LU502926B1 - Connection terminal for connecting an electrical cable - Google Patents

Abstract

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

Description

Connection terminal for connecting an electrical cable LU502926

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

Such a terminal comprises a housing which has a plug-in opening into which the electrical line can be inserted for connection to the terminal. A contact element for making electrical contact with the electrical line is arranged on the housing. A spring element is also arranged on the housing, which has a clamping leg which is designed to be applied to the electrical

line to bring the electrical line into contact with the contact element when the electrical line is inserted into the plug opening. A

The actuating element is arranged on the housing so that it can pivot about a pivot axis and is adjustable to adjust the clamping leg. The actuating element can be adjusted from a non-actuated position to an actuated position using a tool, for example, in order to

Clamping legs, for example, to facilitate the insertion of the electrical cable into the

Plug-in opening or to remove the electrical cable from the plug-in opening. The clamping leg can be adjusted to a

Release position can be adjusted elastically relative to the housing (10) and is in the

Release position held in position relative to the housing.

Such a terminal realizes a

Spring-loaded connection, in which the electrical cable in the connected position is connected to the

Contact element is clamped under the elastic spring action of the spring element and is thus electrically connected to the contact element.

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

Cable is pulled into contact with an associated contact element by elastic spring action and thus a clamping connection between the electrical cable and the

The electrical cable is connected to a contact element by means of a

Opening in the clamping leg and clamped in the connected position between the clamping leg and the contact element.

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 LU502926 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 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 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 to easily adjust the clamping leg of the spring element into the release position, with a space-saving arrangement and comfortable

Service.

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

Accordingly, the terminal has an additional spring element, which is

Housing has an adjustable release element which has a release section, wherein the clamping leg is designed to lock with the release element in the release position, so that the clamping leg is held in the release position, wherein the

Release section is designed to release the clamping leg from the

Release position to interact with the electrical cable when inserted into the plug opening.

In the connection terminal, the electrical cable is electrically connected to the electrical LU502926

Contact element contacts by inserting the electrical cable into the plug-in opening.

The clamping leg acts on the electrical cable and springs it into

Direction of contact with the contact element. To facilitate the connection of the electrical cable, the clamping leg of the spring element can be elastically deflected by actuating the actuating element in order to

Clamping leg to be moved into a release position in which a space in the area of the

The plug opening is released and thus the electrical cable can be inserted into the plug opening in an essentially forceless manner or (alternatively) a connected electrical cable can be easily removed from the connection terminal.

It is intended that the clamping leg in the release position relative to the

The clamping leg is held in the release position in the housing.

Position relative to the housing, it is easy to handle, where the clamping leg for connecting an electrical cable into the

release position to enable the electrical cable to be connected to the connection terminal with essentially no force.

In order to hold the clamping leg in the release position, the connection terminal has a release element separate from the spring element, which forms a release section. The clamping leg is designed to be in contact with the

Release element so that the clamping leg is held in the release position. The release section is designed to release the clamping leg from the

Release position to interact with the electrical cable when inserted into the plug opening.

The release element is thus used to lock the clamping leg in the

Release position. By operating the actuating element, the clamping leg can be adjusted relative to the housing and moved into the release position, so that in particular a simple insertion of an electrical cable into the plug opening of the

housing for connecting the cable to the terminal. In the

In the release position, the clamping leg is then held in position relative to the housing via the release element.

The release element also serves to release the clamping leg from the

Release position to automatically release the clamping leg when plugging in the electrical

Cable into the plug opening from the release position and thus the LU502926

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. To do this, the trigger section can be triggered by interaction with the electrical cable so that the locking of the clamping leg with the trigger element is canceled and the clamping leg is thus released from the release position.

Because the release section of the release element when plugging in the electrical

cable is deflected, the connection terminal closes automatically when the electrical cable is plugged in. This results in a simple connection process, with reliable

Contacting the electrical cable with the contact element by clamping effect of the

clamping leg.

The trigger element is separate from the spring element and is therefore present as a separate element in addition to the spring element. The trigger element is adjustable to the housing, for example pivotable or movable, and can therefore be used for

Release of the clamping leg can be adjusted relative to the housing.

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

The spring element can, for example, be made as a stamped and bent part from an elastically springy

metal material, such as spring steel.

