LU502846B1 - Connection terminal for connecting electrical cables - Google Patents

Abstract

Connection terminal for connecting electrical lines A connection terminal (1) for connecting electrical lines (2) comprises a housing (10) which has a plurality of plug-in openings (100) into which electrical lines (2) for connection to the connection terminal (1) are inserted. A current bar (11) is jointly assigned to the plug-in openings (100). Spring elements (12) each have a clamping leg (120) for acting on an electrical line (2) inserted into an associated plug-in opening (100). Actuating elements (14) are adjustably arranged on the housing (10), each of which is assigned to a plug-in opening (100) and can each be adjusted to adjust the clamping leg (120) of the spring element (12) assigned to the plug-in opening (100) from a non-actuated position to an actuated position. Release elements (13) are each adjustable relative to the housing (10) by interacting with an electrical line (2) when inserted into a respective associated plug opening (100) and are designed, when adjusted, to act on the actuating element (14) associated with the respective plug opening (100) to release the actuating element (14) from the actuated position.

Description

Connection terminal for connecting electrical cables LU502846

The invention relates to a terminal for connecting electrical cables according to the preamble of claim 1 and a method for assembling such a

connection terminal.

Such a terminal comprises a housing which has a plurality of

Has plug openings into which electrical cables can be inserted for connection to the

Connection terminal can be inserted along a plug-in direction. A current bar is arranged on the housing, which is assigned to the plug-in openings, for electrical contact with the electrical lines. Spring elements are each assigned to a plug-in opening and each have a clamping leg for acting on an electrical line inserted into the assigned plug-in opening in order to bring the electrical line into contact with the current bar. Actuating elements are adjustably arranged on the housing, which are each assigned to a plug-in opening and each for

Adjusting the clamping leg of the spring element assigned to the plug opening from a non-actuated position to an actuated position

Such a terminal realizes a

Spring-loaded connection, in which electrical cables in the connected position are

Current bars are clamped under the elastic spring action of the spring elements and are thus electrically connected to the current bar. The current bar is at a uniform potential, so that the electrical lines are connected to a common

potential and thus a

Potential distribution occurs.

In a connection terminal known from DE 10 2019 127 464 B3, a

Spring element in the form of a tension spring is provided, which has a connected electrical

Line is pulled into contact with an associated current bar by elastic spring action and thus a clamping connection between the electrical line and the

current bar. The electrical cable is pushed through an opening in the clamping leg and clamped between the clamping leg and the current bar in the connected position.

The connection terminal of DE 10 2019 127 464 B3 has a locking device, via which the clamping leg can be locked in a release position relative to the

Housing is locked. When the electrical cable is plugged in, the locking device LU502846 is triggered and the locking is released, so that the clamping leg can be removed from the

release position and thereby clamps the electrical cable to the current bar. 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 thereby a force can be applied to the

clamping legs.

While in DE 10 2019 127 464 B3 the clamping leg is adjusted directly using a tool, in the connection terminals known from DE 10 2019 135 203 A1 and DE 10 2020 104 140 A1 an actuating element in the form of a so-called pusher is provided, which can be pressed into the housing of the connection terminal in order to act on the clamping leg and to transfer the clamping leg into its release position. The actuating element is in each case connected to the housing of the

Connection terminal spring-loaded. In the known from DE 10 2019 135 203 A1

In this connection terminal, an actuating lug 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 connect a plurality of lines for electrical contact with a common current bar.

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

Accordingly, the connection terminal has a plurality of trigger elements, each of which is assigned to one of the plug openings, wherein the actuating elements are each locked relative to the housing in the actuated position and are thereby held in position relative to the housing in the actuated position, wherein the trigger elements are each adjustable relative to the housing by interaction with an electrical line when inserted into the respectively assigned plug opening and are designed, when adjusted to the actuating element assigned to the respective plug opening, for

Release the actuating element from the actuated position.

