EP4379961A1 - 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) for making electrical contact with the electrical line (2) and a spring element (12) are 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). An actuating element (14) is adjustable for adjusting the clamping leg (120) in an actuating direction (B) from a non-actuated position to an actuated position. The actuating element (14) has a first adjusting section (145), and a triggering element (13) for triggering the actuating element (14) from the actuated position has a second adjusting section (133). The actuating element (14) is designed, when adjusted to the actuated position, to act on the second actuating section (133) via the first actuating section (145) to return the triggering element (13) to an initial 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 an electrical line can be inserted for connection to the connection terminal along a plug-in direction. A contact element for electrically contacting 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 can be actuated by a user in order to adjust the clamping leg. For this purpose, the actuating element can be adjusted in an actuating direction from a non-actuated position to an actuated position using a tool, for example, 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. In the actuated position, the actuating element is locked relative to the housing. In addition, a release element is adjustably arranged on the housing, which in the actuated position of the actuating element is arranged in a starting position relative to the housing and, when an electrical cable is inserted into the plug opening, can be adjusted out of the starting position by interacting with the electrical cable in order to release the actuating element from the actuated 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 means of which the clamping leg is locked in a release position relative to the housing. When the electrical cable is inserted, the locking device is triggered and the locking is thus released, so that the clamping leg is moved out of 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 thereby 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 hold the clamping leg of the spring element in a release position and to transfer it into a clamping position when an electrical cable is inserted.

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

Accordingly, the actuating element has a first adjusting section and the triggering element has a second adjusting section. When adjusted to the actuated position, the actuating element is designed to act on the second adjusting section via the first adjusting section to return the triggering element to the starting 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. In order 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 inside the housing 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 a connected electrical line can be easily removed from the connection terminal. The actuating element can, for example, be designed like a push button and pressed into the housing by the user in order to act on the clamping leg in this way and adjust the clamping leg in the direction of the release position.

The actuating element, which is adjustably arranged on the housing, is held in position relative to the housing in the actuated position by locking the actuating element to the housing or to a component that is stationary relative to the housing, so that the clamping leg of the spring element is preferably also held in its release position, in which it is possible to easily attach an electrical line to the connection terminal or to remove a connected line from the connection terminal in a substantially forceless manner.

The trigger element, which is adjustable relative to the housing, is used to trigger the actuating element from the actuated position in order to automatically release the actuating element from the actuated position when the electrical cable is inserted into the plug opening and thus to transfer the clamping leg into a clamping position in which the electrical cable inserted into the plug opening is electrically contacted with the contact element of the connection terminal. When the actuating element is in the actuated position, the trigger element assumes a starting position relative to the housing. By interacting with an inserted electrical cable, the trigger element can be adjusted from the starting position in order to act on the actuating element and release the actuating element from the locking in the actuated position.

After the locking is released, the actuating element can move automatically, preferably under spring preload, back in the direction of the non-actuated Adjust position. A spring preload on the actuating element can be brought about, for example, by the spring element, which is elastically deflected in the actuated position and, after the actuating element is released, acts on the actuating element in a spring-mechanical manner to transfer the actuating element from the actuated position towards the non-actuated position. However, a preload can also be provided by an additional preload element, for example an additional spring.

Because the release element is adjusted to the housing when the electrical cable is plugged in and thereby acts on the actuating element to release it from the locking mechanism in the actuated position, 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 actuating element has a first adjusting section, while the triggering element has a second adjusting section. The first adjusting section and the second adjusting section work together when the actuating element is moved from the non-actuated position to the actuated position, in order to return the triggering element to the starting position, which the triggering element assumes when the actuating element is in the actuated position and an electrical line is to be plugged into the connection terminal. Because the adjusting sections also work together when the actuating element is moved from the non-actuated position to the actuated position, a separate reset element, for example a mechanical spring, for returning the triggering element to the starting position can be dispensed with if necessary. The triggering element is returned to the starting position by the actuating element when the actuating element is moved to the actuated position.

The first adjusting section and/or the second adjusting section can, for example, be extended obliquely to the plug-in direction. In another embodiment, the first adjusting section and/or the second adjusting section can, for example, be curved in a pivot plane in which the clamping leg can pivot.

In one embodiment, the trigger element is designed to act on the first actuating section to release the actuating element from the actuated position with the second actuating section. If an electrical line is inserted into the plug-in opening of the housing and the trigger element is thereby adjusted relative to the housing, the adjusting section on the trigger element runs onto the associated adjusting section on the actuating element and thereby adjusts the actuating element in such a way that a locking element on the actuating element is disengaged from an associated counter-locking element on the housing or a component that is stationary with respect to the housing and thus the actuating element is released from its locking in the actuated position.

The actuation direction can, for example, be directed along the plug-in direction along which an electrical cable is to be inserted into the plug-in opening of the housing for connection to the connection terminal.

In one embodiment, the trigger element is designed to adjust the actuating element relative to the housing along a transverse direction perpendicular to the plug-in direction in order to release the actuating element from the actuated position. In the actuated position, the actuating element is locked to the housing. The locking can be released by moving the actuating element, triggered by an adjusting movement on the actuating element caused by the trigger element, in a transverse direction relative to the plug-in direction and thus disengaging it from the locking on the housing. If the locking is released when an electrical cable is plugged in and the trigger element is adjusted as a result, the actuating element is released from the actuated position and can move back into the non-actuated position, wherein the actuating element can be reset automatically, for example by a spring preload, caused for example by the clamping leg.