In one embodiment, the actuating element has an axle element pivotally supporting the actuating element on the housing, an actuating section that can be actuated by a user, a lever section connecting the axle element to the actuating section, and a

Active section for acting on the clamping leg. During the

If the actuating section is accessible from outside the housing, for example by a user using a tool, such as a screwdriver, or alternatively manually acting on the actuating section, the effective section is connected to the

Clamping leg of the spring element in \active connection. By adjusting the

Actuating element thus an adjusting force is applied to the

clamping leg so that, particularly when the actuating element is adjusted from a non-actuated position to an actuated position, the clamping leg LU502926 is taken along and thus moved in the direction of the release position.

The actuating element is pivotably mounted on the housing 5 via an axis element and can thus pivot about the pivot axis relative to the housing. The

The axle element is connected to the actuating section via a lever section. The effective section for acting on the clamping leg is attached to the lever section for

Adjustment of the clamping leg relative to the housing.

In one embodiment, the clamping leg has a clamping section for acting on the electrical line and an adjusting edge. The adjusting edge is, viewed along the

Pivot axis, arranged on one side of the clamping leg axially next to the clamping section. The actuating element is designed to act exclusively on the adjusting edge on the side of the clamping leg via the effective section in order to adjust the clamping leg. The actuating element is thus designed to act on the

Thus, in this design, the adjusting edge formed on the clamping leg is axially adjacent to a clamping section on one side of the

The clamping arm is arranged on the edge of the clamping arm. The

Actuator over the effective section when the actuator for

While the adjusting edge is formed on the side of the clamping leg, on one of these (first) sides (along the

There is no adjusting edge on the second side of the clamping leg facing away from the pivot axis, so that the actuating element can only be actuated on the first side

clamping leg to provide adjustment forces for adjusting the clamping leg in the

spring element.

Because the active section in this design only acts on one side of the clamping leg, the connection terminal can be designed to save space.

Lever section, for example, the axle element only on one side with the

Actuating element, whereby the lever section is arranged axially next to the clamping leg, for example, viewed along the pivot axis, and the

side of the clamping leg on which the adjusting edge is formed. On the other hand, on the second side of the clamping leg facing away from the first side, there is no (further) lever section, so that the actuating element only grips around the spring element on one side in order to support the axle element within the housing and to make the actuating element accessible from outside the housing.

Preferably, the actuating element is attached to the

Housing mounted. For example, the axle element can be axially (viewed along the

pivot axis) next to the contact element on the housing so that the

Axle element for pivotably mounting the actuating element on the housing is arranged outside an area on the housing which is aligned with the plug opening and into which the electrical cable is inserted when connected to the connection terminal.

The adjusting edge is formed on the clamping leg to distribute actuation forces over the

The actuating edge is functionally separated from the clamping section of the

clamping leg and axially next to the clamping section. The adjusting edge can, for example, be attached to a protruding axially opposite the clamping section

Edge section. The adjusting edge can be cut free from the clamping section, for example, by a slot, whereby the adjusting edge can protrude relative to the clamping section, for example with a free end, viewed in a projection plane perpendicular to the pivot axis. This is to be understood as meaning that when the clamping section and the adjusting edge are projected onto the (imaginary) projection plane along a projection direction pointing along the pivot axis, the adjusting edge protrudes relative to the clamping section in the projection plane, so that the adjusting edge with its free end points, for example, in a different direction than a free edge of the

clamping section.

In one embodiment, the active section is designed to slide against the adjusting edge. When the actuating element is adjusted to adjust the

The effective section of the clamping leg slides along the adjusting edge so that adjusting forces are introduced into the clamping leg and the clamping leg is adjusted relative to the housing.

In one embodiment, the housing defines a receiving space into which the electrical cable can be inserted by inserting it into the plug opening. The

The trigger section extends into the receiving space for interaction with the electrical line. In particular, the electrical line can be arranged along a

plug-in direction into the plug-in opening, with the release section extending approximately transversely to the plug-in direction in the receiving space. The

The trigger section can be elastically deflected so that when it interacts with the LU502926 electrical cable, the trigger section is adjusted elastically.