With the connection terminal, electrical cables are electrically connected to the current bar LU502846 by clamping legs of the spring elements assigned to the plug openings acting on the electrical cables when they are plugged into the plug openings and exerting a spring-elastic load on them in the direction of contact with the current bar. To make it easier to plug in the electrical cables, the clamping legs of the

Spring elements elastically by actuating a respective associated

actuating element in order to move the clamping legs into a

release position in which a space inside the housing in the area of the respective plug opening is released and thus an electrical cable can be inserted into the respective plug opening in a substantially forceless manner or (alternatively) a connected electrical cable can be easily removed from the connection terminal. The actuating elements can, for example, be

designed as a push button and pressed into the housing by the user in order to act on the associated clamping leg and to

Adjust the clamping leg towards the release position.

The actuating elements, which are adjustably arranged on the housing, are each locked relative to the housing in the actuated position. In the actuated position, each actuating element is thus held in position relative to the housing, so that the clamping leg of the actuating element assigned to it is also locked.

Spring element is held in its release position, in which a simple insertion of an electrical cable into the associated plug opening is possible or a connected cable can be released from the

connection terminal can be removed.

By operating a respective actuating element, the associated

Clamping legs can be adjusted relative to the housing and moved into a release position so that, in particular, easy insertion of an electrical cable into the associated plug-in opening for connecting a cable to the connection terminal is possible.

A release element is assigned to each plug opening. The release element, which can be adjusted to the housing, serves to release the actuating element assigned to the respective plug opening from the actuated position in order to

Actuating element to automatically release from the actuated position when an electrical cable is inserted into the assigned plug opening and thus

Clamping leg to be transferred into a clamping position in which the electrical cable inserted into the plug opening is electrically contacted with the current bar of the connection terminal LU502846. For this purpose, the trigger element is designed to interact with the electrical

Cable is formed when plugged into the assigned plug opening.

In conjunction with the electrical line, the trigger element is adjusted to the housing so that the trigger element acts on the actuating element, thereby

The locking of the actuating element is canceled and the actuating element is thus released from the actuated position.

After the locking is released, each actuating element can move automatically, preferably under spring preload, back in the direction of the non-actuated

A spring preload on the respective actuating element can be achieved, for example, via the respective associated clamping leg, which is elastically deflected in the actuated position and after release of the respective

Actuating element spring-mechanically to the actuating element for transferring the

actuating element from the actuated position towards the non-actuated position. However, a preload on each actuating element can also be provided by an additional preload element, for example an additional spring.

Because the trigger elements are activated when electrical cables are plugged into the

Housing are adjusted and thereby act on the associated actuating elements in order to release them from the locking in the actuated position, the

The connection terminal is activated automatically when electrical cables are plugged in. This results in a simple connection process, with reliable contact between the electrical cables and the current bar due to the clamping effect of the clamping legs.

In the connection terminal, a common current bar is assigned to the plug openings, which is at a uniform, common potential when electrical cables are connected. Electrical cables are connected to the

The connection terminal is thus connected together to the current bar and brought to a common potential, so that a

Potential distribution occurs.

In one embodiment, the trigger elements each have a trigger arm that can be adjusted to the housing and is designed to interact with an electrical line when plugged into the respective plug opening.

By inserting an electrical cable into a plug opening, it comes into contact with the

Release arm and thereby adjusts the release element so that the release element acts on the actuating element assigned to the plug opening and releases it from its LU502846

locking mechanism and thus from the actuated position. The plug-in opening assigned

The clamping leg is thus no longer held in position relative to the housing, so that the clamping leg comes into contact with the plugged-in electrical cable 5 and thus the electrical cable electrically contacts the current bar of the connection terminal.

In one embodiment, an electrical cable is connected by plugging it into one of the

The release arm of the release element assigned to the respective plug opening extends into the

Receiving space for interaction with the electrical cable. In particular, the release arm can be in an initial position transverse to the plugging direction in the

The trigger element is connected via the trigger arm to the

Housing adjustable so that when interacting with the electrical cable of the

The release arm of the respective release element is moved from the starting position and the release element is thereby adjusted to act on the associated actuating element.

In one embodiment, at least some of the spring elements are designed as tension springs.

In this case, the clamping leg of the respective spring element is designed to pull a plugged-in electrical cable into contact with the current bar by spring force. In this case, an opening can be formed on the clamping leg, for example, through which the electrical cable can be guided when plugged into the plug opening of the housing in order to be released from the

Release position to pull the electrical cable into clamping contact with the current bar.

