Terminal Blocks

Abstract

The invention relates to a connecting terminal (100) for connecting at least one electric conductor, comprising a housing (110) having at least one conductor insertion opening (111, 160) for inserting the at least one electric conductor to be connected into the housing (110), a current bar (112) arranged in the housing (110), at least one clamping spring (113, 114) arranged in the housing (110) for clamping the at least one electric conductor against the current bar (112), and at least one rotatably supported operating lever (115, 116) for operating the at least one clamping spring (113, 114), wherein the current bar (112) has at least one receiving section (117, 118), and the at least one operating lever (115, 116) is rotatably supported on the receiving section.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a terminal for connecting an electrical conductor, the terminal comprising: a housing having at least one conductor insertion opening for inserting at least one electrical conductor to be connected into the housing; a current bar arranged in the housing; at least one clamping spring arranged in the housing for clamping at least one electrical conductor against the current bar; and at least one rotatably supported operating lever for operating the at least one clamping spring. Background Art

[0002] Such terminal blocks are known in different technical solutions. The clamping spring is usually designed as a leg spring, which has a clamping foot for clamping the conductor to be connected against the current bar and a retaining foot for retaining the clamping spring in the housing. In order to be able to move the clamping foot into the open position and into the clamping position, a corresponding operating lever can be provided, which can cooperate with the clamping foot of the clamping spring so that this clamping foot is moved into the open position and / or the clamping position. The operating lever is usually supported on the wall of the housing, specifically in such a way that the wall of the housing can form a receptacle for the rotation axis of the operating lever. However, since the housing is usually made of plastic, when the operating lever is supported on the housing, the supporting part of the operating lever may accidentally move or change due to the influence of the medium or temperature on the housing, thereby hindering or limiting the function of the terminal. Summary of the invention

[0003] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a connecting terminal in which a constant function of the connecting terminal is ensured even in the case of changing media influences or temperature influences.

[0004] The solution of the present invention to achieve the above-mentioned object is characterized by the independent claim. The preferred technical solution and advantageous improvement of the present invention refer to the dependent claims.

[0005] The connecting terminal according to the invention is characterized in that the current bar has at least one receiving section, on which the at least one actuating lever is rotatably mounted.

[0006] According to the invention, the joystick is no longer supported on the housing, but on the current bar. As a result, the support of the joystick is now decoupled from the housing, which is preferably made of plastic material, so that changes in the plastic of the housing due to media influences or temperature influences no longer have an impact on the support of the joystick. The current bar is preferably made of a metal material, so that it has good electrical conductivity. In the case of using a metal material, the degree to which the current bar is affected by changing temperatures or media effects is greatly reduced, so that the support or support position of the joystick on the current bar will not change due to media influences or temperature influences. In particular, the accommodation section formed by the current bar is made of a metal material that is stable in the medium and stable in temperature, and therefore has shape stability, so that the support of the joystick in or on this accommodation section is not affected by different media or temperatures. Therefore, even under different media influences and temperature influences, the unchanged function of the terminal can be ensured.

[0007] In order to form a rotatable support, the joystick preferably has a rotation axis, which can be accommodated in the at least one accommodation section in a certain way, so that the at least one accommodation section at least partially surrounds the rotation axis. The rotation axis is preferably constructed in the form of an axle body, which can be embedded in the accommodation section in a manner that it is at least partially surrounded by the accommodation section or is locked by the accommodation section. Since the rotation axis is at least partially surrounded by the accommodation section, it is possible to prevent the rotation axis from accidentally separating from the accommodation section, thereby achieving reliable support of the joystick on the current bar.

[0008] In order to achieve a technical solution of the connecting terminal that is as compact as possible, the at least one receiving section is preferably formed on an end section of the current bar. In this way, the operating lever can be supported on the end section or the free end of the current bar.

[0009] To form the receiving section, the current bar is preferably bent in a C-shape in the region of the at least one receiving section. If the receiving section is formed at an end section of the current bar, the free end of the current bar can be bent in a C-shape in order to form a receiving section for the joystick. By means of the C-shape, the rotation axis of the joystick can be at least partially encircled or surrounded by the receiving section in a simple manner.