In one embodiment, the trigger element has a locking section with which the

Clamping leg is locked in the release position in order to hold the clamping leg in the release position.

In one embodiment, the trigger element has at least one of the

The trigger element is adjustably mounted on the housing via the at least one bearing leg. For example, the bearing leg can be bent towards the trigger section, for example by an angle of approximately 90°, so that the trigger section is transverse to the

Plug-in direction (along which an electrical cable can be inserted into the plug-in opening) and along the pivot axis (around which the actuating element can be pivoted relative to the housing) in the receiving space within the housing, the

However, the bearing legs are approximately perpendicular to the pivot axis

plane. The trigger element is mounted relative to the housing via the bearing leg, for example on the contact element fixed in the housing, so that the trigger element can be adjusted relative to the housing, for example pivoted or moved.

In one embodiment, a locking section is formed on the at least one bearing leg, which is designed to lock with the clamping leg in the release position. The locking section can, for example, be designed as a projection on the at least one

Bearing legs and along a surface normal relative to the

Bearing legs protrude so that the clamping leg in the release position with the

locking section can lock and is thus held in position relative to the housing in the release position via the trigger element.

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

Pivoting bearing for the trigger element relative to the housing.

In one embodiment, the contact element has a contact section for electrical

Contact with the electrical line and a bearing element forming

Support section. The at least one bearing leg is mounted on the bearing element LU502926 of the support section, for example in that the bearing element engages in a bearing opening on the bearing leg and thus creates a pivot bearing for the trigger element relative to the contact element and thus relative to the housing.

The contact element can, for example, have a U-shape in which the

Contact section is extended flat and is connected to the support section via a connecting section bent to the contact section. The

The support section can be extended approximately parallel to the contact section and is bent like the contact section to the connecting section so that the

Connecting section forms the base of the U-shape and the contact section on one side and the support section on the other side form legs of the U-shape.

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

U-shape, while the release section connects the bearing legs together and thus creates a base of the U-shape.

The trigger element can be designed as an integral sheet metal element, for example as

Stamped and bent parts.

In one embodiment, the trigger element has a tensioning element for pre-tensioning the

trigger element relative to the housing. The tensioning element can be integrally formed with the trigger element and protrude from the trigger section, for example as a resilient tab. The tensioning element is designed to

clamping force between the release element and the housing, which acts in particular in the direction of a return to an initial position in which the

Release element is locked in the release position with the clamping leg. From this

In the initial position, the trigger element can be deflected when an electrical cable is plugged in to release the clamping leg and thus electrically contact a plugged-in electrical cable with the contact element.

In one embodiment, the actuating element is, when the clamping leg is in the

release position, can be moved independently of the clamping leg relative to the housing. In particular, the actuating element for transferring the

Clamping leg can be pivoted from a non-actuated position to an LU502926 actuated position relative to the housing. Once the clamping leg has been moved to the release position, the actuating element can be moved from the actuated

Position back towards the non-actuated position, whereby the

Clamping leg remains in the release position by pushing the clamping leg through

The locking mechanism with the release element is held in position relative to the housing and therefore does not move.

In one embodiment, the actuating element has a first locking element and the

Housing has a second locking element. The first locking element and the second locking element are in engagement with each other in the non-actuated position of the actuating element, so that the actuating element in the non-actuated position is in position relative to the

The actuating element can thus be moved after the

clamping leg in the release position back to an initial position (corresponding to the non-actuated position) and is in the initial position with the

Housing locked. In the non-actuated position, the actuating element thus assumes a defined position relative to the housing, from which the actuating element can (only) be moved by releasing the locking mechanism.

In one embodiment, the first locking element is attached to the actuating section of the

actuating element. In the non-actuated position the

The actuating element with the actuating section, for example, fits flatly into an associated receiving opening in the housing, so that the actuating section does not protrude from the housing or at least only protrudes slightly.

In one embodiment, the spring element is designed as a tension spring. In this case, the clamping leg of the spring element is designed to clamp the electrical line through

In this case, an opening can be formed on the clamping leg, for example, through which the electrical line can pass when

Inserting it into the plug opening of the housing can be passed through to

Releasing the clamping leg from the release position pulls the electrical cable into clamping contact with the contact element.