In one embodiment, at least some of the spring elements are designed as compression springs. In this case, the clamping leg of the respective spring element is designed to hold an inserted electrical cable in contact with the

When plugged into the plug opening, the electrical

Cable into a space between the clamping leg and the current bar, whereby

When the clamping leg is released from the release position, the clamping leg acts on the electrical cable and presses it into contact with the current bar.

In one embodiment, the clamping leg of each spring element can be adjusted elastically relative to the housing by actuating the respective associated actuating element into a release position and is held in the release position by the LU502846

Position locked actuating element held relative to the housing. The respective

The clamping leg is thus locked in the release position to the housing, so that the

Clamping leg after actuation of the associated actuating element in the

Release position remains.

Each spring element can, for example, have a support leg over 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, whereby

In the release position, the clamping leg is deflected in such a way 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.

In one embodiment, the connection terminal has a

Support element which forms a plurality of support sections, each of which has a

For example, each spring element can have a

Have a curved intermediate section connecting the clamping leg with the support leg, which encompasses the respective supporting section so that the

Spring element is supported on the housing. Because the intermediate section

The intermediate section can, for example, be a pivot point for the

Define clamping leg, by which the clamping leg elastically relative to the

Support leg can be deflected.

The carrier element can be formed as a single, one-piece part, for example as a plastic molded part. During assembly, the spring elements can be arranged on the carrier element together with the current bar, for example, so that an assembly is created that can be accommodated as a structural unit in the housing.

In one embodiment, the release elements are elastically connected to the support element. For example, the release elements can be integrally connected to the

Carrier element can be formed, wherein release legs of the release elements are connected, for example, via elastic sections to a base body of the carrier element, so that the release legs can be elastically deflected towards the carrier element.

In one embodiment, each actuating element is adjustable, for example linearly displaceable, accommodated in a respectively associated actuating opening of the housing and has an actuating section for actuation by a user LU502846 and an active section for acting on the respectively associated clamping leg.

While the actuating section of the respective actuating element is controlled from outside the

housing is accessible, for example by a user using a tool to

Example a screwdriver, or alternatively manually act on the actuating section, the effective section is connected to the clamping leg of the respective assigned

By adjusting the actuating element, an adjusting force is exerted on the associated clamping leg via the effective section, so that, in particular, when adjusting the actuating element from the non-actuated

Position is taken into the actuated position of the clamping legs and thus moved towards the release position.

In one embodiment, each actuating element has a first locking section for

Locking with an associated second locking section of the housing in the actuated

The first locking section can be, for example, on a

The end of the actuating element facing away from the actuating section can be formed, for example, by an edge in the area of the active section. The actuating element is locked in the actuated position with an associated, second locking section of the housing via the first locking section, so that the actuating element is held in position relative to the housing in the actuated position, but can be released from the actuated position in a simple, reliable manner by triggering the associated trigger element when an electrical cable is plugged in.

In one embodiment, each trigger element has an active element which is designed to actuate the trigger element when an electrical

Line to act on the actuating element assigned to the respective plug opening to release the first locking section and the second locking section from each other. The

The active element can be arranged, for example, on the triggering leg of the triggering element, wherein the active element can be formed, for example, by a nose which is formed on a surface section extending from the triggering leg.

The active element is designed in such a way that when the trigger element is adjusted at

Inserting an electrical cable acts on the associated actuating element and thereby releases the locking of the actuating element in the actuated position.

For example, the active element can be bevelled for this purpose, so that when the trigger element is adjusted, the active element runs onto an edge of the associated actuating element forming the first locking section and thereby engages the first locking section of the LU502846

Actuating element disengaged from the associated second locking section on the

housing and thus releases the locking mechanism.

For example, each actuating element can, in one embodiment, be positioned in the respective associated actuating opening by interacting with the associated

Trigger element must be tiltable. By tilting the actuating element in the

The first locking section of the actuating element and the associated second locking section of the housing can be disengaged from one another in order to thereby prevent the actuating element from locking in the actuated

to resolve the position.

