the electrical line, the trigger section is adjusted elastically.

In one embodiment, the trigger element has a locking portion with which the clamping leg is locked in the release position in order to thereby hold the clamping leg in the release position.

In one embodiment, the trigger element has at least one bearing leg protruding from the trigger section. The trigger element is adjustably mounted on the housing via the at least one bearing leg. For example, the bearing leg can be bent towards the trigger section, for example by an angle of approximately 90°, so that the trigger section extends transversely to the plug-in direction (along which an electrical line can be inserted into the plug-in opening) and along the pivot axis (about which the actuating element can be pivoted relative to the housing) in the receiving space within the housing, but the bearing leg extends along a plane approximately perpendicular to the pivot axis. The trigger element is mounted relative to the housing via the bearing leg, for example on the contact element fixed in place in the housing, so that the trigger element can be adjusted relative to the housing, for example pivoted or moved.

In one embodiment, a locking section is formed on the at least one bearing leg, which is designed to lock with the clamping leg in the release position. The locking section can, for example, be formed as a projection on the at least one bearing leg and protrude along a surface normal relative to the bearing leg, so that the clamping leg can lock with the locking section in the release position and is thus held in position relative to the housing in the release position via the trigger element.

In one embodiment, the at least one bearing leg has a bearing opening for the adjustable mounting of the trigger element. For example, a bearing element can be formed on the housing or on the contact element fixed to the housing, which engages in the bearing opening of the bearing leg and thus creates a pivot mounting for the trigger element relative to the housing.

In one embodiment, the contact element has a contact section for electrical contact with the electrical line and a bearing element forming Support section. The at least one bearing leg is mounted on the bearing element of the support section, for example in that the bearing element engages in a bearing opening on the bearing leg and thus creates a pivot bearing for the trigger element relative to the contact element and thus relative to the housing.

The contact element can, for example, have a U-shape in which the contact section is extended flat and is connected to the support section via a connecting section bent over to form the contact section. The support section can extend approximately parallel to the contact section and, like the contact section, is bent over to form the connecting section, so that the connecting section forms the base of the U-shape and the contact section on one side and the support section on the other side form the legs of the U-shape.

In one embodiment, the trigger element has two bearing legs, each of which is bent over to form the trigger section and is connected to one another via the trigger section. In this case, the trigger element can, for example, form a U-shape in which the bearing legs extend parallel to one another and provide legs of the U-shape, while the trigger section connects the bearing legs to one another and thus creates a base of the U-shape.

The trigger element can be designed, for example, as an integral sheet metal element, for example as a stamped and bent part.

In one embodiment, the trigger element has a tensioning element for pre-tensioning the trigger element relative to the housing. The tensioning element can be formed integrally and in one piece with the trigger element and protrude from the trigger section, for example as a resilient tab. The tensioning element is designed to create a tensioning force between the trigger element and the housing, which acts in particular in the direction of a return to an initial position in which the trigger element is locked in the release position with the clamping leg. The trigger element can be deflected from this initial position when an electrical line is plugged in in order to release the clamping leg and thus to electrically contact an inserted electrical line with the contact element.

In one embodiment, the actuating element can be moved relative to the housing independently of the clamping leg when the clamping leg is in the release position. In particular, the actuating element can be used to transfer the The clamping leg can be pivoted from a non-actuated position to an actuated position relative to the housing into the release position. Once the clamping leg has been transferred to the release position, the actuating element can be pivoted from the actuated position back towards the non-actuated position, with the clamping leg remaining in the release position in that the clamping leg is held in position relative to the housing by locking with the release element and is therefore not moved.

In one embodiment, the actuating element has a first locking element and the housing has a second locking element. The first locking element and the second locking element engage with one another in the non-actuated position of the actuating element, so that the actuating element is held in position relative to the housing in the non-actuated position. The actuating element can thus be brought back into an initial position (corresponding to the non-actuated position) after the clamping leg has been moved into the release position and is locked to the housing in the initial position. In the non-actuated position, the actuating element thus assumes a defined position relative to the housing, from which the actuating element can be moved (only) by releasing the lock.