Alternatively, the spring element can be designed as a compression spring. In this case, the

Clamping leg designed to press the electrical cable into contact with the contact element by spring force. When plugged into the plug opening, the electrical cable enters a space between the clamping leg and the

Contact element, whereby after releasing the clamping leg from the release position of the LU502926

Clamping leg acts on the electrical cable and brings it into contact with the

Contact element presses.

The 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

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.

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, in a non-actuated position of an actuating element;

Fig. 2 is a view of the terminal with the actuating element in an actuated position;

Fig. 3A is a sectional view through the terminal along the line |-I according to Fig. 1, before actuation of the actuating element:

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

Depiction;

Fig. 4A the sectional view according to Fig. 3A, after moving the

Actuating element into an actuated position for transferring a clamping leg of a spring element into a

release position;

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

Depiction;

Fig. 5A is a sectional view of the terminal along the line II-II according to Fig. 1, in the non-actuated position of the

actuating element;

Fig. 5B the sectional view according to Fig. 5A, in the actuated position of the

actuating element;

Fig. 6A to 6C separate views of the actuating element; and

Fig. 7 a separate view of the spring element together with a

Trigger element and a contact element.

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

The housing 10 defines a receiving space 101 into which the electrical cable 2 with a stripped conductor end 20 is inserted when it is inserted into the plug opening 100 along the plug direction E. In a connected position, the

Cable 2 with the stripped conductor end 20 within the receiving space 101 and is electrically connected via a clamping leg 120 of a spring element 12 to a

Contact section 110 of an electrical contact element 11 in the form of a current bar, so that the electrical line 2 is electrically connected to the connection terminal 1.

In the embodiment shown, the contact element 11 has a U-shaped

A connecting section 112 protrudes from the contact section 110, which is bent to the contact section 110 by approximately 90° and to which, again by

Bending, a support portion 111 is formed.

The spring element 12 has a support leg 121 which is supported within the housing 10, so that the spring element 12 is attached to the housing 10 via it and is fixed to the housing 10. The support leg 121 is located, as can be seen from the view according to

Fig. 7 can be seen, on the support section 111 of the contact element 11 and is supported and fixed in place to the housing 10.

The clamping leg 120 is elastically deflectable to the support leg 121, in particular such that the clamping leg 120 in a release position (Fig. 4A, 4B) of the

Contact element 11 is removed and can be moved from the release position into a clamping position in which the clamping leg 120 clamps onto a

1 connected electrical line 2 and presses it under elastic prestress LU502926 into contact with the contact element 11 and thus electrically contacts the line 2 via its conductor end 20 with the contact element 11. _In the embodiment shown, an actuating element 14 is pivotably mounted on the housing 10 via an axle element 140 about a pivot axis D. The

Actuating element 14 can be pivoted about the pivot axis D relative to the housing 10, wherein an actuating portion 141 is accessible from outside the housing and can thus be actuated by a user, for example manually or using a tool.

The actuating element 14 shown in separate views in Fig. 6A to 6C is designed as

Lever formed, which is pivotable at one end via the axle element 140 on the

Housing 10 is mounted so that the actuating element 14 can be moved about the pivot axis D to the housing. The axle element 140 is formed on a lever section 142 which connects the axle element 140 to the actuating section 141 and passes through an opening 102 in the housing 10 so that the actuating section 141 comes to lie outside the housing 10 and the axle element 140 inside the

Housing 10 is mounted.

The lever section 142 is formed on one side of the actuating element 14. The

Actuating portion 141 protrudes from the lever portion 142 along the pivot axis D. The axle element 140 is formed on the lever portion 142 such that the

Axle element 140 on a side facing away from the actuating section 141 of the

Lever portion 142 protrudes, as can be seen from the separate views according to Figs. 6A to 6C.

The pivotable mounting of the actuating element 14 via the axle element 140 on the housing 10 is axially offset (with respect to the pivot axis D) to the

Contact element 11. In particular, the axle element 140, as can be seen from the sectional views according to Fig. 5A and 5B, is arranged axially next to the contact element 11 and thus outside a region of the receiving space 101 aligned with the plug opening 100, into which an electrical line 2 for connection to the connection terminal 1 is inserted along the plug direction E.