The tilting can be carried out in particular by a direction transverse to the direction of actuation.

Direction to tilt the first locking section of the

actuating element relative to the second locking portion of the housing.

In one embodiment, the housing has a first housing part and a second

Housing part. The first housing part and the second housing part can be placed together along an assembly direction that runs along the plug-in direction for assembling the housing and, in an assembled position, together take up the

current bars, the spring elements and the trigger elements. The housing is thus designed in two parts. In a first, lower housing part, for example, a

assembly, whereupon the housing is completed by attaching the second, upper housing part along the assembly direction to the first, lower housing part and the spring elements, the trigger elements and the current bar are thus accommodated in the housing.

The spring elements can be attached to a common support element for assembly, which also forms the release elements, for example, so that a structural unit is created which can be mounted in the first, lower housing part with easy handling.

In one embodiment, the plug openings and

Actuating openings are formed to accommodate the actuating elements. During the

Assembly, the actuating elements are inserted into the actuating openings on the second

Housing part inserted and thus adjustably attached to the second housing part.

In one embodiment, the housing forms at least two rows of plug-in openings, each of which is directed along a first direction extending transversely to the plug-in direction. The rows are preferably parallel to one another and are directed along a first direction extending transversely to the plug-in direction.

Plugging direction and transverse to the first direction, second direction spaced from each other.

This creates a connection terminal with plug openings arranged in multiple rows, to which a number of electrical cables can be connected. The current bars assigned to the plug openings bring the connected electrical cables to a uniform, common potential, so that a potential distribution takes place at the connection terminal.

According to a further aspect, a method for assembling a connection terminal of the type described above for connecting electrical lines comprises at least the following steps: providing a first housing part and a second

Housing part of the housing; and providing an assembly comprising the current bar for electrically contacting the electrical lines and the spring elements, the assembly further comprising the trigger elements; the method further comprising: inserting the assembly into the first housing part along a

Mounting direction that points along the plugging direction; and attaching the second

housing part to the first housing part along the mounting direction, so that in an assembled position the first housing part and the second housing part together form the

Current bars that accommodate the spring elements and the trigger elements.

The advantages and advantageous features described above for the terminal

The same provisions also apply to the procedure, so reference is made to what has been said above.

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

Fig. 1 is a view of an embodiment of a connection terminal for

Connecting electrical cables;

Fig. 2 the connection terminal with connected electrical cables;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the arrangement according to Fig. 1; LU502846

Fig. 4 a sectional view of the terminal when connecting electrical

Cables;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the arrangement according to Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is an exploded view of the connection terminal;

Fig. 7A is a sectional view of the actuating elements of the

Connection terminal, without a support element carrying spring elements;

Fig. 7B is a partial enlargement in section A according to Fig. 7A;

Fig. 8A is a sectional view according to Fig. 7A, with the support element;

Fig. 8B the sectional view according to Fig. 8A, when plugging in an electrical cable and adjusting release elements to trigger the

Actuating elements;

Fig. 8C shows the sectional view according to Fig. 8B, after triggering of the actuating elements;

Fig. 8B the sectional view according to Fig. 8C, after re-activating the

Actuating elements;

Fig. 9A is a separate view of a support element;

Fig. 9B is a view of the support element attached to a current bar;

Fig. 9C the assembly according to Fig. 9B, with attached to the carrier element

spring elements;

Fig. 9D shows the assembly according to Fig. 9C, in a position inserted into a first, lower housing part;

Fig. 9E shows the arrangement according to Fig. 9D, with a second, upper housing part attached to the first, lower housing part; and

Fig. 9F shows the arrangement according to Fig. 9E, after insertion of actuating elements into actuating openings on the second, upper housing part.

Fig. 1 to 9A-9F show an embodiment of a connection terminal 1, which has a

Housing 10 with formed plug openings 100 for inserting electrical

cables 2 along a plugging direction E.

In the embodiment shown, the housing 10 is formed by a first, lower

Housing part 103 and a second, upper housing part 104, which are attached to each other along an assembly direction M and together form components for

Formation of spring force connections.

