WO2013079142A1

WO2013079142A1 - Mounting foot for a terminal block for fastening to a support rail

Info

Publication number: WO2013079142A1
Application number: PCT/EP2012/004517
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sigrid Wermter
Original assignee: Phoenix Contact Gmbh & Co. Kg
Priority date: 2011-11-28
Filing date: 2012-10-29
Publication date: 2013-06-06
Also published as: CN204464501U; DE102011055760B4; DE102011055760A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a mounting foot (3) for a terminal block (1) for fastening to a support rail, having a tool insertion opening (7), a first arm (9) and a second arm (10), wherein the first arm (9) is integrally connected to the second arm (10) via a first connection region (12), and wherein the first connection region (12) forms a latching region (4) for engaging behind the support rail. The mounting foot (3) is characterised in that, on a second connection region (13) of the first arm (10) to the second arm (10), the second arm (10) is designed to be movable relative to the first arm (9).

Description

Mounting foot for a terminal block to attach to a

rail

The invention relates to a mounting foot for a

A terminal block for mounting to a support rail _, having a tool insertion opening, a first arm and a second arm, wherein the first arm is integrally connected to the second arm via a first connection region, wherein the first connection region has a latching region to

Behind engaging the mounting rail forms. Furthermore, the invention relates to a terminal block comprising such a mounting foot.

Mounting feet of a terminal usually have two latching areas, by means of which the mounting foot the

Snap-over mounting rail from the outer edge of the mounting rail or can engage behind. It is known, for example, that one of the two latching areas a

Has spring element and the other of the two latching areas is designed as a fixed bearing. If a terminal is snapped over the mounting base on a mounting rail, first formed as a fixed bearing detent region is disposed on a first outer edge of the support rail and then the terminal together with the

Mounting foot by a pivoting movement with the one

Spring element having latching region on one of the first outer edge opposite the second outer edge of the

Carried rail on the mounting rail by the spring element is clamped behind the outer edge. On the side of the mounting foot, on which the locking region formed as a fixed bearing is formed, is a

Tool insertion formed in which a tool for releasing the mounting foot of the mounting rail can be inserted. This side of the mounting foot is essentially made of

BOSTAT! GUMGS OP! E formed two arms, which at least two

Connecting areas are integrally connected to each other, wherein one of the two connecting portions formed as a fixed bearing latching area. Due to the

integral training of the arms is this side of the

Montagefußes relatively rigid.

The release of the mounting foot of the mounting rail is done by the introduced in the tools insertion

Tool, such as a screwdriver, is tilted with its handle in the direction of the support rail, so that formed as a fixed bearing latching area of the

Removed outside edge of the mounting rail and can be used with it. Subsequently, by a

Swiveling movement of the mounting foot and the one

Spring element having latching region of the

opposite outer edge of the DIN rail are snapped. When snapping the mounting foot it comes

in particular on the side of the mounting foot, on which the latching area is designed as a fixed bearing, to a high material stress of usually one

Plastic trained Montagefußes due to the expansion in the region of the integrally connected arms of the mounting foot. This leads to a longer-term

Continuous stress to fatigue of the material of the

Mounting foot. This can be reinforced by the fact that the mounting rails usually have manufacturing tolerances by the support rails in their width, measured from

Outer edge to outer edge, can vary and that the mounting rails themselves have a different thickness

may also lead to a permanent load on the mounting foot, whereby the mounting foot can lose its locking area formed as a fixed bearing, and that in particular in a frequent repositioning of the Montagefußes on another support rail or another mounting rail area occurring deformations on the mounting base no longer reset, so that the mounting foot on a mounting rail, which is slightly narrower or has a slightly thinner outer edge, no longer stops.

The invention is therefore based on the object, a

To provide a solution by means of which a permanently secure hold of a mounting foot on a mounting rail can be ensured even with frequent replacement of the mounting foot.

In a mounting foot of the type described in more detail, this object is achieved in that at a second connection region of the first arm with the second arm of the second arm is designed to be movable relative to the first arm. Furthermore, this object is in a terminal block

According to the invention solved in that the terminal comprises a mounting foot according to one of claims 1 to 6.