A guide portion 143 is formed on the lever portion 142, which has a curved

Guideway with which the lever section 142 slides on an associated,

curved guide edge 104 is guided on the housing 10, as can be seen for example LU502926 from Fig. 3A and 4A in conjunction with Fig. 6A-6C.

On the lever section 142, an active section 144 is provided in the form of an axially along the

Pivot axis D is formed by the lever portion 142 protruding projection, which

Cooperation with the clamping leg 120 of the spring element 12 serves, in particular, to actuate the actuating element 14 in an actuating direction B, the

Clamping leg 120 to move in the direction of a release position, as can be seen in the transition from Fig. 3A, 3B to Fig. 4A, 4B. The effective section 144 is eccentric to the

Pivot axis D and, when the actuating element 14 is actuated, slides along an adjusting edge 123 formed on one side of the clamping leg 120 in order to introduce an adjusting force into the clamping leg 120 and to transfer the clamping leg 120 into the release position according to Fig. 4A, 4B.

The connection terminal 1 has a release element 13 which forms a release section 130 which extends into the area of the receiving space 101, as can be seen from

Fig. 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B and Fig. 7.

The trigger element 13 is in the illustrated embodiment as an integral

Sheet metal element formed, which is separate from the spring element 12. The release element 13 has two parallel bearing legs 131, which are connected via a

Base forming trigger section 130 are connected to each other so that a

U-shaped design of the release element 13. The bearing legs 131 are

Release element 13 is mounted on the support section 111 of the contact element 11 by

Bearing elements 113 in the form of axially projecting to the support section 111

Projection elements engage in associated bearing openings 133 on the bearing legs 131 of the release element 13 and thus provide a pivot bearing for the

Trigger element 13 relative to the contact element 11 fixed to the housing 10 and thus relative to the housing 10.

Because the bearing elements 113 are seated with play in the associated bearing openings 133 on the bearing legs 131, the release element 13 can be moved relative to the

Housing 10 can be pivoted. The deflection path of the trigger element 13 is limited by the shape of the bearing elements 113 on the support section 111 and the shape of the bearing openings 133 on the bearing legs 131 and is dimensioned such that the trigger element 13 can be deflected from an initial position in which the clamping leg 120 is locked in the release position with the trigger element 13, to such an extent that the clamping leg 12 is released from its locking on the trigger element 13 LU502926.

The release element 13 has a tensioning element 134 which acts as a spring-loaded tab on the

Trigger section 130 is formed and supports the trigger element 13 on the housing 10.

The tensioning element 134 causes a pre-tension of the trigger element 13 in the direction of the starting position.

To move the clamping leg 120 into the release position, the

Actuating element 14 can be pivoted in the actuating direction B relative to the housing 10 in order to pivot the clamping leg 120 relative to the support leg 121, as can be seen in the transition from Fig. 3A, 3B to Fig. 4A, 4B.

In the release position according to Fig. 4A, 4B, the clamping leg 120 provides a

Plug opening 100 along the plug direction E aligned area within the

receiving space 101 free, so that an electrical line 2 can pass unhindered from the

Clamping leg 120 is inserted into the plug opening 100 and thus in a

Essentially forceless, it can be connected to terminal 1.

On the bearing legs 131 of the release element 13, locking sections 132 are provided in

Form of axially inwardly projecting projections, which in the

Release position to create a locking connection with the clamping leg 120. In the

In the release position, the clamping leg 120 is thus locked between the bearing legs 131 and is thus held in position relative to the housing 10 in the release position via the trigger element 13, as can be seen from Fig. 4A, 4B.

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

Initial position so that the locking of the trigger element 13 with the

Clamping leg 120 is manufactured.

The trigger section 130 of the trigger element 13 serves to interact with an electrical cable 2 inserted into the plug opening 100, in particular to automatically connect the electrical cable 2 to the

Connect terminal 1. If an electrical cable 2 is connected along the

If the plug-in direction E is inserted into the plug-in opening 100, the electrical line 2 with an inserted conductor end 20 acts on the trigger section 130 within the

receiving space 101 of the housing 10 and adjusts the trigger element 13. This moves the trigger element 13 relative to the clamping leg 120 so that the

Clamping leg 120 disengages from the locking sections 132 on the bearing leg 131 of the trigger element 13 and the clamping leg 120 thus comes out of the

Due to the elastic spring preload on the

The clamping leg 120 thus snaps into contact with the plugged-in electrical cable 2 and clamps it with the contact element 11, so that the electrical cable 2 with the (stripped) conductor end 20 is pressed against the

Contact element 11 is pressed and thus electrically contacted with the contact element 11.