In one embodiment, the first locking element is arranged on the actuating section of the actuating element. In the non-actuated position, the actuating element with the actuating section lies, for example, flat in an associated receiving opening in the housing, so that the actuating section does not protrude from the housing or at least only protrudes slightly.

In one embodiment, the spring element is designed as a tension spring. In this case, the clamping leg of the spring element is designed to pull the electrical line into contact with the contact element by spring force. In this case, an opening can be formed on the clamping leg, for example, through which the electrical line can be guided when plugged into the plug opening of the housing in order to pull the electrical line into clamping contact with the contact element after the clamping leg is released from the release position.

Alternatively, the spring element can be designed as a compression spring. In this case, the clamping leg is designed to press the electrical cable into contact with the contact element by spring force. When plugged into the plug opening, the electrical cable enters a space between the clamping leg and the Contact element, whereby after the clamping leg is released from the release position, the clamping leg acts on the electrical line and presses it into contact with the contact element.

The spring element can, for example, have a support leg, via which the spring element is supported on the housing and held in position on the housing. The clamping leg can be elastically deflected relative to the support leg, wherein in the release position the clamping leg is deflected such that the spring element is elastically tensioned and the clamping leg is moved out of the release position in an elastically pre-tensioned manner after being released from the release position.

Fig. 1

eine Ansicht eines Ausführungsbeispiels einer Anschlussklemme, in einer nicht betätigten Stellung eines Betätigungselements;

Fig. 2

eine Ansicht der Anschlussklemme, mit dem Betätigungselement in einer betätigten Stellung;

Fig. 3A

eine Schnittansicht durch die Anschlussklemme entlang der Linie I-I gemäß Fig. 1, vor Betätigung des Betätigungselements;

Fig. 3B

die Schnittansicht gemäß Fig. 3A, in einer perspektivischen Darstellung;

Fig. 4A

die Schnittansicht gemäß Fig. 3A, nach Bewegen des Betätigungselements in eine betätigte Stellung zum Überführen eines Klemmschenkels eines Federelements in eine Freigabestellung;

Fig. 4B

die Schnittansicht gemäß Fig. 4A, in einer perspektivischen Darstellung;

Fig. 5A

eine Schnittansicht der Anschlussklemme entlang der Linie II-II gemäß Fig. 1, in der nicht betätigten Stellung des Betätigungselements;

Fig. 5B

die Schnittansicht gemäß Fig. 5A, in der betätigten Stellung des Betätigungselements;

Fig. 6A bis 6C

gesonderte Ansichten des Betätigungselements; und

Fig. 7

eine gesonderte Ansicht des Federelements gemeinsam mit einem Auslöseelement und einem Kontaktelement.

The idea underlying the invention will be explained in more detail below using the embodiments shown in the figures. They show:

Fig.1

a view of an embodiment of a connection terminal, in a non-actuated position of an actuating element;

Fig.2

a view of the terminal with the actuating element in an actuated position;

Fig. 3A

a sectional view through the terminal along line II according to Fig.1 , before operating the actuating element;

Fig. 3B

the sectional view according to Fig. 3A , in a perspective view;

Fig. 4A

the sectional view according to Fig. 3A , after moving the actuating element into an actuated position for transferring a clamping leg of a spring element into a release position;

Fig. 4B

the sectional view according to Fig. 4A , in a perspective view;

Fig. 5A

a sectional view of the terminal along the line II-II according to Fig.1 , in the non-actuated position of the actuating element;

Fig. 5B

the sectional view according to Fig. 5A , in the actuated position of the actuating element;

Fig. 6A to 6C

separate views of the actuator; and

Fig.7

a separate view of the spring element together with a trigger element and a contact element.

Fig. 1 to 7 show an embodiment of a connection terminal 1, which forms a housing 10 with a plug opening 100 formed therein for inserting an electrical line 2 along a plugging direction E.

