WO2014072182A1

WO2014072182A1 - Spring force terminal with an actuation means

Info

Publication number: WO2014072182A1
Application number: PCT/EP2013/072243
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stefan Aporius; Bernd Van Giesen
Original assignee: Weidmüller Interface GmbH & Co. KG
Priority date: 2012-11-09
Filing date: 2013-10-24
Publication date: 2014-05-15
Also published as: EP2917970B1; EP2917970A1; CN104769779B; CN104769779A; DE202012104408U1

Abstract

Disclosed is a spring force terminal (10) for connecting an electric conductor (4), comprising a spring cage (1), the spring terminal (10) comprising an actuation means (3) for actuating the terminal spring, which actuating means opens the connection chamber (16) by pushing an actuation head (33) in an actuation direction (7), the actuation means (3) having a longitudinal feedthrough (34) through which the conductor (4) can be fed into the connection chamber (16) and into the terminal position thereof, the actuation means (3) having a contact surface (31), with which the actuation means preferably lies flat against the terminal spring when the terminal spring (2) is actuated and which is aligned at an angle α to the direction of insertion of the conductor (61).

Description

Spring terminal with an actuating means

The present invention relates to a spring-loaded terminal according to the preamble of claim 1.

There are a variety of different spring terminals known, which are provided for the connection of an electrical conductor to an electrical component, for example to an electrical circuit board. The decisive factor for such spring-loaded terminals is that they allow easy and quick fastening of an electrical conductor in the spring-loaded terminal and optionally also an easy and rapid release of the electrical conductor from the spring-loaded terminal. The spring-loaded terminals must ensure safe contact of the electrical conductor with the electrical component. In addition, there is a tendency that electrical components are built ever smaller, so that the space available for the spring-loaded terminals space is getting smaller. The spring-loaded terminals should therefore occupy as little space as possible.

Document DE 10 2010 025 930 A1 discloses a spring-loaded terminal with an opening device, with which a clamping leg of a clamping spring is pivotable so that an electrical conductor jammed in the spring-loaded terminal can be removed from it. The opening device has legs, which are guided laterally of the clamping leg. To remove the electrical conductor therefore lateral widening of the clamping leg are required to which the opening device engages when opening the clamping spring. The depth of this spring clamp is therefore determined by the widening and wider than the clamping leg.

The prior art may also be mentioned WO 2010/049197 A1.

The object of the invention is to provide a spring clamp, which allows easy and safe as well as quick attachment and detachment of an electrical conductor in the spring terminal, ensures a secure contact, and requires the smallest possible depth. The object is achieved by a spring-loaded terminal for connecting an electrical conductor, with a spring cage defining a terminal space in which a clamping spring is arranged for clamping the electrical conductor in the region of a clamping point, which has a Klemmfederarm, with which the conductor in the Be rich of the terminal point against the conductive spring cage or a bus bar can be pressed, wherein the spring terminal comprises an actuating means for actuating the clamping spring, which opens the terminal compartment by pressing an actuating head in an operating direction, further wherein the actuating means has an elongated, preferably rectangular and preferably circumferentially closed passage , through which the conductor in the connection space and its terminal point can be inserted, wherein also the actuating means has a contact surface, with which it preferably bears flat against the pressing of the clamping spring and which angled is oriented at an angle α to the conductor insertion direction, and wherein the passage has an angularly aligned at an angle ß to Leitereinführrichtung surface over which conductors of a minimum cross-section during insertion into the nip on the Klemmfederarm press, thereby opening the nip, so that the conductor can be guided up to the clamping point.

Since the actuating means preferably rests flat, in particular full surface, on the clamping spring, the depth of this spring terminal is very narrow buildable and very compact, so that in the direction of the pivot axis in a relatively dense space many of the connection devices can be accommodated, for example in a plug or a terminal , especially in a terminal block. In addition, there is always a safe opening. Opening can be done by the conductor itself or by pressing on the actuator. When the conductor itself is used to open the nip, it is advantageous that it acts on the clamping spring arm over the surface of the bushing and moves it. This makes it possible to place the contact surface very close to the free end of the clamping leg so that the lever arm on the clamping spring arm can be quite long when it is actuated to release the clamping point when the conductor is removed. The contact surface can thus extend to very close to the nip. The Klemmfederarm is in this case of the basic state in which the electrical conductor is inserted into the spring-loaded terminal in a Einsschieberichtung, in the clamping state in which the electrical conductor is clamped in the spring terminal, pivotable in a pivoting direction. The pivoting of the clamping spring arm in the pivoting direction is preferably limited by a stop which is provided on the spring cage.

