Contact plugs and terminal blocks for terminal blocks

Abstract

The invention relates to a contact plug for a terminal for connecting at least one electrical conductor, wherein the contact plug comprises at least one busbar and at least one clamping spring, wherein the busbar comprises at least one through-opening, wherein the contact plug comprises a hole flange, which is designed as a component independent of the busbar, wherein the hole flange surrounds the through-opening at least partially or completely on at least one side of the busbar.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a contact insert for a connecting terminal for connecting at least one electrical line, wherein the contact insert comprises at least one busbar and at least one clamping spring. The invention further relates to a connecting terminal having such a contact insert. Background Art

[0002] The present invention therefore relates to the field of conductor terminal technology using a clamping spring. Such a connecting terminal is known, for example, from DE 10 2010 051 899 B4. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The invention is based on the object of further optimizing such contact inserts and connecting terminals, for example with regard to overall size, production and / or assembly.

[0004] The object is achieved by a contact insert for a terminal for connecting an electrical conductor, wherein the contact insert comprises at least one busbar and at least one clamping spring, wherein the busbar has at least one through-opening, wherein the contact insert comprises a hole flange which is designed as a component separate from the busbar, wherein the hole flange surrounds the through-opening at least partially or completely on at least one side of the busbar. In contrast to the prior art, in which such a hole flange is designed as a material bead of the busbar and is thus necessarily integrally formed with the busbar, the present invention proposes the use of a separate component to form the hole flange. Although this may at first glance appear to increase the complexity of the contact insert or the terminal, this design achieves numerous advantages.

[0005] Therefore, for example, forming multiple material beads on a busbar is only possible to a limited extent, particularly where a certain minimum spacing must exist between the through-openings of the busbar. In the solution according to the invention, in which the hole flange is designed as a component independent of the busbar, the material of the busbar can remain unchanged. Alternatively, the independent component forming the hole flange can be shaped as desired, making it possible, in particular, to implement contact plugs in which multiple closely adjacent through-openings on the busbar are each provided with a hole flange. This makes it possible, for example, to provide a compact terminal block having multiple clamping locations or through-openings arranged close to one another.

[0006] During the manufacturing process, the step of crimping the material to form the hole flange can be omitted. Instead, a separate component that is to form the hole flange can be used. The component can be very simple to construct, for example, as a plastic component.

[0007] The clamping spring, together with the busbar, can provide a clamping point for the electrical conductor to be clamped in the region of the through-opening. This can be achieved, for example, by having the clamping legs of the clamping spring extend into or through the through-opening. The electrical conductor to be clamped can then be fixedly clamped between the clamping legs and the edge of the through-opening or a pressure plate formed therein. The contact insert can be designed as a spring-loaded clamping terminal.

[0008] The hole flange surrounding the through-opening further provides a conductor space in which the electrical conductor to be connected can be at least partially accommodated and guided.

[0009] According to an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the hole flange is made of a different material than the busbar. In particular, the hole flange can be made of a non-metallic and / or electrically insulating material, such as plastic. This allows for simple and cost-effective production of the hole flange while maintaining a low weight.

[0010] The hole flange can be fixed relative to the busbar in different ways, for example by being fixed on a clamping spring or on another part of the terminal. For example, the hole flange can be fixed by a part of the housing of the terminal.

[0011] According to an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, a separate component forming the hole flange is fixed to the busbar. This has the advantage that the busbar and the hole flange can form a complete structural unit from which the hole flange cannot be easily detached. For example, the busbar with the hole flange can be provided as a preassembled unit. Furthermore, no further fixing means for the hole flange, such as fixing means on the terminal housing, are required.

[0012] According to an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the separate component forming the hole flange is fixed to the busbar by clamping, locking, gluing, or a combination thereof. This allows for simple assembly of the contact insert element and a reliable, durable connection between the hole flange and the busbar.

[0013] Therefore, the busbar and / or the hole flange can have corresponding fixing elements, by which the hole flange can be fixed to the busbar.If the hollow flange and the busbar have fixing elements, they can be configured as mutually associated fittings, for example as locking hooks / locking edges.

[0014] According to an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the hole collar is designed to be circumferential to form the through-hole. The material of the hole collar thus surrounds the through-hole at least partially or completely on the circumferential side.

[0015] According to an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the through-holes of the hole flange are aligned with the through-openings of the busbar. This allows the electrical conductors to be guided unhindered through the through-openings of the busbar and the through-holes of the hole flange. The hole flange can thereby form a guide for the electrical conductors.

[0016] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is therefore provided that the hole collar is designed as a wire feedthrough element which, on the circumferential side, at least partially or completely forms a wire feedthrough for an electrical wire to be connected to the contact insert.

[0017] The hole flange does not have to be aligned with the through-opening of the busbar on all sides. Thus, for example, a longitudinal side can be missing and it can be formed by an edge / shoulder in the housing of the terminal.