The housing 10 defines a receiving space 101 into which the electrical line 2 with a stripped conductor end 20 is inserted when it is inserted into the plug-in opening 100 along the plug-in direction E. In a connected position, the line 2 with the stripped conductor end 20 is located within the receiving space 101 and is electrically contacted via a clamping leg 120 of a spring element 12 with a contact section 110 of an electrical contact element 11 in the form of a current bar, so that the electrical line 2 is electrically connected to the connection terminal 1.

In the embodiment shown, the contact element 11 has a U-shaped configuration. A connecting section 112 protrudes from the contact section 110, which is bent by approximately 90° to the contact section 110 and on which a support section 111 is formed, again by bending.

The spring element 12 has a support leg 121 which is supported within the housing 10, so that the spring element 12 is attached to the housing 10 via it and is fixed to the housing 10. The support leg 121 is located, as can be seen from the view according to Fig.7 can be seen, on the support section 111 of the contact element 11 and is supported and fixed in place relative to the housing 10.

The clamping leg 120 is elastically deflectable relative to the support leg 121, in particular such that the clamping leg 120 in a release position ( Fig. 4A, 4B ) is removed from the contact element 11 and can be moved from the release position into a clamping position in which the clamping leg 120 clamps onto a 1 connected electrical line 2 and presses it under elastic prestress into contact with the contact element 11 and thus the line 2 electrically contacts the contact element 11 via its conductor end 20.

In the illustrated embodiment, an actuating element 14 is pivotably mounted on the housing 10 via an axle element 140 about a pivot axis D. The actuating element 14 can be pivoted about the pivot axis D relative to the housing 10, wherein an actuating section 141 is accessible from outside the housing 10 and can thus be actuated by a user, for example manually or using a tool.

The in separate views in Fig. 6A to 6C The actuating element 14 shown is designed as a lever which is pivotably mounted on the housing 10 at one end via the axle element 140, so that the actuating element 14 can be moved towards the housing about the pivot axis D. The axle element 140 is formed on a lever section 142 which connects the axle element 140 to the actuating section 141 and passes through an opening 102 in the housing 10, so that the actuating section 141 comes to lie outside the housing 10 and the axle element 140 is mounted inside the housing 10.

The lever section 142 is formed on one side of the actuating element 14. The actuating section 141 protrudes from the lever section 142 along the pivot axis D. The axle element 140 is formed on the lever section 142 in such a way that the axle element 140 protrudes from the lever section 142 on a side facing away from the actuating section 141, as can be seen from the separate views according to Fig. 6A to 6C is evident.

The pivotable mounting of the actuating element 14 via the axle element 140 on the housing 10 is axially offset (with respect to the pivot axis D) to the contact element 11. In particular, the axle element 140, as can be seen from the sectional views according to Fig. 5A and 5B visible, arranged axially next to the contact element 11 and thus outside an area of the receiving space 101 aligned with the plug opening 100, into which an electrical line 2 for connection to the connection terminal 1 is inserted along the plug direction E.

A guide section 143 is formed on the lever section 142, which defines a curved guide path with which the lever section 142 can slide on an associated, curved guide edge 104 on the housing 10, as shown for example in Fig. 3A and 4A in conjunction with Fig. 6A-6C is evident.

An active portion 144 is formed on the lever portion 142 in the form of a projection which projects axially along the pivot axis D from the lever portion 142 and which serves to interact with the clamping leg 120 of the spring element 12, in particular to move the clamping leg 120 in the direction of a release position by actuating the actuating element 14 in an actuating direction B, as is the case in the transition from Fig. 3A, 3B towards Fig. 4A, 4B The active section 144 is arranged eccentrically to the pivot axis D and, when the actuating element 14 is actuated, slides along an adjusting edge 123 formed on one side of the clamping leg 120 in order to introduce an adjusting force into the clamping leg 120 and to move the clamping leg 120 into the release position according to Fig. 4A, 4B to transfer.