In order to move the actuating element along the transverse direction relative to the housing, the actuating element can be tilted in the housing, for example, by a (small) tilt angle. The trigger element is designed to tilt the actuating element relative to the housing to release it from the actuated position. If an electrical line acts on the trigger element when plugged in and thereby adjusts the trigger element, the trigger element acts on the actuating element and tilts the actuating element in the housing in such a way that the actuating element is disengaged from the locking mechanism on the housing along the transverse direction.

In one embodiment, the clamping leg of the spring element can be pivoted in a pivot plane relative to the housing. The pivot plane can be spanned, for example, by the plug-in direction and the transverse direction. The trigger element is designed to tilt the actuating element in the pivot plane relative to the housing for releasing it from the actuated position, for example in such a way that the tilting movement of the actuating element to release the locking takes place against the spring preload of the clamping leg on the actuating element.

In one embodiment, the first adjusting section and/or the second adjusting section are curved obliquely to the plug-in direction and the transverse direction or in a plane spanned by the plug-in direction and the transverse direction.

In one embodiment, the trigger element has a third adjustment section. The housing or a component that is stationary relative to the housing, for example the contact element, has a fourth adjustment section. The trigger element is arranged on the housing in such a way that it can be adjusted such that the trigger element slides with the third adjustment section on the fourth adjustment section when adjusted by plugging in the electrical cable and is thereby adjusted in the adjustment direction and also in the transverse direction relative to the housing. The trigger element is thus guided relative to the housing via the third adjustment section and the fourth adjustment section, so that the trigger element executes a superimposed movement both along the plug-in direction and along the transverse direction perpendicular to the plug-in direction when adjusted from the starting position.

The third adjustment section and/or the fourth adjustment section can, for example, each extend obliquely to the plug-in direction and the transverse direction or be curved in a plane spanned by the plug-in direction and the transverse direction. This results in a movement path along which the trigger element is adjusted with a movement vector component along the plug-in direction and with another movement vector component transverse to the plug-in direction.

In one embodiment, the trigger element is guided in a sliding manner on the fourth actuating section when the actuating element is adjusted to the actuated position via the third actuating section such that the trigger element is returned to the starting position in the opposite direction to the plug-in direction and in the opposite direction to the transverse direction. The third actuating section and the fourth actuating section guide the trigger element relative to the housing when moving out of the starting position. In addition, the The third actuating section and the fourth actuating section also cooperate when the trigger element is returned in the direction of the starting position, so that when the actuating element is actuated to transfer the actuating element into the actuated position, the trigger element is moved back into the starting position in a guided manner without a separate pre-tensioning element on the trigger element being required for this purpose.

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 element is arranged in the receiving space for interaction with the electrical cable and can be adjusted from the starting position relative to the housing by interaction with the electrical cable. The trigger element can be displaceable or pivotable relative to the housing.

A displacement path of the trigger element can be straight or curved. Such a displacement path can in particular be diagonal to the plug-in direction, so that the trigger element does not perform a straight movement along the plug-in direction when an electrical cable is inserted into the plug-in opening and acts on the trigger element, but rather the trigger element is adjusted both in the plug-in direction and in the transverse direction transverse to the plug-in direction in order to thereby act on the actuating element to release the locking mechanism.

In one embodiment, the trigger element is arranged pivotably on the housing and has a trigger arm which, in the initial position, extends transversely to the plug-in direction in the receiving space. The trigger arm extends into an area of the receiving space which is aligned with the plug-in opening, so that when an electrical cable is plugged in, it hits the trigger arm and thereby pivots the trigger element relative to the housing. When an electrical cable is plugged in, the trigger element is thus adjusted from an initial position and thereby acts on the actuating element in order to release the locking of the actuating element with the housing.

In one embodiment, the actuating element has a first locking element and a second locking element. The housing or a component fixed to the housing has a first counter-locking element and a second counter-locking element. In the actuated position of the actuating element, the first locking element is in engagement with the first counter-locking element and the second locking element is in engagement with the second counter-locking element to lock the actuating element. The locking between the The connection between the actuating element and the housing or the component that is stationary with respect to the housing, for example the contact element that is stationary with respect to the housing, is thus produced by a plurality of locking elements on the actuating element and associated counter-locking elements on the housing or the component that is stationary with respect to the housing. The actuating element thus has a first locking element and a second locking element that are spatially separated from one another and can in particular be axially offset relative to one another along the actuation direction. Each locking element of the actuating element is associated with a counter-locking element on the housing or the component that is stationary with respect to the housing, it also being conceivable for a counter-locking element to be formed on the housing and a further counter-locking element on a component that is stationary with respect to the housing, for example the contact element. In the actuated position of the actuating element, the locking elements engage with the counter-locking elements, so that the actuating element is locked in place at several locations relative to the housing.

Because several spatially spaced locking elements are provided on the actuating element and associated counter-locking elements are provided on the housing or the component fixed to the housing, reliable locking of the actuating element is ensured in the actuated position, with the actuating element being supported at several locations relative to the housing via the locking. The support can in particular be such that the actuating element is locked in position relative to the housing in the actuated position and thus assumes a defined position.