[0018] According to an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, a separate component forming the hole flange includes a wire stop for the electrical conductor to be clamped and / or an overload stop for limiting the maximum deflection of the clamping spring. In this manner, the component forming the hole flange can assume additional functions within the conductor compartment, namely, a wire stop and / or an overload stop. Such a wire stop can, for example, mechanically limit the maximum insertion depth of the electrical conductor into the terminal. The overload stop mechanically limits the maximum deflection of the clamping spring. Accordingly, no additional features or components on the contact insert are required to provide these functions.

[0019] According to an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, at least one region of the hole flange protrudes into the region of the through-opening. This protruding region is well suited to forming the overload stop. For example, the inner edge of the through-opening of the hole flange can be displaced below the spring bow of the clamping spring into the region of the through-opening and serve as an (overload) stop for the clamping leg.

[0020] According to an advantageous design solution of the present invention, the busbar has multiple through-openings in sequence along the longitudinal extension direction and / or multiple through-openings arranged side by side, wherein multiple or all of the through-openings have corresponding hole flanges and provide corresponding clamping locations for the electrical conductors to be clamped together with corresponding clamping springs, wherein the hole flanges are configured as a common independent component or multiple components independent of the busbar. The longitudinal extension direction of the busbar is understood here to be the direction of the maximum longitudinal dimension of the busbar. In this way, a particularly small contact plug with multiple clamping locations can be provided, at which multiple electrical conductors can be clamped separately. In this case, each hole flange can be configured as a separate structural element. Multiple or all hole flanges can also be combined into a common component, such as a plastic component. Such a component with multiple hole flanges can, for example, be configured in a grid-like manner with multiple through-holes arranged in a matrix.

[0021] According to an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the busbar has a clamping tab in the region of the through-opening, which is formed from the material of the busbar and is bent relative to the surface of the busbar. Together with the clamping spring, the clamping tab forms a clamping point. This allows for particularly reliable clamping of the electrical conductor with low contact resistance. The clamping spring can, for example, have a clamping edge at the free end of its clamping leg, thereby ensuring particularly reliable clamping of the electrical conductor at the clamping point.

[0022] The contact pressure plate can be designed flat, concave, or convex on the surface oriented toward the clamping leg of the clamping spring. The concave design has the advantage that a depression is formed in which the clamping leg can be supported in the rest position by means of the clamping edge, i.e., a defined support point for the clamping edge is provided.

[0023] According to an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the clamping plate extends at least partially into the space enclosed by the hole flange. The clamping plate can penetrate into the space enclosed by the hole flange or pass through it, i.e., protrude again on the other side of the hole flange. This further improves the electrical contacting of the electrical conductors at the clamping point.

[0024] The aforementioned object is further achieved by a terminal block for connecting at least one electrical conductor, wherein the terminal block comprises a housing and a contact insert of the type described above. According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, at least one busbar and at least one clamping spring are at least predominantly arranged within the housing. The housing can be formed, for example, as an insulating material housing.

[0025] In the context of the present invention, the indefinite article "a" is not to be understood as a numeral. Thus, if, for example, one component is mentioned, this is to be interpreted as "at least one component." If an angle is specified in degrees, this refers to a circle of 360 degrees (360°). BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] The present invention is explained in detail below based on an embodiment using the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings show:

[0027] Figure 1 A partial side section of the terminal block is shown.

[0028] Figure 2 Show the basis Figure 1 The contact plug of the terminal block,

[0029] Figure 3 A first embodiment of a member forming a hole flange is shown,

[0030] Figure 4Shows the fixing element for fixing the bridge terminal clamping spring, and

[0031] Figure 5 A second embodiment of the member forming the hole flange is shown, and

[0032] Figure 6 Another embodiment of a contact insert is shown partially in a side sectional view, and

[0033] Figure 7 Another embodiment of a contact insert is shown partially in a side sectional view.

[0034] Figures 2 to 5 The reference numerals used in the accompanying drawings have the following associated relationships:

[0035] 1 Terminal block

[0036] 2 Shell

[0037] 3 Bus

[0038] 4 Clamping spring

[0039] 5 Operating elements

[0040] 6-hole flange

[0041] 7 Bridge spring (Brückerfeder)

[0042] 8 Bridge spring fixing element

[0043] 9 Fixing protrusion

[0044] 10 electrical conductors

[0045] 20 Wire lead-in channel

[0046] 21 Bridge passage (Brückerschacht)

[0047] 22 Wire receiving recess

[0048] 30 Through opening

[0049] 31 Clamping plate

[0050] 40 Legs

[0051] 42 Springbow

[0052] 43 Clamping Legs

[0053] 60 through-holes

[0054] 61 hole flange fixing element

[0055] 62 vertical wall

[0056] 63 Overload stop

[0057] 64 horizontal wall

[0058] E Wire introduction direction

[0059] L longitudinal extension direction DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0060] exist Figure 1 The terminal block 1 shown in FIG. 1 has a housing 2. A wire insertion channel 20 is molded into the housing 2, through which an electrical wire can be introduced into the housing 2. A bridge channel 21 can also be molded into the housing 2, through which an electrical bridge can be connected to an electrical component within the housing 2.