The connection terminal 1 has a trigger element 13 which forms a trigger section 130 which extends into the area of the receiving space 101, as can be seen from Fig. 3A, 3B , 4A, 4B and Fig.7 is evident.

In the embodiment shown, the trigger element 13 is formed as an integral sheet metal element that is separate from the spring element 12. The trigger element 13 has two bearing legs 131 that extend parallel to one another and are connected to one another via a trigger section 130 that forms a base, resulting in a U-shaped configuration of the trigger element 13. The trigger element 13 is mounted on the support section 111 of the contact element 11 via the bearing legs 131, in that bearing elements 113 in the form of projection elements that protrude axially from the support section 111 engage in associated bearing openings 133 on the bearing legs 131 of the trigger element 13 and thus create a pivot bearing for the trigger element 13 relative to the contact element 11 that is stationary relative to the housing 10 and thus relative to the housing 10.

Because the bearing elements 113 are seated with play in the associated bearing openings 133 on the bearing legs 131, the trigger element 13 can be pivoted relative to the housing 10. The deflection path of the trigger element 13 is limited by the shape of the bearing elements 113 on the support section 111 and the shape of the bearing openings 133 on the bearing legs 131 and is dimensioned such that the trigger element 13 can be deflected from an initial position in which the clamping leg 120 is locked in the release position with the trigger element 13. that the clamping leg 12 is released from its locking position on the release element 13.

The trigger element 13 has a tensioning element 134, which is shaped as a resilient tab on the trigger section 130 and supports the trigger element 13 on the housing 10. The tensioning element 134 causes a pre-tension of the trigger element 13 in the direction of the starting position.

To transfer the clamping leg 120 into the release position, the actuating element 14 can be pivoted in the actuating direction B relative to the housing 10 in order to pivot the clamping leg 120 relative to the support leg 121, as is the case in the transition from Fig. 3A, 3B towards Fig. 4A, 4B In the release position according to Fig. 4A, 4B the clamping leg 120 releases an area within the receiving space 101 that is aligned with the plug-in opening 100 along the plug-in direction E, so that an electrical line 2 can be inserted unhindered by the clamping leg 120 into the plug-in opening 100 and thus connected to the connection terminal 1 in a substantially forceless manner.

On the bearing legs 131 of the trigger element 13, locking sections 132 are formed in the form of axially inwardly projecting projections, which in the release position create a locking connection with the clamping leg 120. In the release position, the clamping leg 120 is thus locked between the bearing legs 131 and is thus held in position relative to the housing 10 in the release position via the trigger element 13, as can be seen from Fig. 4A, 4B is evident.

When transferred to the release position, the clamping leg 120 slides onto the locking sections 132 with a clamping section 124 formed at the end of the clamping leg 120 and thereby deflects the trigger element 13 slightly from the starting position. Due to the pre-tension via the tensioning element 134, the trigger element 13 returns to its starting position after passing the locking sections 132 through the clamping section 124, so that the locking of the trigger element 13 with the clamping leg 120 is established.

The trigger section 130 of the trigger element 13 serves to interact with an electrical line 2 inserted into the plug-in opening 100, in particular to automatically connect the electrical line 2 to the connection terminal 1 by triggering the clamping leg 120. If an electrical line 2 is inserted along the If the plug-in connector 120 is inserted into the plug-in opening 100 in the plug-in direction E, the electrical line 2 with an inserted conductor end 20 acts on the trigger section 130 within the receiving space 101 of the housing 10 and adjusts the trigger element 13. This moves the trigger element 13 relative to the clamping leg 120 so that the clamping leg 120 is disengaged from the locking sections 132 on the bearing leg 131 of the trigger element 13 and the clamping leg 120 is thus released from the release position. Due to the elastic spring preload on the clamping leg 120, the clamping leg 120 snaps into contact with the inserted electrical line 2 and clamps it to the contact element 11 so that the electrical line 2 with the (stripped) conductor end 20 is pressed against the contact element 11 and is thus electrically contacted with the contact element 11.