Particularly preferably, the actuating means comprises an actuating arm with a first arm part which is at a first angle to the clamping spring arm of the clamping spring. Most preferably, the first angle is about 75 ° - 90 °, preferably 85 ° - 90 °, so that the clamping spring arm is arranged approximately orthogonal to the first arm of the actuating means, which allows an advantageous introduction of force.

Further preferably, the actuating arm has a second arm part, which is arranged at a second angle to the first arm part. As a result, the spring clamp is buildable so that the contact surface acts upon actuation to about half the length of the Klemmfederarms.

These arrangements also make it particularly easy to set a suitable angle between the actuating direction of the actuating means and the insertion direction of the electrical conductor in the spring-loaded terminal. In a preferred embodiment, the actuation direction is arranged in a right-handed or at least approximately right angle to the insertion direction. For actuating the actuating means, in particular for removing a conductor, the actuating arm has an actuating head. Preferably, an engagement for an actuating means, in particular a screwdriver is provided on the actuating head. The adjustment of the first and / or second angle allows adjustment of the operating height of the actuating means relative to the height of the spring force clamp.

The arrangement of the second arm member at a second angle to the first arm member or causes the implementation is greater selectable compared to an actuating means, which arranged only the first approximately orthogonal to the clamping spring arm Arm part has. As a result, electrical conductors with a larger conductor cross section can be arranged in the spring clip.

Further preferably, the spring-loaded terminal has a busbar with a contact tongue, which is arranged on a side wall of the spring cage. The busbar is preferably made of a highly conductive material. Particularly preferably, an inserted into the terminal compartment conductor is clamped in the clamping state between the clamping spring and the contact tongue, so that a secure contact between the electrical conductor and the busbar is made. For this purpose, the contact tongues preferably protrude into the passage.

The invention with reference to the drawings with reference to embodiments will be explained in more detail, with further advantages of the invention will become apparent. It shows:

Fig. 1 in (a) and (b) different perspective views of the spring cage with the clamping spring and the actuating means, and in (c) is a schematic side view of the clamping spring and the actuating means.

Fig. 2 different perspective views of the spring cage with the clamping spring, the busbar and the actuating means, wherein the clamping spring in (a) - (c) in the ground state, in the clamping state and in the release state is shown;

Fig. 3 in (a) - (c) is a perspective view of the spring clamp in the ground state, in the clamping state and in the release state of the clamping spring. In Fig. 1, the preferred spring cage 1 is shown. It is approximately U-shaped in cross section and has a rear wall 1 1 and transversely to the rear wall 1 1 each two side walls 12, 13, which are connected to one another via the rear wall 1 1. In addition, it has an advantageous, optional lower wall 14 transverse to the side walls 12, 13. The rear wall 1 1, side walls 12, 13 and bottom wall 14 define a connection space 16 of the spring cage. 1

On a side wall 13 of the spring cage 1, a clamping spring 2 is fixed. The clamping spring 2 is approximately V-shaped. It is offered in the region of a bend about a pivot axis 20 and has a mounting arm 21, with which they the side wall 13 is arranged, as well as a Klemmfederarm 22, which projects into the connection space 16.

The clamping spring arm 21 is pivotable about the pivot spring axis 20 in and against a pivoting direction 63. The Klemmfederarm 22 is adjusted during pivoting in the pivoting direction 63 against its restoring force, while it is returned to the pivoting direction 63 during pivoting.

Shown is also an actuating means 3, which has a contact surface 31, with which it bears against the entire clamping spring arm 22 when actuated. The actuating means 3 has an actuating arm 32 which connects an actuating head 33, on which the actuating means 3 can be actuated, to the contact surface 31. The actuating arm 32 has a first arm part 321, which is arranged at a first angle 91 to the clamping spring arm 22. In a preferred embodiment, the first arm portion 321 and the Klemmfederarm 22 are arranged approximately orthogonal to each other.

In addition, the actuating arm 32 has a second arm part 322, which is arranged at a second angle 92 to the first arm part 321.

In this second arm part 322, a passage 34 is provided, through which an electrical conductor 4 in an insertion / insertion 61 in the connection space 16 of the spring cage 1 can be inserted. In the connection space 16, it is pressed in the region of a nip against a busbar 5 or directly against the spring cage, which consists in the latter case of a highly conductive material, in particular metal.

The actuating head 33 here or preferably an engagement is provided which simplifies the actuation of the actuating means 3 with an actuating tool (not shown), for example a screwdriver.

The electrical conductor 4 shown has a wire 41, which is designed as a full conductor. In addition, it has a jacket 42. However, the invention is also suitable for electrical conductors 4, which are designed as stranded conductors. If fuller conductors are used or contacted, the terminal point can be opened with them. In Fig. 1 (c), the arrangement of the clamping spring 2 and the actuating means 3 is shown schematically.