[0010] The at least one receiving section can have an opening which can be closed by the wall of the housing. In this way, the receiving section can completely surround the rotation axis of the joystick together with the wall of the housing. In this way, a small part of the housing can also form a counter-support and thus a fixing for the joystick, but the fundamental support for the joystick is formed by the receiving section of the current bar. The wall of the housing can prevent the rotation axis of the joystick from slipping out of the receiving section.

[0011] In order to actuate the clamping spring by means of an actuating lever, the clamping foot of at least one clamping spring can have at least one tongue formed at a distance from the clamping edge of the clamping foot, which tongue can cooperate with the actuating lever. The clamping edge for clamping the conductor to be connected against the current bar is preferably set back towards the bending section of the clamping spring so that the tongue protrudes beyond the clamping edge. The tongue is preferably formed laterally of the clamping edge so that the tongue can be guided beside the clamping edge. Preferably, two such tongues are formed on the clamping foot, so that the clamping edge can be formed between the two tongues. The actuating lever can have an actuating section, wherein the outer surface of the actuating section is preferably arched, and the actuating lever can perform a rolling movement on the tongue of the clamping foot of the clamping spring by means of this outer surface of the actuating section, so as to actuate the clamping foot and thus the clamping spring.

[0012] In addition to the clamping foot, the clamping spring can have a retaining foot, which can be fixed on the current bar. The retaining foot is used to support the clamping spring in the housing, wherein the clamping spring can be fixed on the current bar by means of its retaining foot in order to position the clamping spring securely.

[0013] The retaining foot of the clip spring can be fixed to the current bar in various ways. Preferably, the current bar has an opening into which the retaining foot can be hooked. The opening can be formed in the current bar, for example, in the form of a window-like recess. A retaining tab can be formed on the retaining foot, which can pass through the opening so as to engage the edge defining the opening and thus hook the retaining foot of the clip spring in the opening.

[0014] By fastening the retaining foot of the clamping spring to the current bar and also the actuating lever to the current bar, the current bar, the actuating lever and the clamping spring can form an assembly which can be preassembled together so that after preassembly the entire assembly can be arranged together in the housing of the terminal block.

[0015] Particularly preferably, the connecting terminal can be designed as follows: two conductors can be connected to the connecting terminal at the same time. In this technical solution, a first clamping spring for clamping the first conductor and a second clamping spring for clamping the second conductor against the current bar can be provided, wherein the current bar has a first receiving section, on which a first operating lever for operating the first clamping spring can be rotatably supported, and wherein the current bar has a second receiving section, on which a second operating lever for operating the second clamping spring can be rotatably supported. The first receiving section is preferably formed on a first end section of the current bar, and the second receiving section is preferably formed on a second end section of the current bar opposite to the first end section. The two operating levers are preferably arranged on the current bar in such a way that they can rotate in opposite directions during the opening movement and the closing movement.

[0016] The first and second clamping springs are preferably arranged at a distance from one another, so that in particular the two retaining legs of the clamping springs do not directly contact one another and in particular do not rest against one another. In order to be able to form a defined distance between the two clamping springs, a spacer for mechanically decoupling the first and second clamping springs can be provided between the first and second clamping springs, wherein the spacer can be formed by a wall of the housing. Due to the force decoupling, the spacer ensures that the force of the first clamping spring is not transmitted to the second clamping spring and vice versa.

[0017] In order to simplify the installation of the two clamping springs, the two clamping springs can be designed as one piece by means of a connecting piece, wherein the connecting piece can be fixed to the current bar. In this way, the two clamping springs can be fixed together to the current bar by means of the connecting piece, so that it is not necessary to fix the clamping springs separately.

[0018] For example, the connecting piece can be fixed on the current bar by riveting, thereby realizing particularly stable and non-slip positioning of the clamp spring on the current bar. As an alternative to riveting, for example, the connecting piece can also be screwed and / or snap-connected on the current bar.

[0019] If the two clamping springs are not connected via a connecting piece, they can be fastened individually to the current bar, wherein the two clamping springs can, for example, each have a retaining piece on their retaining feet, wherein in this case the retaining pieces can be hooked into openings on the current bar, thereby fastening the clamping springs to the current bar. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The present invention will be described in detail below in conjunction with preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0021] in

[0022] Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a terminal block according to a technical solution of the present invention,

[0023] Figure 2 For Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the arrangement of the current bar and the clamp spring shown,

[0024] Figure 3 For Figure 1 and Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the clamp spring is shown in FIG.