As from Fig.7 As can be seen, the clamping leg 120 forms an adjusting edge 123 on a lateral edge section. The adjusting edge 123 projects axially relative to the clamping section 124. The clamping section 124 in turn projects beyond the adjusting edge 123 (viewed along the elongated extension of the clamping leg 120) and forms the end of the clamping leg 120 for clamping an inserted electrical line 2 and also for locking with the locking sections 132 on the bearing legs 131.

The adjusting edge 123 serves to interact with the active section 144 of the actuating element 14. When the actuating element 14 is adjusted from the non-actuated position ( Fig. 3A, 3B ) to the actuated position ( Fig. 4A, 4B ), the effective section 144 acts on the adjusting edge 123 and slides along the adjusting edge 123 so that the clamping leg 120 is moved into the release position, as is the case in the transition from Fig. 3A, 3B towards Fig. 4A, 4B is evident.

In the embodiment shown, the actuating element 14 acts exclusively on the adjusting edge 123 and thus on one side on the clamping leg 120, in that the active section 144 is in operative connection with the adjusting edge 123. Due to the one-sided arrangement and design of the actuating element 14, the actuating element 14 with the lever section 142 is arranged outside an area of the receiving space 101 into which the electrical line 2 is introduced for connection to the connection terminal 1. This results in an arrangement that is advantageous in terms of installation space.

The clamping section 124 forms a clamping edge at its free end, with which the clamping leg 120 clamps the conductor end 20 when the electrical line 2 is connected.

The actuating element 14 is used to transfer the clamping leg 120 into the release position from the non-actuated position ( Fig. 3A, 3B ) to the actuated position ( Fig. 4A, 4B ) and thereby moves the clamping leg 120 into the release position in which the clamping leg 120 is locked with the release element 13.

After transferring the clamping leg 120 into the release position, the actuating element 14 can be moved back into the non-actuated position in which the actuating section 141 is closer to the housing and, for example, lies flat in an associated receiving opening on the housing 10, as can be seen from Fig.1 is evident.

A locking element 145 is formed on the actuating section 141, which in the non-actuated position is in engagement with an associated locking element 103 on the housing 10, as can be seen from Fig. 1 and 2 is visible. The actuating element 14 is thus held in position on the housing 10 in the non-actuated position and thus assumes a defined, rattle-free position on the housing 10 in the non-actuated position.

If a connected electrical cable 2 is to be released from the connection terminal 2, the actuating element 14 can be pivoted in the actuating direction B so that the clamping leg 120 can be moved back into the release position according to Fig. 4A, 4B is transferred. The electrical cable 2 can thus be removed from the connection terminal 1 essentially without force. In the release position, the clamping leg 120 is again locked to the release section 130, so that when an electrical cable 2 is inserted, this in turn acts on the release section 130 and the locking of the clamping leg 120 is thereby canceled. The electrical cable 2 is thus again automatically connected to the connection terminal 1 with the clamping leg 120 being automatically released.

The idea underlying the invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, but can also be implemented in other ways.

In the embodiment shown, the trigger element is integral and formed in one piece with the spring element. However, this is not mandatory. A trigger element can For example, it can also be designed separately from the spring element, for example by a further spring element or by a separate lever.

In the embodiment shown, the actuating element is designed to act on the clamping leg of the spring element on one side. However, this is not mandatory. The actuating element can also act on the clamping leg of the spring element on both sides at adjusting edges that are located away from one another.

In principle, the actuating element can be mounted at any location and in any manner pivotably on the housing or on a component that is stationary relative to the housing.