In one embodiment, the actuating element is linearly displaceable relative to the housing and has a head for actuation by a user and a shaft extending from the head for acting on the clamping leg. The head can, for example, be accommodated in an actuating opening on the housing and can be adjusted approximately linearly along the actuating direction in the actuating opening. The shaft extends from the head, which can, for example, have a tool engagement for engaging using a tool, into the interior of the housing in order to interact with the clamping leg of the spring element inside the housing.

The first locking element and the second locking element can, for example, be arranged on the shaft and formed axially spaced therefrom, for example on a side of the shaft facing away from the clamping leg.

In one embodiment, the first locking element and/or the second locking element are formed by a rigid locking edge or a locking projection on the actuating element. Additionally or alternatively, the first counter-locking element and/or the second counter-locking element on the housing side can each be formed by a rigid locking edge or a locking projection. Elasticity for establishing the locking between the actuating element and the housing or the component that is stationary relative to the housing can be provided, for example, by the spring element, which, in the actuated position of the actuating element, holds the locking elements in engagement with the counter-locking elements due to an elastic preload on the clamping leg.

In one embodiment, the actuating element has at least one further locking element in addition to the first locking element and the second locking element. Accordingly, the housing or a component fixed to the housing also has at least one further counter-locking element. In the actuated position of the actuating element, the at least one further locking element is in engagement with the at least one further counter-locking element. The locking is thus produced by more than two locking elements and their engagement in associated counter-locking elements.

Preferably, the at least one further locking element is axially offset along the actuating direction from the first locking element and the second locking element and thus axially spaced apart.

The locking elements establish a positive connection or positive force connection between the actuating element and the housing or the component fixed to the housing in such a way that the actuating element is fixed along the actuating direction relative to the housing and thus cannot be adjusted from the actuated position against the actuating direction.

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. For this purpose, 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 using spring force. When inserted 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 cable and presses it into contact with the contact element.

In one embodiment, the clamping leg can be elastically adjusted relative to the housing into a release position by actuating the actuating element and is held in the release position by the actuating element relative to the housing. The clamping leg is thus locked in the release position relative to the housing, so that the clamping leg remains in the release position after actuating the actuating 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. 1A

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

Fig. 1B

eine perspektivische Ansicht der Anschlussklemme;

Fig. 1C

eine Schnittansicht durch die Anschlussklemme;

Fig. 1D

eine perspektivische Ansicht der geschnittenen Anschlussklemme gemäß Fig. 1C, zur Verdeutlichung der Schnittebene;

Fig. 2

eine Ansicht eines Betätigungselements der Anschlussklemme;

Fig. 3A

die Schnittansicht gemäß Fig. 1C, bei Einstecken einer elektrischen Leitung;

Fig. 3B

eine perspektivische Ansicht der geschnittenen Anschlussklemme gemäß Fig. 3A;

Fig. 4A

eine Ansicht der Anschlussklemme, bei angesteckter elektrischer Leitung;

Fig. 4B

eine perspektivische Ansicht der Anordnung gemäß Fig. 4A;

Fig. 4C

eine Schnittansicht der Anschlussklemme in der Stellung gemäß Fig. 4A;

Fig. 4D

eine perspektivische Ansicht der geschnittenen Anschlussklemme gemäß Fig. 4C;

Fig. 4E

eine andere Schnittansicht der Anschlussklemme;

Fig. 4F

eine perspektivische Ansicht der geschnittenen Anschlussklemme gemäß Fig. 4E;

Fig. 5A

eine frontale Ansicht einer Anschlussklemme, nach einem anderen Ausführungsbeispiel, bei in einer betätigten Stellung befindlichem Betätigungselement;

Fig. 5B

eine perspektivische Ansicht der Anschlussklemme;

Fig. 6

eine Ansicht eines Betätigungselements der Anschlussklemme;

Fig. 7A

eine Schnittansicht der Anschlussklemme;

Fig. 7B

eine perspektivische Ansicht der geschnittenen Anschlussklemme gemäß Fig. 7A;

Fig. 8A

eine frontale Ansicht eines anderen Ausführungsbeispiels einer Anschlussklemme;

Fig. 8B

eine perspektivische Ansicht der Anschlussklemme gemäß Fig. 8A;

Fig. 8C

eine Schnittansicht der Anschlussklemme;

Fig. 8D

eine perspektivische Ansicht der geschnittenen Anschlussklemme;

Fig. 9A

eine Ansicht der Anschlussklemme, bei angeschlossener elektrischer Leitung;

Fig. 9B

eine perspektivische Ansicht der Anordnung gemäß Fig. 9A;

Fig. 9C

eine Schnittansicht der Anschlussklemme, bei angesteckter elektrischer Leitung;

Fig. 9D

eine perspektivische Ansicht der geschnittenen Anschlussklemme gemäß Fig. 9C;

Fig. 9E

eine andere Schnittansicht der Anschlussklemme, bei angeschlossener elektrischer Leitung;

Fig. 9F

eine perspektivische Ansicht der geschnittenen Anschlussklemme gemäß Fig. 9E;

Fig. 10A

eine Ansicht der Anschlussklemme, bei Betätigung des Betätigungselements zum Überführen eines Klemmschenkels eines Federelements in eine Freigabestellung;