It can be seen that the approximately perpendicular arrangement of the first arm part 321 to the clamping spring arm 22 and the second angle 92 between the first arm part 321 and second arm part 322, the setting of an angle (not shown) between the operating direction 7 of the actuating means 3 and the insertion direction 61st of the electrical conductor 4 in the spring terminal 1 allows.

The angle between the insertion direction 61 and the arm part 321 is smaller here than a right angle. Advantageously, this angle is between 50 ° and 60 °, here at 55 °.

Furthermore, the second angle 92 between the first and second arm part 321, 322 allows the spring-loaded terminal 1 to be constructed such that the contact surface 31 engages approximately half the length L of the clamping spring arm 22 when actuated.

2 shows the electrical conductor 4 when inserted into the spring-loaded terminal 10, the clamped in the spring terminal 10 electrical conductor 4, and the electrical conductor 4 during removal from the spring clamp 10th

Compared to FIG. 1, a bus bar 5 is additionally arranged in FIG. 2 on the spring cage 1.

The bus bar 5 is integrally formed and has a base 51 and a contact tongue 52, and here two contact feet 53. The base 51 extends approximately parallel to the lower wall 14 of the spring cage 1, while the contact tongue 52 is provided transversely to the base 51, and in Terminal space 16 is arranged on the clamping spring 2 opposite side wall 12 of the clamping cage 1. FIG. 2 (a) shows the insertion of the electrical conductor 4 into the spring-loaded terminal 10.

The clamping spring 2 is initially in the ground state G. The insertion takes place in a Einschieberichtung 61st

In this case, the electrical conductor 4 is guided through the passage 34 of the actuating means 3. If the diameter of the conductor is corresponding or very small, it can be passed through the passage 34 and act directly on the Klemmfederarm 22, wherein he presses the Klemmfederarm, whereby the clamping point opens.

The clamping spring arm 22 is pivoted against its restoring force in the pivoting direction 63 until it is arranged between an open end 221 (see FIG. Due to the restoring force of the clamping spring 2, the electrical conductor 4 is clamped in this clamping state K against the pivoting direction 63 between the Klemmfederarm 22 and the contact tongue 52. He is at the contact tongue 52 and contacted them electrically.

On the other hand, if the diameter of the conductor 34 is so large that it can not be guided directly through the leadthrough 34, the conductor 4 first encounters, during insertion, an area 35 of the leadthrough 34 which is angled at an angle β to the conductor insertion direction 61, via which conductor 4 then "indirectly" presses on the clamping spring arm 22, whereby it is pressed down, whereby the nip opens, so that the conductor 4 can be guided further into the nip.Also, the actuating means 3 is moved by the conductor 4. This functionality is special The passage 34 is preferably circumferentially closed, so that it is particularly stable, but this is not mandatory The bridge 30 delimits it on the side of the actuating means 3 facing away from the actuation head 33.

Fig. 2 (a) shows the jammed in the spring terminal 10 electrical conductor 4. The clamping spring 2 is thereby in the clamping state K. The angle ß is preferably - but not mandatory - between 15 and 50 °. Here it is 32 °. The same applies to the angle α between the contact surface 31 of the web to Klemmfederarm 22 and the insertion 61st Preferably, this angle should correspond to the angle of inclination of the clamping spring arm 22 to the insertion direction of the conductor (61). It can therefore also be advantageous: α = β. Then the corresponding web 30 on the passage 34 with the two surfaces 31 and 35 is a flat web.

Also for removing the electrical conductor 4 from the spring terminal 10, the actuating means 3 is provided. Fig. 2 (c) shows the removal on actuation of the actuating means 3. The clamping spring 2 is pivoted against its restoring force in the pivot direction 63 and is therefore in the release state Ö. It is visible that the pivoting is limited by a stop 15 of the spring cage 1, which projects into the connection space 16.

In the release state Ö, the open end 221 of the Klemmfederarms 22 is no longer on the electrical conductor 4, so that it is the spring terminal 10 in a removal direction 62 against the insertion direction 61 can be removed.

FIG. 3 shows an interior 81 of a housing 8 of the spring-loaded terminal 1. In the interior 81 of the spring cage 1, the clamping spring 2, the busbar 5 and the actuating means 3 of FIG. 2 are arranged.

For insertion of the electrical conductor 4, an insertion opening 82 is provided. In addition, the housing 8 has a guide channel 83 for the actuating means 3. Furthermore, a tongue 84 is arranged at the insertion opening 82, which limits a displacement of the actuating means 3, so that the bushing 34 is arranged in the ground state G of the clamping spring 2 below the insertion opening 82. As a result, the electrical conductor 4 is guided automatically when inserted into the spring-loaded terminal 10 through the passage 34. The clamping spring 2 has approximately the same width B everywhere (see Fig. 2 (a)). This width B is therefore decisive for the overall depth T of the spring-loaded terminal 10.