[0061] Arranged in the housing 2 is a contact insert of the connecting terminal 1 , which has a busbar 3 , a clamping spring 4 , a hole collar 6 , a bridge spring 7 and a bridge spring fixing element 8 .

[0062] The busbar 3 is designed as an elongated, flat metal part with one or more through-openings 30. Each through-opening 30 is associated with a clamping spring 4, wherein the respective clamping spring 4, together with the busbar 3, provides a clamping point for the electrical conductor to be clamped in the region of the respective through-opening 30. In the illustrated embodiment, the busbar 3 each has a clamping plate 31 formed from the material of the busbar 3 and bent relative to the surface of the busbar 3 in the conductor insertion direction E in the region of the through-opening 30. If no electrical conductor is clamped there, the clamping spring 4 rests against the respective clamping plate 31 with the aid of a respective clamping leg 43. If an electrical conductor is clamped there, the conductor is pressed against the clamping point in the region of the clamping plate 31 by the clamping leg 43. The respective clamping spring 4 is supported by the abutment leg 40, i.e., supported against the clamping force of the clamping leg 43. The abutment leg 40 can, for example, be hooked into the through-opening 30 of the busbar 3.

[0063] To open the corresponding clamping point, each clamping spring 4 is associated with an operating element 5, for example in the form of a push piece or an operating lever. By operating the operating element 5, the clamping legs 43 can be deflected and moved away from the clamping plate 31, so that electrical lines can be introduced or removed again without exerting force.

[0064] The respective through-opening 30 is surrounded by a hole flange 6 . The hole flange 6 is designed as a component separate from the busbar 3 .

[0065] The bridge spring 7 is held in the desired position relative to the busbar 3 via a bridge spring fixing element 8. The bridge spring fixing element 8 can have fixing projections 9 which are inserted through openings in the busbar 3 in order to fix the bridge spring fixing element 8 to the busbar 3.

[0066] Wire receiving recesses 22 are located behind the busbars 3 as viewed in the wire insertion direction E, each serving to receive an electrical wire clamped onto a contact plug. The wire receiving recesses 22 can be formed as part of the housing 2 , for example.

[0067] Figure 2 The contact insert of the connecting terminal 1 is shown in further detail. In particular, it can be seen that the respective clamping spring 4 is connected, starting from the contact leg 40 , via a spring bow 42 to the respective clamping leg 43 .

[0068] As in Figure 2 It can also be seen that a plurality of through-openings 30 with corresponding clamping springs 4 can be arranged one after another and / or side by side along the longitudinal extension direction L of the busbar 3. In this way, a plurality of spring-force clamping terminals for connecting electrical conductors can be realized with a small space requirement.

[0069] Furthermore, it can be seen that the individual hole flanges 6 surrounding the through-opening 30 can be combined into a one-piece, common component, for example a plastic component, as is the case in Figure 5 and are described in more detail below.

[0070] However, the hole collars surrounding the respective through-openings 30 can also each be designed as a single component or as a composite component which provides hole collars for a plurality of adjacent through-openings 30 . Figure 3 In this regard, the following example is shown, in which the component provides a hole flange 6 for two through-openings 30 arranged side by side. Correspondingly, the component has two through-holes 60, which can be associated with the busbar 3. In the manner described, the component formed in this way can constitute corresponding hole flanges for two adjacent through-openings arranged side by side of the busbar. The through-opening 30 in the busbar 3 and the through-hole 60 of the hole flange 6 can be arranged in alignment here. In the present embodiment, the size of the through-hole 60 is greater than the value of the through-opening 30, at least in the longitudinal extension direction L. This ensures that the free end of the contact leg 40 and the clamping pressure plate 31 can sink into the through-hole 60. In Figure 2 In the example, for example Figure 3 Two of the components shown in can be arranged one after the other along the longitudinal direction L of the busbar 3 .

[0071] Figure 4 By way of example, a bridge-like spring securing element 8 with securing projections 9 is shown as a separate component.

[0072] like Figure 5 The component forming the hole collar 6 shown can also be designed in one piece as a component with a bridge-like spring fixing element 8 by being connected to the component forming the hole collar 6 via a material bridge 10 .

[0073] Figure 5 Furthermore, an embodiment is shown in which the hole flanges 6 of all (four) through-openings 30 of the busbar are realized as a component. Accordingly, the component has four through-holes 60.