As can be seen from Fig. 1 and 2, the plug openings 100 in the illustrated

Embodiment arranged in two rows. The rows each extend along a first direction Y and are spaced apart from one another along a second direction X perpendicular to the first direction Y, so that electrical lines 2 can be connected to the connection terminal 1 along the different rows of plug openings 100, as can be seen from Fig. 2.

The housing 10 defines, together with a spring element 12 carrying

Support element 15, for each plug opening 100 a receiving space 101 into which an electrical line 2 with a stripped conductor end 20 is introduced when it is inserted into a respective plug opening 100 along the plug 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 with a current bar 11 via a clamping leg 120 of a spring element 12 assigned to the respective plug opening 100, so that the electrical line 2 is electrically connected to the connection terminal 1.

The plug openings 100 are assigned a common current bar 11, which has a

Body 111 and contact sections 110 formed on the body 111, each of which is associated with one of the plug openings 100. The current bar 11 is designed as a one-piece

Metal element, for example designed as a stamped and bent part. When electrical cables 2 are inserted into the plug openings 100, the electrical cables 2 are connected together to the current bar 11 and thus brought together to the uniform electrical potential of the current bar 11. At the connection terminal

1 Thus, a potential distribution is carried out in such a way that all connected lines LU502846 2 are brought to a common potential.

The spring elements 12 of the terminal 1 are arranged on a support element 15, which forms a support section 150 for each spring element 12. The

Spring elements 12 are arranged and supported together on the carrier element 15.

The carrier element 15 is made, for example, of an electrically insulating

Plastic material molded as a plastic molded part.

Each spring element 12 has a support leg 121 which has a curved

Intermediate section 122 is connected to the clamping leg 120 and to which

Support element 15 is supported, as can be seen for example in Fig. 3. The

Intermediate section 122 surrounds the support section 150 of the support element 15 associated with the spring element 12, so that a pivot point is specified via the intermediate section 122, around which the clamping leg 120 can be elastically deflected relative to the support leg 121. The clamping leg 120 of each spring element 12 can thus be elastically deflected, so that the clamping leg 120, in a clamping position shown in Fig. 5, acts in a clamping manner on an electrical line 2 inserted into the plug-in opening 100 associated with the spring element 12 and clamps this under elastic prestress in

Contact with the associated contact section 110 of the current bar 11 and thus the line 2 electrically contacts the current bar 11 via its conductor end 20.

In the embodiment shown, actuating elements 14 are mounted on the housing 10 so as to be displaceable along an actuating direction B. Each

Actuating element 14 is slidably received in an actuating opening 102 of the housing 10 associated with an adjacent plug-in opening 100 and can be linearly displaced relative to the housing 10 along the actuating direction B in order to thereby act on the clamping leg 120 of a respectively associated spring element 12 and to adjust it between the clamping position and a release position.

Each actuating element 14 has an actuating section 140 which is accessible from outside the housing 10 via the respectively associated actuating opening 102 and can thus be actuated by a user, for example using a tool. The actuating section 140 is received in the actuating opening 102 and is guided displaceably in the actuating opening 102.

Each actuating element 14 is operatively connected to the clamping leg 120 of the spring element 12 assigned to each LU502846. For this purpose, the actuating element 14 acts with its operative section 141 on a

end onto the clamping leg 12 and thus presses onto the clamping leg 120 of the associated spring element 12.

The clamping leg 120 is thus within the receiving space 101 in the area of

Plug-in opening 100 extends such that the spring element 12 is connected via the clamping leg 120 to an electrical line 2 inserted into the plug-in opening 100 for contacting the

current bar 11 and also for mechanical locking.

In the embodiment shown, the connection terminal 1 has

Release elements 13 which are formed in one piece on the carrier element 15. Each plug opening 100 is assigned a release element 13 which has a

Release arm 130 which is connected via an elastic section 131 to the support section 150 carrying the respective spring element 12. The respective

In an initial position (see Fig. 3 and 8A), the release arm 130 extends at least approximately transversely to the plug-in direction E and projects into an area aligned with the associated plug-in opening 100 in such a way that when an electrical cable 2 is inserted into the plug-in opening 100, the cable end 20 of the cable rests on the

trigger arm 130 and thus acts on the trigger element 13.