Advantageous embodiments and advantageous

Further developments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

The mounting foot according to the invention is characterized in that the two arms of the mounting foot, which are formed on the side of the mounting foot, on which the latching area is designed as a fixed bearing, are no longer designed to move stiffly to each other, but that at a second connection region of the first arm with the second arm a relative movement of the two arms is enabled to each other. This is achieved by the two arms at the second connection region are not connected to each other in one piece, but one

Have freedom of movement to each other. This ensures that the entire mounting foot on the side of the mounting foot on which the latching area with the

Support rail is designed as a fixed bearing by the

Latching area is formed by an integral connection of the two arms to each other, has a certain flexibility, so that when a snapping off of the mounting foot of the support rail as well as a snapping of the

Mounting foot on the mounting rail at the formed by the first and the second arm latching area, the material of the mounting foot is subjected to a lower load due to deformations, as is the case with conventional mounting feet. The mobility of the second arm relative to the first arm is realized in that the first arm and the second arm are not directly adjacent to each other, but that in the second connection region between the first arm and the second arm a game in the form of a gap is formed. Due to the now possible relative movement of the arms to each other at a snapping off of the mounting foot of the support rail, but also when a snapping of the mounting foot on the mounting rail, non-reversible deformations of

Montagefußes be prevented. This allows

Material fatigue phenomena are prevented, which in turn the life of a mounting foot can be increased while maintaining functionality, so that a long-lasting secure hold of the mounting foot on a mounting rail even with a frequent change of the

Montagefußes can be ensured. According to a preferred embodiment of the mounting foot, the tool insertion opening is formed on the second arm, wherein the tool insertion opening is formed close to the second connection region on the second arm.

In this case locally means that the tool insertion opening is arranged directly adjacent to the second connection region. Through the education of

Werkzeuginführöffnung directly on the second arm and orstnah to the second connection region can be achieved that already by means of a relatively small force applied by the tool force

Relative movement of the second arm to the first arm

can be realized, so that the necessary bending of the second arm by the relative movement must be relatively small in order to allow a catching of the locking portion of the support rail, so that the risk of non-reversible deformation of the mounting foot, in particular the second arm, the Snapping to zero can be reduced. Through this education the

Tool insertion opening within the mounting base can thus be achieved a particularly gentle material latching and latching the mounting foot to a mounting rail. To form the tool insertion opening, an L-shaped bent web is integrally formed on the second arm according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein

Preferably, between the web and the second arm, a tool insertion opening laterally bounding side wall is formed. Due to the laterally delimiting side wall, the tool insertion opening is at least three

Side areas, preferably on four side areas, when two laterally delimiting side walls are provided, closed, thereby slipping out of the tool the tool insertion opening at a snapping the

Mounting foot can be prevented by a mounting rail, resulting in improved handling of the mounting foot. The tool insertion opening is at this

preferred embodiment by the L-shaped web, a portion of the second arm and one or two

Side walls, which are formed in the region between the L-shaped web and the second arm, limited.

Further, it is preferably provided that at the second connecting portion of the second arm and the first arm

maze-like. Labyrinthine here means that at the second connection region, the two arms are preferably not rectilinear and abut each other with their straight lines, but are arranged nested one inside the other. For this purpose, the two arms are preferably bent at the second connection region in order to realize the labyrinth-like meshing. This allows a space-saving design of the second connection region and also a high stability of the second connection region can be ensured thereby, which can be prevented that folds unintentionally in a movement of the second arm relative to the first arm of the two arms. Furthermore, it is ensured by the nesting of the two arms formed by the labyrinth-like arrangement into each other, that the two arms are also in the second

Connection area can give each other support and also pulling and compressive forces in a snapping of the mounting foot of the mounting rail and a snapping of the

Mounting foot on the mounting rail in the second

Connection area can be collected. In order to realize an engagement of the first arm with the second arm, it may preferably be provided that at the second connecting portion of the second arm has a free end which engages in a substantially U-shaped recess of the first arm.

This allows a particularly space-saving design of the second connection area can be achieved.