Fig. 10B

eine perspektivische Ansicht der Anordnung gemäß Fig. 10A;

Fig. 10C

eine Schnittansicht der Anschlussklemme, bei Betätigen des Betätigungselements;

Fig. 10D

eine perspektivische Ansicht der geschnittenen Anschlussklemme gemäß Fig. 10C;

Fig. 10E

eine andere Schnittansicht der Anschlussklemme, bei Betätigung des Betätigungselements;

Fig. 10F

eine perspektivische Ansicht der geschnittenen Anschlussklemme gemäß Fig. 10E;

Fig. 11A

eine frontale Ansicht eines anderen Ausführungsbeispiels einer Anschlussklemme;

Fig. 11B

eine perspektivische Ansicht der Anordnung gemäß Fig. 11A;

Fig. 12

eine Ansicht eines Betätigungselements der Anschlussklemme;

Fig. 13A

eine Schnittansicht der Anschlussklemme, bei in einer betätigten Stellung befindlichen Betätigungselement; und

Fig. 13B

eine perspektivische Ansicht der geschnittenen Anschlussklemme gemäß Fig. 13A.

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

Fig. 1A

a front view of a first embodiment of a connection terminal, in an actuated position of an actuating element;

Fig. 1B

a perspective view of the terminal block;

Fig. 1C

a sectional view through the connection terminal;

Fig. 1D

a perspective view of the cut terminal according to Fig. 1C , to clarify the cutting plane;

Fig.2

a view of an actuating element of the connection terminal;

Fig. 3A

the sectional view according to Fig. 1C , when plugging in an electrical cable;

Fig. 3B

a perspective view of the cut terminal according to Fig. 3A ;

Fig. 4A

a view of the connection terminal with the electrical cable plugged in;

Fig. 4B

a perspective view of the arrangement according to Fig. 4A ;

Fig. 4C

a sectional view of the terminal in the position according to Fig. 4A ;

Fig. 4D

a perspective view of the cut terminal according to Fig. 4C ;

Fig. 4E

another sectional view of the terminal;

Fig. 4F

a perspective view of the cut terminal according to Fig. 4E ;

Fig. 5A

a front view of a connection terminal according to another embodiment, with the actuating element in an actuated position;

Fig. 5B

a perspective view of the terminal block;

Fig.6

a view of an actuating element of the connection terminal;

Fig. 7A

a sectional view of the terminal;

Fig. 7B

a perspective view of the cut terminal according to Fig. 7A ;

Fig. 8A

a front view of another embodiment of a connection terminal;

Fig. 8B

a perspective view of the terminal according to Fig. 8A ;

Fig. 8C

a sectional view of the terminal;

Fig. 8D

a perspective view of the cut terminal;

Fig. 9A

a view of the connection terminal with the electrical cable connected;

Fig. 9B

a perspective view of the arrangement according to Fig. 9A ;

Fig. 9C

a sectional view of the connection terminal with the electrical cable connected;

Fig. 9D

a perspective view of the cut terminal according to Fig. 9C ;

Fig. 9E

another sectional view of the connection terminal, with the electrical cable connected;

Fig. 9F

a perspective view of the cut terminal according to Fig. 9E ;

Fig. 10A

a view of the connection terminal when the actuating element is actuated to move a clamping leg of a spring element into a release position;

Fig. 10B

a perspective view of the arrangement according to Fig. 10A ;

Fig. 10C

a sectional view of the connection terminal when the actuating element is actuated;

Fig. 10D

a perspective view of the cut terminal according to Fig. 10C ;

Fig. 10E

another sectional view of the connection terminal, when the actuating element is actuated;

Fig. 10F

a perspective view of the cut terminal according to Fig. 10E ;

Fig. 11A

a front view of another embodiment of a connection terminal;

Fig. 11B

a perspective view of the arrangement according to Fig. 11A ;

Fig. 12

a view of an actuating element of the connection terminal;

Fig. 13A

a sectional view of the terminal with the actuator in an actuated position; and

Fig. 13B

a perspective view of the cut terminal according to Fig. 13A .

Fig. 1A-1D to 4A-4F 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 element 11 in the form of a current bar, so that the electrical line 2 is electrically connected to the connection terminal 1, as shown in Fig. 4A-4F is shown.

The spring element 12 has a support leg 121 which is connected to the clamping leg 120 via a curved intermediate section 122 and is supported together with the intermediate section 122 on a housing section 103 of the housing 10, so that the spring element 12 is attached to the housing 10 via this and is fixed to the housing 10. The clamping leg 120 can be elastically deflected relative to the support leg 121, in particular such that the clamping leg 120 can be bent in a Fig. 4A-4F shown clamping position acts clampingly on an electrical cable 2 connected to the connection terminal 1 and this under elastic prestress in Contact with a surface portion 110 of 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 adjustable along an actuating direction B on the housing 10. The actuating element 14 is accommodated in an actuating opening 102 of the housing 10 and can be displaced along the actuating direction B relative to the housing 10 in order to thereby act on the clamping leg 120 of the spring element 12 and to adjust it between the clamping position and a release position.