[0074] Figure 5 Furthermore, a flange fixing element 61 is shown, by means of which the flange-forming component 6 can be fixed to the busbar 3. The flange fixing element 61 can be designed, for example, as a locking projection that can be locked into a locking opening of the busbar 3.

[0075] Figure 6 The electrical conductor 10 introduced into the clamping location is shown. Figure 6 The embodiment shown in FIG has a hole flange 6 which not only extends along the busbar 3 as a flat, planar part as described above, but also has at least one vertical wall 62 which extends essentially in the vertical direction away from the busbar 3. As a result, the advantageous effects of the hole flange 6, in particular the conductor guidance features for the electrical conductor 10, are further improved.

[0076] Figure 6 As a further additional feature of the bore flange 6, a spring overload protection is shown, for example in the form of an overload stop 63, which prevents the clamping legs 43 of the clamping spring 4 from being deflected excessively and, accordingly, from being damaged. Consequently, the clamping spring 4 is not overloaded. The overload stop 63 can be designed, for example, as a lateral contact surface of the bore flange 6, against which the clamping legs 43 come into contact at the maximum permissible deflection.

[0077] The aforementioned overload stop 63 can be realized, for example, on the vertical wall 62 or even independently of the vertical wall, if one is present.

[0078] Figure 7 The overload stop 63 is shown again as part of the hole flange 6, as explained above. Figure 6Unlike the embodiment, the vertical wall 62 is further extended and extends to a horizontal wall 64, which extends to the opposite vertical wall 62 of the hole flange 6. In this way, the hole flange 6 can also form a kind of wire receiving recess for the electrical conductor 10. The wire receiving recess can be designed as a completely closed pot-like structure or with interruptions or openings. The horizontal wall 64 also forms a wire stop for the electrical conductor 10, which limits the insertion depth of the electrical conductor 10.

Claims

1. A terminal (1) for connecting at least one electrical conductor, wherein the terminal (1) comprises a housing (2) and a contact plug for connecting at least one electrical conductor, wherein the contact plug comprises at least one busbar (3) and at least one clamping spring (4), wherein the busbar (3) comprises at least one through-opening (30), wherein the contact plug comprises a hole flange (6) which surrounds the through-opening (30) at least partially or completely around the busbar (3) on at least one side, characterized in that The hole collar is designed as a component that is independent of the busbar (3) and the housing (2) and is present in addition to the housing (2), wherein the hole collar (6) rests on the busbar (3) on the side facing away from the clamping spring (4).

2. The terminal block according to claim 1, It is characterized by: The hole flange (6) is made of a different material from the busbar (3).

3. The connecting terminal according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized by: A separate component forming the hole flange (6) is fixed to the busbar (3).

4. The terminal block according to claim 3, It is characterized by: The independent component forming the hole flange (6) is fixed on the busbar (3) by clamping, locking, bonding or a combination thereof.

5. The connection terminal according to claim 1 or 2, It is characterized by: The hole flange (6) is circumferentially configured to form a through hole (60).

6. The connection terminal according to claim 5, It is characterized by: The through-hole (60) of the hole flange (6) is aligned with the through-opening (30) of the busbar (3).

7. The connecting terminal according to claim 1 or 2, It is characterized by: The hole collar (6) is designed as a wire guide element which, on the circumferential side, at least partially or completely forms a wire guide for an electrical line to be connected to the contact plug.

8. The connecting terminal according to claim 1 or 2, It is characterized by: A separate component forming the hole flange (6) has a conductor stop (64) for the electrical conductor to be clamped and / or an overload stop (63) for limiting the maximum deflection of the clamping spring (4).

9. The connecting terminal according to claim 1 or 2, It is characterized by: At least one region of the hole collar (6) projects into the region of the through-opening (30).

10. The connecting terminal according to claim 1 or 2, It is characterized by: The busbar (3) has a plurality of through-openings (30) arranged in sequence along a longitudinal extension direction (L) and / or a plurality of through-openings (30) arranged side by side, wherein a plurality of or all of the through-openings (30) have corresponding hole flanges (6), wherein the hole flanges (6) are configured as a common independent component or as a plurality of components independent of the busbar (3).

11. The connecting terminal according to claim 1 or 2, It is characterized by: The busbar (3) has, in the region of the through-opening (30), a clamping plate (31) formed from the material of the busbar (3) and bent relative to the surface of the busbar (3), which together with the clamping spring (4) forms a clamping point for the electrical conductor to be clamped.

12. The connection terminal according to claim 11, It is characterized by: The clamping plate (31) extends at least partially into the space enclosed by the hole flange (6).

13. The connecting terminal according to claim 1 or 2, It is characterized by: A wire receiving recess (22) is provided in the housing, wherein the hole flange (6) is arranged between the busbar (3) and the wire receiving recess (22).

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