Preferably, it is provided that the U-shaped recess of the first arm a first

Projection and the free end of the second arm have a second projection, wherein the formation of a

Motion limitation of the second arm relative to the first arm, the first projection is disposed substantially opposite to the second projection. By the two projections, which form a movement limit of the two arms relative to each other, can be particularly

be achieved effectively that when moving the second arm relative to the first arm not one of the two arms can unintentionally fold away. Such a thing

formed second connection region preferably has the form of a drawer slide.

Hereinafter, the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings by way of a preferred

Embodiment explained in more detail.

1 shows a schematic sectional view of a

Terminal block with a mounting foot according to

Invention, Fig. 2 is a schematic sectional view of a

Section of the mounting foot shown in Fig. 1 according to the invention, and Fig. 3 is a further schematic sectional view

a section of the shown in Fig. 1

Mounting foot according to the invention.

In Fig. 1, a terminal block 1 is shown, which a

Housing 2, on which an integral mounting foot 3 is formed, wherein by means of the mounting foot 3 the

Terminal block 1 can be snapped onto a mounting rail, not shown here. The mounting foot 3 shown here is made of a

Plastic material formed and has a first

Latching area 4 and a second latching area 5 for locking the mounting foot 3 on a mounting rail. The first latching region 4 is designed in the form of a fixed bearing and the second latching region 5 has a spring element 6. If the terminal 1 via the mounting base 3 on a

Engaged mounting rail, first formed as a fixed bearing first latching portion 4 is disposed at a first outer edge of the support rail and then the

Terminal block 1 together with the mounting foot 3 by a

Swiveling movement with the latching region 5 having a spring element 6 on one of the first outer edge

snapped on opposite the second outer edge of the support rail on the support rail by the spring element 6 is clamped behind the outer edge, not shown here. On the side of the mounting foot 3, on which the as

Fixed bearing trained locking portion 4 is formed, a tool insertion 7 is formed, in which a Tool 8, as shown in Fig. 3, for releasing the

Montagefußes 3 of the mounting rail is inserted.

The side of the mounting foot 3, on which the first

Detent area 4 is formed in the form of a fixed bearing, has a first arm 9 and a second arm 10.

Both arms 9, 10 are also made of one

Plastic material formed and connect the first locking portion 4 with the tools insertion opening 7, so that the first locking portion 4 via the two arms 9, 10 is operable upon insertion of a tool 8 in the tool insertion 7.

In the embodiment of a mounting foot 3 shown here, the first arm 9 is designed in the form of a web which is designed to be bent several times, wherein the first arm 9 has, inter alia, a region 11 formed as a parallelogram. The second arm 10 is also formed in the form of a web, wherein the second arm 10, however, has a smaller number of bends than the first arm 9. The second arm 10 is disposed below the first arm 9, so that the second arm 10 a forms the mounting foot 3 at the bottom end edge. In the embodiment shown here, the first arm 9 with the second arm 10 on three connection areas. The first connection region 12 forms the first latching region 4, the first arm 9 and the second arm 10 being integral with one another at the first connection region 12

are connected. Immediately to the first

Connecting region 12 connects the designed as a parallelogram region 11 of the first arm 9. Immediately behind the formed as a parallelogram area 11 of the first arm 9 in two further webs 9 a, 9 b divided up. A first continuing web 9a of the first arm 9 forms a second one with the second arm 10

Connection area 13, which is close to the local

Werkzeuginführöffnung 7 is formed and laterally forms an edge region of the mounting foot 3. A second secondary web 9b of the first arm 9 forms

immediately behind the formed as a parallelogram portion 11 of a third connection portion 14 with the second arm 10, wherein at the third connection portion 14 of the first arm 9 is also integrally connected to the second arm 10. The third connection region 14 is thus formed between the first connection region 12 and the second connection region 13. The second connection region 13 differs from the first connection region 12 and the third