This in Fig. 2 The actuating element 14 shown in a separate view has a head 140 which is accessible from outside the housing 10 via the actuating opening 102 and can thus be actuated by a user, for example using a tool. A shaft 141 extends from the head 140 and serves to act on the spring element 12 to adjust the clamping leg 120. For this purpose, in the exemplary embodiment shown, an active section 147 is formed on the shaft 141, with which the actuating element 14 acts on the clamping leg 120 of the spring element 12 when it is adjusted to an actuated position and transfers it to the release position.

In the actuated position of the actuating element 14, shown in Fig. 1A-1D , the effective section 147 is in contact with the clamping leg 120, as can be seen for example from Fig. 1A, 1B is visible, and holds the clamping leg 120 in the release position.

Locking elements 143, 144 are formed on the shaft 141, which are formed by step-shaped edges extending approximately perpendicular to the actuation direction B and serve to lock the actuating element 14 in the actuated position. The locking elements 143, 144 on the actuating element 14 are thus in the actuated position of the actuating element 14, shown in Fig. 1A-1D , engage with associated counter-latching elements 104, 105 on an inner housing wall of the housing 10 and are thereby fixed to the housing 10 in a form-fitting or force-fitting manner along the actuation direction B, which is oriented parallel to the plug-in direction E. In the actuated position, the actuation element 14 is thus locked to the housing 10.

By locking with the housing, the actuating element 14 holds the clamping leg 120 of the spring element 12 in the release position and thus at a distance from the surface section 110 of the contact element 11, so that an electrical line 2 in a substantially forceless manner into the plug-in opening 100 along the plug-in direction E and can thereby be connected to the connection terminal 1. In the release position, the clamping leg 120 is elastically deflected relative to the support leg 121 and thus provides an elastic clamping force on the actuating element 14 in the direction of engagement of the locking elements 143, 144 with the counter-locking elements 104, 105, so that the actuating element 14 is held in the locked position under pre-tension of the clamping leg 120.

In the embodiment shown, the locking elements 143, 144 are formed on the shaft 141 of the actuating element 14 so as to be axially offset from one another along the actuating direction B. In the actuated position of the actuating element 14, the locking elements 143, 144 thus establish a locking at axially different positions by engaging the counter-locking elements 104, 105 on the housing 10, so that the actuating element 14 is supported on the housing 10 and held in a defined position relative to the housing 10.

An end 142 is formed on the shaft 141, which projects beyond the active section 147 and forms an adjusting section 145, via which the actuating element 14 interacts with a trigger element 13 of the connection terminal 1. The actuating element 14 thus engages with the end 142 in an opening 132 on a trigger leg 130 of the trigger element 13 and is operatively connected via the adjusting section 145 to an associated adjusting section 133 on the trigger element 13.

In the embodiment shown, the trigger element 13 is pivotally mounted to the housing 10 via a bearing axis 131. The trigger arm 130 is in an initial position (see Fig. 1A-1D ) extends at least approximately transversely to the plug-in direction E and projects in the interior 101 of the housing 10 into an area aligned with the plug-in opening 100 such that when an electrical cable 2 is plugged in, the latter strikes the triggering leg 130 with a conductor end 20 and thus acts on the triggering element 13.

The trigger element 13 serves to interact with an electrical cable 2 inserted into the plug opening 100 in order to automatically connect the electrical cable 2 to the connection terminal 1 by triggering the clamping leg 120. If the actuating element 14 is in the actuated position according to Fig. 1A-1D , the trigger element 13 takes the Fig. 1A-1D obvious starting position in which the Adjustment sections 133, 145 of the trigger element 13 and the actuating element 14 are in contact with each other. The adjustment sections 133, 145 are each curved (in a plane spanned by the actuation direction B and a transverse direction Q, corresponding to the cutting plane according to Fig. 1C ) and engage with each other in the initial position, so that the actuating element 14, which is locked to the housing 10 via the locking elements 143, 144, holds the trigger element 13 in position.

While the adjusting section 145 at the end 142 of the shaft 141 of the actuating element 14 is concave, the adjusting section 133 at the trigger element 13 is convex. If an electrical line 2 is inserted in the plug-in direction E into the plug-in opening 100 of the housing 10, as shown in Fig. 3A and 3B As can be seen, the line 2 with its line end 20 hits the trigger leg 130 of the trigger element 13 and pivots the trigger element 13 about the bearing axis 131. As a result, the adjusting sections 133, 145 slide onto one another and with their curvatures disengage from one another, causing the actuating element 14 to be tilted on its shaft 141 in a tilting direction K by a (small) tilting angle to the housing 10.

As a result, the locking elements 143, 144 are adjusted in the transverse direction Q relative to the counter-locking elements 104, 105 on the housing 10 and are disengaged from the counter-locking elements 104, 105, so that the locking of the actuating element 14 is canceled.

A tilt axis D, about which the actuating element 14 is approximately tilted when the triggering element 13 is triggered, is located, for example, in the region of the head 140 of the actuating element 14, as shown in Fig. 3A is marked.

If the locking of the actuating element 14 has been released by triggering the trigger element 13, the actuating element 14 is adjusted relative to the housing 10 in the opposite direction to the actuating direction B due to the spring preload of the clamping leg 120, as shown in Fig. 4A-4F The actuating element 14 thus slides upwards in the actuating opening 102, and the clamping leg 120 comes into contact with the line end 20 and presses it into contact with the surface section 110 of the contact element 12, as can be seen from the sectional views according to Fig. 4C and 4D visible.