In order to move the clamping leg 120 into the release position and thus

To enable the insertion of an electrical cable 2 into a respective plug-in opening 100, the actuating element 14 assigned to the plug-in opening 100 can be inserted into the

Actuation direction B relative to the housing 10 and for this purpose in the associated

Actuating opening 102. In the actuated position, shown in Fig. 1,3, 7A, 7B and 8A, the respective actuating element 14 is locked to the housing 10 and is thus held in position relative to the housing 10, so that the

Active portion 141 of the clamping leg 120 of the respectively associated spring element 12 is held in the release position, as can be seen for example from Fig. 3 and 8A.

The locking of the actuating element 14 in the housing 10 is achieved by a locking section 142 in the form of an edge formed on the actuating element 14 engaging with an associated locking section 106 on a housing section 108 of the housing 10 in the actuated position, as can be seen from Fig. 7A and the enlarged view according to Fig. 7B. The clamping leg 120 in the actuated

Position of the actuating element 14 is elastically braced and thereby on the LU502846

Active section 141 acts, the actuating element 14 is held in this locked position by the elastic effect of the clamping leg 120.

The trigger element 13 associated with the respective actuating element 14 has, in the embodiment shown, an active element 133 in the form of a trigger nose, which is formed on a surface section 132. The surface section 132 is laterally attached to the

Release leg 130 and thereby delimits a space above the

Release leg 130 along the transverse direction Y, so that the surface portion 132 also, together with the housing 10, delimits the receiving space 101 within the housing 10 for inserting an electrical line 2.

Along the transverse direction Y, the active element 133 protrudes from the surface portion 132 and engages in a space 107 between the housing portion 108 and the

Actuating element 14, as can be seen from Fig. 7B in conjunction with Fig. 8A.

Each trigger element 13 serves to interact with an electrical cable 2 inserted into the respective associated plug opening 100 in order to

Line 2 automatically by triggering the associated clamping leg 120 to the

Connection terminal 1. When an electrical cable 2 is inserted into a plug-in opening 100, the trigger element 13 associated with the plug-in opening 100 is deflected via the trigger arm 130, as can be seen in Fig. 8B. As a result, the respective active element 133 is adjusted in the space 107 and thus relative to the

Locking section 142 in the form of the edge on the actuating element 14 is moved. The

The active element 133 is bevelled so that the active element 133 runs onto the edge with a bevelled surface and thus the locking section 142 formed by the edge is

Engagement of the associated locking section 106 in the form of the edge on the

Housing section 106. The locking between the actuating element 14 and the housing 10 is thus canceled and the actuating element 14 is released from the actuated position.

As can be seen from the transition from Fig. 8A to Fig. 8B, the

Actuating element 14 when released from the locked position by adjusting the

Trigger element 13 is slightly tilted in the actuating opening 102 and thus out of

Engaged by the locking portion 106 on the housing 10.

Due to the elastic pre-tension on the respective associated clamping leg 120 LU502846, the clamping leg 120 moves into contact with the inserted electrical cable 2, as can be seen from Fig. 4 and 5 as well as Fig. 8C. Due to the movement of the

clamping leg 120, the actuating element 14 is also moved against the

Actuating direction B is reset in the associated actuating opening 102.

Due to the fact that the current bar 11 is jointly assigned to the plug openings 100 by each plug opening 100 being provided with a

Contact section 110 is assigned, electrical lines 2, when they are inserted into the

Plug-in openings 100 of the connection terminal 1 and thereby connected to the

Connection terminal 1 is connected together with the current bar 11 and thus brought to a common potential. Connection terminal 1 therefore acts as a potential distributor.

If a connected electrical cable 2 is to be removed from the connection terminal 1, the cable assigned to the respective plug opening 100 can be

The actuating element 14 is pressed into the housing 10 again in the actuating direction B, as can be seen in Fig. 8D, so that the associated clamping leg 120 is adjusted in the direction of the release position and thus brought out of contact with the conductor end 20 of the cable 2. The cable 2 can thus be removed from the plug opening 100 without force.

The respective actuating element 14 is again locked to the housing 10 in the actuated position according to Fig. 8D and holds the clamping leg 120 in the

Release position.