Connection area 14 that on the second

Connecting portion 13 of the first arm 9 and the second arm 10 are not integrally connected to each other, but engage each other, wherein a gap 15, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, between the first arm 9 and the second arm 10 is formed such that the second arm 10 is movable relative to the first arm 9. In this case, the two arms 9, 10 engage each other in a labyrinthine manner. This is achieved in the embodiment shown here in that at the second connection region 13 of the first arm 9 is formed bent U-shaped so that it forms a U-shaped recess 16, as can be seen in particular in FIGS. 2 and 3 , and the second arm 10 has an L-shaped bent end 17, which engages in the U-shaped recess 16. To form the gap 15, the L-shaped bent end 17 is arranged at a distance from the inner surface of the U-shaped recess 16. In order to prevent that during a movement of the second arm 10 relative to the first arm 9, the second arm 10 unintentionally tilts away, the U-shaped recess 16 of the first arm 9 has a first projection 18 and the free end of the second arm 10 a second projection 19, wherein for forming a movement limit of the second arm 10 relative to the first arm 9, the first projection 18 is formed substantially opposite to the second projection 19, so that at a large deflection of the second arm 10 relative to the first Arm 9 of the second arm 10 with its projection 19 abuts against the projection 18 of the first arm 9. To form the tool insertion opening 7, an L-shaped web 20 is integrally formed on the second arm 10, in particular in the region of the free end 17 of the second arm 10, wherein between the web 20 and the second arm 10 two oppositely arranged, the Tool insertion opening 7 laterally bounding side walls 21 are formed, wherein due to the sectional view in Fig. 3, only one of these two side walls 21 is shown. The tool insertion opening 7 is thus bounded by the L-shaped web 20, the free end 17 of the second arm 10 and the two side walls 21, which are formed in the region between the L-shaped web 20 and the second arm 10, so that a tool 8 can be inserted into the tool insertion opening 7 only from above and can be removed again only by pulling upwards.

If a tool 8 for locking the mounting foot 3 is inserted from the mounting rail into the tool insertion opening 7, then by a movement of the tool 8 vertically down and a simultaneous pivoting of the tool 8 at its handle in the direction of the mounting rail of the second arm 10 so relative to the first arm 9 moves that the first latching portion 4 can be easily solved by the support rail without a high material stress of the mounting foot 3 by a tensile stress of the second arm 10 by means of the tool 8 of the first

Connecting region 12 and thus the first latching region 4 is pulled away from the mounting rail.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

Terminal block 1

Housing 2 Mounting foot 3

First rest area 4

Second latching area 5

Spring element 6

Tool insertion opening 7 Tool 8

First arm 9

First continuing bridge 9a

Second continuing bridge 9b

Second arm 10 formed as a parallelogram area 11th

First connection area 12

Second connection area 13

Third connection area 14

Gap 15 U-shaped recess 16

Free end 17

First overhang 18

Second projection 19

L-shaped web 20 side wall 21

Claims

claims

1. Mounting foot (3) for a terminal block (1) for attachment to a mounting rail, with

a tool insertion opening (7),

a first arm (9) and

a second arm (10),

wherein the first arm (9) is integral with the second arm (10) via a first connecting portion (12)

connected is,

wherein the first connection region (12) has a

Latching area (4) for engaging behind the mounting rail is formed,

characterized in that

on a second connection region (13) of the first arm (10) with the second arm (10), the second arm (10) is designed to be movable relative to the first arm (9).

2. mounting base (3) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized

characterized in that the tool insertion opening (7) is formed on the second arm (10), wherein the

Tool insertion opening (7) close to the second

Connecting region (13) on the second arm (10)

is trained.

3. mounting foot (3) according to claim 2, characterized in that for forming the tools insertion opening (7) an L-shaped bent web (20) is integrally formed on the second arm (10), wherein between the web (20) and the second arm (10) a the

Tool insertion opening (7) laterally limiting

Sidewall (21) is formed.

4. mounting foot (3) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that on the second

Connecting portion (13) of the second arm (10) and the first arm (9) engage in a labyrinth-like manner.

5. mounting foot (3) according to one of claims 1 to 4,

characterized in that on the second

Connecting portion (13) of the second arm (10) has a free end (17) which engages in a substantially U-shaped recess (16) of the first arm (9).

6. mounting base (3) according to claim 5, characterized in that the U-shaped recess (16) of the first arm (9) has a first projection (18) and the free end (17) of the second arm (10) has a second Projection (19), wherein for forming a movement limit of the second arm (10) relative to the first arm (9), the first projection (18) in

Is arranged substantially opposite to the second projection (19).

7. Terminal block (1), comprising a mounting foot (3) according to one of claims 1 to 6.