As can be seen from Fig. 7, the clamping leg 120 forms a lateral

Edge section has an adjusting edge 123. The adjusting edge 123 is axially relative to the

Clamping section 124. The clamping section 124 in turn projects beyond the adjusting edge 123 (viewed along the longitudinal extension of the clamping leg 120) and forms the end of the clamping leg 120 for clamping an inserted electrical cable 2 and also for locking with the locking sections 132 on the

Bearing legs 131.

The adjusting edge 123 serves to interact with the effective section 144 of the

Actuating element 14. When the actuating element 14 is moved from the non-actuated position (Fig. 3A, 3B) to the actuated position (Fig. 4A, 4B), the

Active section 144 on the adjusting edge 123 and slides along the adjusting edge 123 so that the clamping leg 120 is moved into the release position, as can be seen in the transition from Fig. 3A, 3B to Fig. 4A, 4B.

In the embodiment shown, the actuating element 14 acts exclusively on the adjusting edge 123 and thus on one side on the clamping leg 120, in that the active section 144 is in operative connection with the adjusting edge 123. Due to the one-sided arrangement and design of the actuating element 14, the

Actuating element 14 with the lever portion 142 outside a region of the

The housing 101 is arranged in the receiving space 101, into which the electrical cable 2 is inserted for connection to the connection terminal 1. This results in a space-saving

Arrangement.

The clamping section 124 forms a clamping edge at its free end with which the LU502926

Clamping leg 120 with connected electrical cable 2 clamped onto the

conductor end 20.

The actuating element 14 is used to transfer the clamping leg 120 into the

Release position from the non-actuated position (Fig. 3A, 3B) to the actuated position (Fig. 4A, 4B) and thereby moves the clamping leg 120 into the

Release position in which the clamping leg 120 is locked with the release element 13.

After moving the clamping leg 120 into the release position, the

Actuating element 14 can be moved back to the non-actuated position in which the

Actuating portion 141 is brought closer to the housing and, for example, lies flat in an associated receiving opening on the housing 10, as can be seen from Fig. 1.

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

If a connected electrical cable 2 is to be released from the connection terminal 2, the actuating element 14 can be pivoted in the actuating direction B, so that the clamping leg 120 is again transferred to the release position according to Fig. 4A, 4B. The electrical cable 2 can thus be released from the

Connection terminal 1 can be removed. In the release position, the clamping leg 120 is again locked to the release section 130, so that when an electrical cable 2 is inserted, this in turn acts on the release section 130 and the locking of the clamping leg 120 is thereby canceled. The electrical cable 2 is thus again automatically connected to the connection terminal 1 with the clamping leg 120 being automatically released.

The idea underlying the invention is not limited to the above-described

embodiment, but can also be implemented in other ways.

In the embodiment shown, the trigger element is integrally formed with the spring element. However, this is not mandatory. A trigger element can also be formed separately from the spring element, for example by another LU502926

spring element or by a separate lever.

In the embodiment shown, the actuating element is designed for one-sided

acting on the clamping leg of the spring element. However, this is not mandatory. The actuating element can also be mounted on both sides on

Adjusting edges act on the clamping leg of the spring element.

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

List of reference symbols LU502926 1 Connection terminal 10 Housing 100 Plug-in opening 101 Receptacle 102 Grip opening 103 Latching element 104 Guide edge 11 Contact element (current bar) 110 Contact section 111 Support section 112 Connecting section 113 Bearing element 12 Clamping spring 120 Clamping leg 121 Support leg 122 Connecting section 123 Adjusting edge 124 Clamping section 13 Release element 130 Release section 131 Bearing leg 132 Latching section 133 Bearing opening 134 Tension element 14 Actuating element 140 Axle element 141 Actuating section 142 Lever section 143 Guide section 144 Active section 145 Latching element 2 Cable 20 Conductor end