The actuating element 14 is prevented from sliding out of the actuating opening 102 by the actuating element 14 being locked via the locking element 143, for example in System with a contact edge 106 on the housing, as shown in Fig. 4E and 4F is evident.

Because the actuating element 14 is automatically moved out of the actuated position after the hold is released due to the spring preload of the clamping leg 120, a user can safely and reliably recognize that the connection terminal 1 has been triggered and the electrical line 2 is thus connected to the connection terminal 1. The risk of incorrect operation is thus reduced.

If the electrical cable 2 is to be removed from the Fig. 4A-4F shown, connected position and removed from the connection terminal 1, the actuating element 14 can be returned to the actuated position according to Fig. 1A-1D so that the clamping leg 120 is brought out of contact with the line 2. The line 2 can thus be removed from the connection terminal 1 in a substantially forceless manner.

When the actuating element 14 is actuated in the actuating direction B, the end 142 of the shaft 141 again engages with the opening 132 on the trigger arm 130 of the trigger element 13, so that the actuating sections 133, 145 of the actuating element 14 and the trigger element 13 also come into contact with one another. The convex actuating section 133 on the inside of the opening 132 of the trigger arm 130 slides into the concave actuating section 145 on the end 142 of the actuating element 14, so that the trigger element 13 automatically returns to the starting position according to Fig. 1A-1D is adjusted and is held there by the engagement of the end 142 in the opening 132 until an electrical line 2 is (again) inserted into the plug-in opening 100 and thereby connected to the connection terminal 1.

A separate preload on the trigger element 13 for returning it to the starting position is not required. The trigger element 13 is returned to the starting position by interaction with the actuating element 14 when the actuating element 14 is moved into the actuated position.

In another, in Fig. 5A , 5B to 7A , 7B In the embodiment shown, a trigger element 13 is adjustable in a guided manner relative to the housing 10. The trigger element 13 has for this purpose an adjusting section 134 in the form of an oblique edge, which is connected to an associated adjusting section 107 in the form of an oblique edge on the Housing 10, as shown in Fig. 5A, 5B in conjunction with the sectional views according to Fig. 7A, 7B is evident.

Fig. 5A, 5B and 7A, 7B show the connection terminal 1 in an actuated position of the actuating element 14, in which the actuating element 14 is locked to the housing 10 via locking elements 143, 144 with associated counter-locking elements 104, 105, as can be seen in particular from the sectional views according to Fig. 7A, 7B is visible. Again, the actuating element 14 is spring-loaded via the deflected clamping leg 120 and is thus held in engagement with the counter-latching elements 104, 105 and thereby locked in the actuated position.

Two second locking elements 144 are provided on the actuating element 14 axially to the first locking element 143, which engage with associated counter-locking elements 105 on the housing 10 and are arranged axially at the same position.

If, when in the actuated position according to Fig. 5A, 5B and 7A, 7B located actuating element 14, an electrical line is connected to the connection terminal 1 by inserting the line into the plug opening 100 and hitting the box-shaped trigger element 13 along the plug direction E, the trigger element 13 is adjusted in the plug direction E and also transversely in the transverse direction Q relative to the housing 10 by the trigger element 13 running with the adjusting section 134 onto the associated adjusting section 107 on the housing 10 and being adjusted due to the oblique extension of the adjusting sections 107, 134 in the housing 10.

When the trigger element 13 is adjusted, an adjusting section 133 of the trigger element 13, which is formed on an edge facing away from the adjusting section 134, slides along an associated adjusting section 145 on the shaft 141 of the actuating element 14, which extends obliquely to the actuating direction B, and thereby adjusts the actuating element 14 by tilting it in the transverse direction Q, so that the locking elements 143, 144 are disengaged from the associated counter-locking elements 104, 105 on the housing 10 and the locking of the actuating element 14 with the housing is thus canceled.

If a connected electrical cable is to be disconnected again, the actuating element 14 is returned to the actuated position according to Fig. 5A, 5B and 7A, 7B whereby the adjusting section 145 of the actuating element 14 acts on the adjusting section 133 of the trigger element 13 and the trigger element 13 returns to the starting position according to Fig. 7A, 7B Due to the leadership of the Trigger element 13 via the adjusting section 134 on the associated adjusting section 107, the trigger element 13 slides against the transverse direction Q and against the plugging direction E relative to the housing 10 and thus, when the actuating element 14 is actuated, again takes the starting position according to Fig. 7A, 7B a.

The release element 13 is thus reset automatically when the actuating element 14 is actuated, without any pre-tensioning, for example by a return spring, on the release element 13 being necessary.

In a Fig. 8A-8D to 10A-10F In the embodiment shown, an actuating element 14 has three locking elements 143, 144, 148, which are axially offset from one another along the actuating direction B, as can be seen, for example, from the sectional views according to Fig. 8C and 8D The axially offset locking elements 143, 144, 148 on the actuating element 14 are in the actuated position of the actuating element 14 according to Fig. 8A-8D in engagement with associated counter-locking elements 104, 105, 108 on a wall inside the housing 10.

Analogous to what has been described above, the actuating element 14 is thus locked in the actuated position relative to the housing 10. Due to the multiple locking at different axial positions, the actuating element 14 is held in a defined position relative to the housing 10.