List of reference symbols

1

Connection terminal

10

Housing

100

Plug opening

101

Recording room

102

Access opening

103

Locking element

104

Leading edge

11

Contact element (current bar)

110

Contact section

111

Support section

112

Connecting section

113

Bearing element

12

Clamping spring

120

Clamping leg

121

Support leg

122

Connecting section

123

Setting edge

124

Clamping section

13

Trigger element

130

Trigger section

131

Bearing leg

132

Rest section

133

Warehouse opening

134

Clamping element

14

Actuator

140

Axle element

141

Operating section

142

Lever section

143

Guide section

144

Effective section

145

Locking element

2

Line

20

Ladder end

B

Actuation direction

D

Swivel axis

E

Plug direction

Claims (15)

Connection terminal (1) for connecting an electrical line (2), with a housing (10) which has a plug-in opening (100) into which the electrical line (2) can be plugged for connection to the connection terminal (1), a contact element (11) arranged on the housing (10) for making electrical contact with the electrical line (2), a spring element (12) arranged on the housing (10) which has a clamping leg (120) for acting on the electrical line (2) in order to bring the electrical line (2) into contact with the contact element (11), and an actuating element (14) arranged on the housing (10) so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis (D) and which is adjustable for adjusting the clamping leg (120), wherein the clamping leg (120) can be elastically adjusted relative to the housing (10) into a release position by actuating the actuating element (14) and is held in the release position relative to the housing (10), characterized by a spring element (12) additional trigger element (13) which is adjustably mounted relative to the housing (10) and has a trigger section (130), wherein the clamping leg (120) is designed to latch with the trigger element (13) in the release position so that the clamping leg (120) is held in the release position, wherein the trigger section (130) is designed to cooperate with the electrical line (2) when inserted into the plug opening (100) to release the clamping leg (120) from the release position. Connection terminal (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuating element (14) has an axle element (140) pivotably mounted on the housing (10), an actuating section (141) that can be actuated by a user, a lever section (142) connecting the axle element (140) to the actuating section (141), and an active section (144) arranged on the lever section (142) for acting on the clamping leg (120). Connection terminal (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the lever section (142), viewed along the pivot axis (D), is arranged axially next to the clamping leg (120). Connection terminal (1) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the clamping leg (120) has a clamping section (124) for acting on the electrical line and an adjusting edge (123), wherein the adjusting edge (123), viewed along the pivot axis (D), is located on one side of the clamping leg (120) axially next to the clamping section (124) is arranged and the actuating element (14) is designed to act exclusively on the adjusting edge (123) on the side of the clamping leg (120) via the active section (144) in order to adjust the clamping leg (120). Connecting terminal (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the active portion (144) rests slidingly on the adjusting edge (123). Connection terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (10) defines a receiving space (101) into which the electrical line (2) can be introduced by being inserted into a plug-in opening (100), wherein the trigger section (130) extends in the receiving space (101) for cooperation with the electrical line (2). Connection terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the release element (13) has a latching section (132), wherein the clamping leg (120) is latched to the latching section (132) in the release position. Connection terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the trigger element (13) has at least one bearing leg (131) protruding from the trigger section (130), wherein the trigger element (13) is adjustably mounted to the housing (10) via the at least one bearing leg (131). Connection terminal (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that a latching section (132) for latching with the clamping leg (120) in the release position is arranged on the at least one bearing leg (131). Connection terminal (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that the locking section (132) is formed as a projection on the at least one bearing leg (131). Connection terminal (1) according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the at least one bearing leg (131) has a bearing opening (133) for adjustably supporting the trigger element (13). Connection terminal (1) according to one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that the contact element (11) has a contact section (110) for electrical contact with the electrical line (2) and a support section (111) forming a bearing element (113), wherein the at least one bearing leg (131) is mounted on the bearing element (113) of the support section (111). Connection terminal (1) according to one of claims 8 to 12, characterized in that the trigger element (13) has two bearing legs (131), which are each bent to form the trigger section (130) and are connected to one another via the trigger section (130). Connection terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the trigger element (13) has a tensioning element (134) for pretensioning the trigger element (13) relative to the housing (10). Connection terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuating element (14), when the clamping leg (120) is in the release position, is movable relative to the housing (10) independently of the clamping leg (120).

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