As can also be seen, the bus bar 5 has at its free end the contact tongue 52, which is arranged on a side wall of the spring cage 1, wherein the Kon- tongue 52 and / or the side wall of the spring cage into the passage 34 protrude. Preferably, the width of the contact tongue 52 and the side wall of the spring cage 1, in each case in the region which projects into or through the passage 34, is smaller than in each case below the passage 34. The passage 34 can slide so well on the contact tongue 52 and guide the actuating element or means 3 in this area with. Preferably, the implementation has two parallel aligned webs 36, 37, which are connected by the web 30 on the one hand and by the other actuator arm 32 on the other hand with each other.

As can be seen, the clamping spring 2 preferably protrudes with its bending beyond the upper edge of the clamping cage or spring cage 11, so that it can be made relatively short in the insertion direction. It is also apparent that an operating height H of the actuating head 33 can be adjusted by adjusting the first and / or second angle 91, 92.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 spring cage

1 1 rear wall

12, 13 side walls

14 subfloor

15 stop

16 connection room

2 clamping spring

20 pivot axis

21 fixing spring arm

22 clamp spring arm

G Basic state of the clamping spring

K Clamping state of the clamping spring

Ö Release state of the clamping spring

3 actuating means

30 footbridge

31 contact surface

32 actuating arm

321 First arm part

322 Second arm part

33 Actuator head

331 intervention

34 penetration

35 area

36, 37 footbridge

4 electrical conductor

41 core

42 sheathing

5 busbar

51 base area

52 contact tongue

53 contact feet 61 insertion direction

62 removal direction

64 pivoting direction

7 actuating direction

8 housing

81 interior

82 insertion opening

83 guide channel

84 tongue

91 First angle

92 second angle

93 Third Angle

10 spring-loaded terminal

T Overall depth of the spring-loaded terminal

H operating height

L Length of the clamping spring α angle

ß angle

Claims

claims

Spring terminal (10) for connecting an electrical conductor (4), a. with a spring cage (1) which delimits a connection space (16) in which a clamping spring (2) for clamping the electrical conductor (4) is arranged in the region of a clamping point which has a clamping spring arm (22), with which the conductor ( 4) in the region of the clamping point against the conductive spring cage or a busbar can be pressed,

b. wherein the spring clamp (10) comprises an actuating means (3) for actuating the clamping spring, which opens the connection space (16) by pressing an actuating head (33) in an actuating direction (7),

characterized in that

c. the actuating means (3) has an elongate, preferably rectangular and preferably circumferentially closed passage (34) through which the conductor (4) can be inserted into the connection space (16) and its clamping point,

d. the actuating means (3) has a contact surface (31), with which it preferably abuts flat against the clamping spring (2) when it is actuated, and which is aligned at an angle α to the conductor insertion direction (61), and

e. the feedthrough has an area (35) oriented at an angle β to the conductor insertion direction (61), over which conductors (4) of a minimum cross-section press on the clamping spring arm (22) during insertion into the clamping point, whereby the clamping point opens, so that the Ladder (4) can be guided in the clamping point.

Spring terminal (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuating means (3) comprises an actuating arm (32) with a first arm part (321) which is arranged at a first angle (91) to the clamping spring (2).

Spring terminal (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first angle (91) is about 75 ° - 90 °, preferably 85 ° - 90 °. Spring terminal (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuating arm (3) comprises a second arm part (322) which is arranged at a second angle (92) to the first arm part (321).

Spring terminal (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the second arm part (32) the passage (34) is provided, through which the electrical conductor (4) in the connection space (16) can be inserted.

Spring terminal (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the Klemmfederarm (22) by operating the actuating means (3) in an actuating direction (7) from the clamping state (K) in a release state (Ö) is pivotable in the the electrical conductor (4) of the spring-loaded terminal (10) can be removed.

Spring terminal (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuating direction (7) is arranged at an angle, preferably at a right angle to the insertion direction (61).

Spring terminal (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spring-loaded terminal comprises the bus bar with a contact tongue which is arranged on a side wall of the spring cage and in that the contact tongue and / or the side wall of the spring cage protrude into the passage (34) ,

Spring terminal (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is associated with a housing (8), wherein in an interior (81) of the housing of the spring cage 1, the clamping spring (2), the busbar (5) and the actuating means (3) are arranged except for the actuating head (33), so that the actuating means is accessible from the outside and that the housing (8) has a guide channel (83) for the actuating means (3).