Because the actuating elements 14 are automatically moved out of the actuated position after the locking mechanism is released, a user can safely and reliably recognize that the connection terminal 1 has been triggered and the electrical lines 2 are thus connected to the connection terminal 1. The risk of incorrect operation is thus reduced.

In the illustrated embodiment of the connection terminal 1, the

Spring elements 12 are mounted together on the housing 10. For this purpose, as shown in

Fig. 9A, the carrier element 15 is first provided, and the current bar 11 is attached to the carrier element 15 from below, as shown in Fig. 9B. Now the spring elements 12 are attached to the associated support sections 150 of the

support element 15 so that the structural unit shown in Fig. 9C is created LU502846.

The assembly unit thus formed can now be inserted in an assembly direction M into the first, lower

Housing part 103 is inserted, as shown in Fig. 9D. The second, upper housing part 104 is then placed in the assembly direction M on the housing part 103, as shown in Fig. 9E. The housing 10 is thus completed and takes the

Spring elements 12 together with the carrier element 15 and the formed thereon

Trigger elements 13 and the current bar 11 inside.

To complete the assembly, the actuating elements 14 are inserted into the

Actuating openings 102 on the second, upper housing part 104 are pressed in and each is moved into the actuated position, as shown in Fig. 9F. After completion of the

Assembly, the actuating elements 14 are each in the actuated position and are locked in this position with the housing 10, so that the actuating elements 14 in

Position relative to the housing and the clamping legs 120 of the

Spring elements 12 are each in their release position.

In the position shown in Fig. 9F, the connection terminal 1 can be delivered by a manufacturer in particular. A user can thus without further

Operating steps in a simple manner connect electrical cables 2 to the connection terminal 1 by inserting electrical cables 2 into the plug openings 100, with automatic release of the clamping legs 120, triggered by the

Trigger elements 13.

The idea underlying the invention is not limited to the previously described

embodiment, but can also be implemented in other ways.

The actuating elements can be controlled by the respective associated

clamping leg in the direction of the non-actuated position. However, it is also conceivable to provide an additional pre-tensioning element for each actuating 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.

The terminal block can have a different number and arrangement of plug-in openings LU502846. In particular, plug-in openings are not necessarily arranged in several rows parallel to each other. Instead, for example, only one row of

Plug-in openings must be provided.

List of reference symbols LU502846 1 Connection terminal 10 Housing 100 Plug-in opening 101 Receptacle 102 Actuating opening 103 Upper housing part 104 Lower housing part 105 Interior 106 Latching section (latching edge) 107 Space 108 Housing section 109 Holding edge 11 Current bar (current bar) 110 Surface section 111 Body 12 Clamping spring 120 Clamping leg 121 Support leg 122 Intermediate section 13 Release element 130 Release leg 131 Elasticity section 132 Surface section 133 Active element (release nose) 14 Actuating element 140 Actuating section 140 Active section 142 Latching section (latching edge) 15 Support element 150 Support section 2 Cable 20 Conductor end

B Actuation direction

E Plug direction

M Mounting direction

X,Y direction LU502846

Claims (18)