B Actuation direction

D Swivel axis

E Plug direction LU502926

Claims (19)

Patent claims LU502926 1. Connection terminal (1) for connecting an electrical line (2), with a housing (10) which has a plug-in opening (100) into which the electrical line (2) can be inserted for connection to the connection terminal (1), 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), and an actuating element (14) arranged on the housing (10) so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis (D) and which is adjustable for adjusting the clamping leg (120), wherein the clamping leg (120) can be elastically adjusted relative to the housing (10) into a release position by actuating the actuating element (14) and is held in the release position relative to the housing (10), characterized by a spring element (12) additional release element (13) which is adjustably mounted relative to the housing (10) and has a release section (130), wherein the clamping leg (120) is designed to latch with the release element (13) in the release position so that the clamping leg (120) is held in the release position, wherein the release section (130) is designed to cooperate with the electrical line (2) when inserted into the plug opening (100) to release the clamping leg (120) from the release position. 2. Connection terminal (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuating element (14) has an axle element (140) pivotably mounted on the housing (10), an actuating section (141) actuable by a user, a lever section (142) connecting the axle element (140) to the actuating section (141) and an active section (144) arranged on the lever section (142) for acting on the clamping leg (120). 3. Connection terminal (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the lever portion (142), viewed along the pivot axis (D), is arranged axially next to the clamping leg (120). 4. Connection terminal (1) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the clamping leg (120) has a clamping section (124) for acting on the electrical line and an adjusting edge (123), wherein the adjusting edge (123), viewed along the pivot axis (D), is arranged on one side of the clamping leg (120) axially next to the clamping section (124) and the actuating element (14) LU502926 is designed to act exclusively on the adjusting edge (123) on the side of the clamping leg (120) for adjusting the clamping leg (120) via the acting section (144). 5. Connection terminal (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the active portion (144) slides against the adjusting edge (123). 6. Connection terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (10) defines a receiving space (101) into which the electrical line (2) can be introduced by being inserted into a plug-in opening (100), wherein the trigger section (130) extends in the receiving space (101) for cooperation with the electrical line (2). 7. Connection terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the release element (13) has a latching section (132), wherein the clamping leg (120) is latched to the latching section (132) in the release position. 8 Connection terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the trigger element (13) has at least one bearing leg (131) protruding from the trigger section (130), wherein the trigger element (13) is adjustably mounted to the housing (10) via the at least one bearing leg (131). 9. Connection terminal (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that a locking section (132) for locking with the clamping leg (120) in the release position is arranged on the at least one bearing leg (131). 10. Connection terminal (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that the locking section (132) is formed as a projection on the at least one bearing leg (131). 11. Connection terminal (1) according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the at least one bearing leg (131) has a bearing opening (133) for adjustably supporting the trigger element (13). 12. Connection terminal (1) according to one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that the contact element (11) has a contact section (110) for electrical contact with the electrical line (2) and a support section (111) forming a bearing element (113), wherein the at least one bearing leg (131) is mounted on the bearing element (113) of the support section (111). 13. Connection terminal (1) according to one of claims 8 to 12, characterized in that the trigger element (13) has two bearing legs (131), which are each bent to the trigger section (130) and are connected to one another via the trigger section (130). 14. Connection terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the trigger element (13) has a tensioning element (134) for pretensioning the trigger element (13) relative to the housing (10). 15. Connection terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuating element (14), when the clamping leg (120) is in the release position, is movable relative to the housing (10) independently of the clamping leg (120). 16. Connection terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuating element (14) for transferring the clamping leg (120) into the release position from a non-actuated position into an actuated position is pivotable relative to the housing (10), wherein the actuating element (14) has a first locking element (145) and the housing (10) has a second locking element (103), wherein the first locking element (145) and the second locking element (103) engage with one another in a locking manner in the non-actuated position of the actuating element (14). 17. Connection terminal (1) according to claim 16, characterized in that the first locking element (145) is arranged on the actuating section (141). 18. Connection terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the clamping leg (120) is designed to press or pull the electrical line (2) into contact with the contact element (11) by spring force. 19. Connection terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spring element (12) has a support leg (121) which is supported on the housing (10) and to which the clamping leg (120) can be elastically deflected.