In the embodiment according to Fig. 8A-8D to 10A-10F A trigger element 13 is provided which, analogously to the embodiment according to Fig. 5A, 5B to 7A, 7B described, is guided displaceably on the housing 10 and slides with an adjusting section 134 on an associated adjusting section 107 of the housing 10. If an electrical line 2, as shown in Fig. 9A-9F visible, in the plug-in direction E into the plug-in opening 100 of the housing 10, the trigger element 13 is adjusted relative to the housing 10, wherein the trigger element 13 is adjusted both in the plug-in direction E and in the transverse direction Q due to the guidance of the adjusting sections 134, 107 to one another.

When adjusted, the trigger element 13 acts via an adjusting section 133 on an associated adjusting section 145 at one end 142 of the actuating element 14 and thereby tilts the actuating element 14 in a tilting direction K relative to the housing 10. As a result, the locking elements 143, 144, 148 are moved in the transverse direction Q out of the Engagement by the associated counter-locking elements 104, 105, 108 of the housing 10, so that the locking of the actuating element 14 is canceled.

In the embodiment shown, the clamping leg 120 of the spring element 12 passes through an opening 146 on the shaft section 141 of the actuating element 14. While when the actuating element 14 is actuated, the clamping leg 120 is held in a deflected position relative to the support leg 121 via an active section 147 delimiting the opening 146, as can be seen from Fig. 8A-8D As can be seen, the active section 147 releases the clamping leg 120 after the locking of the actuating element 14 is released, so that the clamping leg 120 can adjust elastically in the direction of the surface section 110 of the contact element 11 and thus brings the electrical line 2 into clamping contact with the surface section 110 for electrical contact with the contact element 11, as can be seen in particular from the sectional views according to Fig. 9C and 9D is evident.

Due to the spring preload of the clamping leg 120 and the pivoting of the clamping leg 120 in contact with the line 2, the actuating element 14 is also adjusted against the actuating direction B and thus reaches the non-actuated position according to Fig. 9A-9F .

If the actuating element 14 is actuated again to release the line 2, as shown in Fig.10A-10F As shown, the actuating element 14 with the end 142 and the adjusting section 145 formed thereon acts on the associated adjusting section 133 of the trigger element 13 and adjusts the trigger element 13 against the plugging direction E and against the transverse direction Q back to the starting position according to Fig. 8A-8D . The trigger element 13 slides over the adjusting section 134 on the associated adjusting section 107 of the housing 10 and thus reaches the starting position in a guided manner according to Fig. 8A-8D . Again, a separate reset element on the trigger element 13 is not required to return it to the starting position.

A in Fig. 11A, 11B to 13A, 13B The embodiment shown is functionally similar to the embodiment according to Fig. 1A-1D to 4A-4F . In the embodiment according to Fig. 11A, 11B to 13A, 13B a trigger element 13 is pivotally mounted about a bearing axis 131 relative to the housing 10 and interacts via an adjusting section (not visible in the figures) positioned obliquely to the plug-in direction E with an associated, obliquely positioned adjusting section 145 at one end 142 of the actuating element 14 in order to hold the trigger element 13 in the initial position according to Fig. 11A, 11 Bund 13A, 13B and to return to the starting position after deflection when the actuating element 14 is actuated.

In contrast to the embodiment according to Fig. 1A-1D to 4A-4F are in the embodiment according to Fig. 11A, 11B to 13A, 13B Three axially offset locking elements 143, 144, 148 are formed on the actuating element 14, analogously to what was previously described with reference to the embodiment according to Fig. 8A-8D to 10A-10F The locking elements 143, 144, 148 are in the actuated position of the actuating element 14, shown in Fig. 11A, 11B and 13A, 13B , in engagement with associated counter-locking elements 104, 105, 108 of the housing 10 and thus establish a locking of the actuating element 14.

If an electrical cable is inserted into the plug-in opening 100 of the housing 10 in the plug-in direction E, the cable acts on the trigger element 13 and adjusts it about the bearing axis 131. As a result, the actuating element 14 is tilted relative to the housing 10, and the locking elements 143, 144, 148 are disengaged from the associated counter-locking elements 104, 105, 108 of the housing 10 in the transverse direction Q. The locking of the actuating element 14 is thus canceled, and the actuating element 14 is returned to the non-actuated position due to the spring preload of the clamping leg 120.

If the actuating element 14 is actuated again and thereby moved in the actuating direction B into the actuated position according to Fig. 11A, 11B and 13A, 13B the actuating element 14 moves the trigger element 13 back to the starting position according to Fig. 11A, 11B and 13A, 13B , wherein the trigger element 13 comes into contact with a contact edge 149 at the end 142 of the actuating element 14 and thus assumes a defined position relative to the actuating element 14, as can be seen from Fig. 13A, 13B is evident.

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

The trigger element can be pivotably mounted on the housing or on a component that is stationary relative to the housing via a bearing axis.

The actuating element can be pre-tensioned in the direction of the non-actuated position by the action of the clamping leg of the spring element. However, it is also conceivable to use a to provide an additional pre-tensioning element which pre-tensions the actuating element against the actuating direction in the direction of the non-actuated position relative to the housing. Such a pre-tensioning element can be designed, for example, by a compression spring or another mechanical spring.