Patent claims LU502846 1. Connection terminal (1) for connecting electrical lines (2), with a housing (10) which has a plurality of plug-in openings (100) into which electrical lines (2) can be plugged in for connection to the connection terminal (1) along a plug-in direction (E), a current bar (11) arranged on the housing (10) and jointly associated with the plug-in openings (100) for electrical contact with the electrical lines (2), a plurality of spring elements (12), each of which is associated with a plug-in opening (100) and each has a clamping leg (120) for acting on an electrical line (2) inserted into the associated plug-in opening (100) in order to bring the electrical line (2) into contact with the current bar (11), and a plurality of actuating elements (14) arranged adjustably on the housing (10), each of which is associated with a plug-in opening (100) and each for adjusting the clamping leg (120) of the spring element (12) assigned to the plug opening (100) can be adjusted from a non-actuated position into an actuated position, characterized by a plurality of release elements (13), each of which is assigned to one of the plug openings (100), the actuating elements (14) being locked relative to the housing (10) in the actuated position and thereby being held in position relative to the housing (10) in the actuated position, the release elements (13) each being adjustable relative to the housing (10) by interacting with an electrical line (2) when inserted into the respectively assigned plug opening (100) and being designed to act on the actuating element (14) assigned to the respective plug opening (100) when adjusted to release the actuating element (14) from the actuated position. 2. Connection terminal (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that each trigger element (13) has a trigger leg (130) which is adjustable relative to the housing (10) for interacting with an electrical line (2) when plugged into the respectively associated plug opening (100). 3. Connection terminal (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that an electrical line (2) can be introduced into a receiving space (101) assigned to the plug opening (100) within the housing (10) by being inserted into one of the plug openings (100), wherein the release leg (130) extends in the receiving space (101) for cooperation with the electrical line (2) when inserted into the respectively assigned plug opening (100). 4. Connection terminal (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the release leg (130) extends in an initial position transversely to the plugging direction (E) in the receiving space (101). 5. Connection terminal (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the release leg (130) is adjustable from the starting position for releasing the actuating element (14) associated with the respective plug opening (100) from the actuated position by interaction with an electrical line (2). 6. Connection terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the clamping leg (120) of each spring element (12) is designed to press or pull an electrical line (2) inserted into the plug opening associated with the spring element (12) into contact with the current bar (11) by spring force. 7. Connection terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the clamping leg (120) of each spring element (12) is elastically adjustable relative to the housing (10) by actuating the respectively associated actuating element (14) into a release position and is held in the release position by the actuating element (14) locked in the actuated position relative to the housing (10). 8. Connection terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each spring element (12) has a support leg (121) which is supported relative to the housing (10) and to which the clamping leg (120) can be elastically deflected. 9. Connection terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a carrier element (15) arranged on the housing (10), which has a plurality of support sections (150), on each of which a spring element (12) is supported. 10. Connection terminal (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that the release elements (13) are elastically connected to the carrier element (15). 11. Connection terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each actuating element (14) is adjustably accommodated in an associated actuating opening (102) of the housing (10) and LU502846 has an actuating section (140) for actuation by a user and an active section (141) for acting on the clamping leg (120) of the associated spring element (12). 12. Connection terminal (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that each actuating element (14) has a first latching section (142) for latching with an associated second latching section (106) of the housing (10) in the actuated position. 13. Connection terminal (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that each trigger element (13) has an active element (133) which is designed to act on the actuating element (14) assigned to the respective plug opening (100) for releasing the first locking section (142) and the second locking section (106) from one another when the trigger element (13) is adjusted when an electrical line (2) is plugged in. 14. Connection terminal (1) according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that each actuating element (14) can be tilted in the associated actuating opening (102) by interacting with the associated triggering element (13) in order to release the locking of the first locking section (142) and the second locking section (106). 15. Connection terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (10) has a first housing part (103) and a second housing part (104) which can be attached to one another for mounting the housing (10) along a mounting direction (M) which points along the plug-in direction (E) and which, in a mounted position, jointly accommodate the current bar (11), the spring elements (12) and the trigger elements (13). 16. Connection terminal (1) according to claim 15, characterized in that the plug openings (100) are formed on the second housing part (104) and the actuating elements (14) are adjustably received on the second housing part (104). 17. Connection terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plug-in openings (100) form at least two rows of plug-in openings (100) which are directed along a first direction (Y) extending transversely to the plug-in direction (E) and spaced apart from one another along a second direction extending transversely to the plug-in direction (E) and LU502846 to the first direction (Y). 18. Method for assembling a connection terminal (1) for connecting electrical lines (2) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising: providing a first housing part (103) and a second housing part (104) of the housing (10); and providing an assembly which comprises the current bar (11) for electrical contact with the electrical lines (2) and the spring elements (12); characterized in that the assembly also comprises the trigger elements (13); the method further comprising: inserting the assembly into the first housing part (103) along an assembly direction (M) which points along the plug-in direction (E); and attaching the second housing part (104) to the first housing part (103) along the assembly direction (M) so that in an assembled position the first housing part (103) and the second housing part (104) jointly accommodate the current bar (11), the spring elements (12) and the trigger elements (13).