In the embodiments shown, the actuating element is locked to associated counter-locking elements of the housing via a plurality of locking elements when the actuating element is in the actuated position. However, this is not mandatory. In principle, it is sufficient if the actuating element has a locking element that is locked to an associated counter-locking element of the housing or to a component that is fixed to the housing in the actuated position of the actuating element.

Counter-locking elements on the housing side can be formed on the housing itself or on a component that is fixedly connected to the housing, for example the contact element.

List of reference symbols

1

Connection terminal

10

Housing

100

Plug opening

101

Recording room

102

Operating opening

103

Housing section

104

Locking element

105

Locking element

106

Investment edge

107

Setting section

108

Locking element

11

Contact element (current bar)

110

Area section

12

Clamping spring

120

Clamping leg

121

Support leg

122

Intermediate section

13

Trigger element

130

Trigger arm

131

Bearing axis

132

opening

133

Setting section

134

Setting section

14

Actuator

140

Head

141

shaft

142

End

143

Locking element

144

Locking element

145

Setting section

146

opening

147

Effective section

148

Locking element

149

Edge

2

Line

20

Ladder end

B

Actuation direction

D

Tilting axis

E

Plug direction

K

Tilt direction

Q

Transverse 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 an electrical line (2) can be plugged in for connection to the connection terminal (1) along a plug-in direction (E), a contact element (11) arranged on the housing (10) for 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), an actuating element (14) adjustably arranged on the housing (10) which can be adjusted from a non-actuated position to an actuated position in order to adjust the clamping leg (120) in an actuating direction (B) and is locked in the actuated position relative to the housing (10), and a trigger element (13) which is adjustably arranged relative to the housing (10) and which in the actuated position of the Actuating element (14) is arranged in a starting position relative to the housing (10) and, when an electrical line (2) is inserted into the plug-in opening (100), can be adjusted out of the starting position by interacting with the electrical line (2) in order to release the actuating element (14) from the actuated position, characterized in that the actuating element (14) has a first adjusting section (145) and the trigger element (13) has a second adjusting section (133), wherein the actuating element (14) is designed, when adjusted to the actuated position, to act via the first adjusting section (145) on the second adjusting section (133) to return the trigger element (13) to the starting position. Connection terminal (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the release element (13) is designed to act on the first actuating section (145) with the second actuating section (133) in order to release the actuating element (14) from the actuated position. Connection terminal (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the release element (13) is designed to adjust the actuating element (14) for release from the actuated position along a transverse direction (Q) pointing transversely to the plugging direction (E) relative to the housing (10). Connection terminal (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the release element (13) is designed to tilt the actuating element (14) relative to the housing (10) for release from the actuated position. Connection terminal (1) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the clamping leg (120) is pivotable in a pivot plane relative to the housing (10) and the release element (13) is designed to tilt the actuating element (14) in the pivot plane relative to the housing (10) for release from the actuated position. Connection terminal (1) according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the first adjusting section (145) and/or the second adjusting section (133) is curved obliquely to the plug-in direction (E) and the transverse direction (Q) or in a plane spanned by the plug-in direction (E) and the transverse direction (Q). Connection terminal (1) according to one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the trigger element (13) has a third adjusting section (134) and the housing (10) or a component fixed to the housing (10) has a fourth adjusting section (107), wherein the trigger element (13) is arranged on the housing (10) in such a way that it can be adjusted such that the trigger element (13) slides with the third adjusting section (134) on the fourth adjusting section (107) when adjusted from the starting position by plugging in the electrical line and is thereby adjusted in the plugging direction (E) and also in the transverse direction (Q) relative to the housing (10). Connection terminal (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that when the actuating element (14) is adjusted into the actuated position, the trigger element (13) is slidably guided on the fourth actuating section via the third actuating section (134) in such a way that the trigger element (13) is returned to the starting position counter to the plug-in direction (E) and counter to the transverse direction (Q). Connection terminal (1) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the third adjusting section (134) and/or the fourth adjusting section (107) is curved obliquely to the plug-in direction (E) and the transverse direction (Q) or in a plane spanned by the plug-in direction (E) and the transverse direction (Q). 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 the plug-in opening (100), wherein the trigger element (13) is arranged in the receiving space (101) for interaction with the electrical line (2) and is adjustable from an initial position relative to the housing (10) by interaction with the electrical line (2). Connection terminal (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the trigger element (13) is displaceable or pivotable relative to the housing (10). Connection terminal (1) according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the trigger element (13) has a trigger leg (130) which can be pivoted relative to the housing (10), wherein the trigger leg (130) extends in the initial position transversely to the plug-in direction (E) in the receiving space (101). Connection terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuating element (14) has a first locking element (143) and a second locking element (144) and the housing (10) or a component fixed to the housing (10) has a first counter-locking element (104) and a second counter-locking element (105), wherein in the actuated position of the actuating element (14) the first locking element (143) is in engagement with the first counter-locking element (104) and the second locking element (144) is in engagement with the second counter-locking element (105) for locking the actuating element (14). Connection terminal (1) according to claim 13, characterized in that the second locking element (144) is axially offset along the actuating direction (B) to the first locking element (143). Connection terminal (1) according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the actuating element (14) is linearly displaceable relative to the housing (10) and has a head (140) for actuation by a user and a shaft (141) extending from the head for acting on the clamping leg (120), wherein the first locking element (143) and the second locking element (144) are formed on the shaft (141).

Images