[0025] Figure 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a terminal block according to another technical solution of the present invention,

[0026] Figure 5 For Figure 4 A schematic cross-sectional view of the arrangement of the current bar, the clamping spring and the operating lever is shown,

[0027] Figure 6 For Figure 4 and Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the clamp spring integrally connected by the connecting piece is shown, and

[0028] Figure 7 It is a schematic diagram of the wiring terminal of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] Figure 1 is a sectional view of a connecting terminal 100 , by means of which two electrical conductors (not shown here) can be connected or contacted.

[0030] The connecting terminal 100 has a housing 110 made of insulating material. Two opposite conductor insertion openings 111, 160 are formed on the housing 110, which are used to insert an electrical conductor into the housing 110. The housing 110 is constructed in two parts, consisting of a housing upper part and a housing lower part.

[0031] A current bar 112 is arranged in the housing 110 , to which both conductors can be connected by clamping the conductors inserted into the housing 110 against the current bar 112 by means of respective clamping springs 113 , 114 .

[0032] In order to operate the two clamp springs 113, 114, each operating rod 115, 116 is provided, so that each clamp spring 113, 114 corresponds to an operating rod 115, 116. The two operating rods 115, 116 are rotatably supported, so the clamp springs 113, 114 can be operated by the rotational movement of the operating rods 115, 116.

[0033] The operating levers 115, 116 are rotatably supported on the current bar 112. For this purpose, the current bar 112 has a first receiving section 117 and a second receiving section 118. Figure 2 It can also be seen that the two receiving sections 117, 118 are respectively formed on the opposite end sections 119, 120 of the current bar 112. The receiving sections 117, 118 are part of the current bar 112 and are therefore made of the material of the current bar 112. The current bar 112 is made of a metal material, so the receiving sections 117, 118 are also made of a metal material. The two operating rods 115, 116 are directly hung on the current bar 112 through the receiving sections 117, 118.

[0034] The receiving sections 117 , 118 each have a C-shape, so that the current bar 112 is bent in a C-shape in the region of the two receiving sections 117 , 118 .

[0035] The two operating levers 115, 116 each have a rotation axis 121, 122, by means of which the operating levers 115, 116 are rotatably supported in one of the two receiving sections 117, 118. The two rotation axes 121, 122 are each received in the receiving sections 117, 118 in a certain manner, so that the receiving sections 117, 118 each surround the rotation axes 121, 122 at least partially.

[0036] The rotation axes 121, 122 are respectively surrounded by the receiving sections 117, 118 in three directions. In the fourth direction, the rotation axes 121, 122 are defined by a wall 123, 124 of the housing 110. For this purpose, the two wall sections 123, 124 have an arcuate shape. The two receiving sections 117, 118 respectively have openings 125, 126 in this fourth direction, which are closed or covered by the corresponding wall sections 123, 124 of the housing 110. During the deflection or rotational movement of the operating lever 115, 116, the operating lever slides along the wall sections 123, 124 by means of the bearing surfaces 127, 128. The bearing surfaces 127, 128 are respectively formed on one end of the gripping sections 129, 130 of the operating elements 115, 116, wherein the user can manually rotate the operating lever 115, 116 by means of the gripping sections 129, 130.

[0037] Furthermore, the operating levers 115, 116 each have an operating section 131, 132, through which the operating levers 115, 116 can act together with the clamping springs 113, 114, so as to operate the clamping springs 113, 114. The operating sections 131, 132 are directly adjacent to the gripping sections 129, 130, wherein the respective operating sections 131, 132 are connected to the respective gripping sections 129, 130 at the ends of the gripping sections 129, 130 which form the respective support surfaces 127, 128. The operating sections 131, 132 each have a curved outer side surface, by means of which the respective operating levers 115, 116 can act on the clamping feet 133, 134 of the respective clamping springs 113, 114, so that the clamping feet 133, 134 are moved into the open position and / or the clamped position. Figure 2 and Figure 3As shown, the clamping feet 133, 134 each have two tongues 135, 136, 137, 138, along which the actuating sections 131, 132 of the actuating levers 115, 116 can slide, thereby applying pressure to the clamping feet 133, 134 of the clamping springs 113, 114 and causing them to move from the clamping position into the open position. At a distance from the two tongues 135, 136, 137, 138, the clamping feet 133, 134 each have a clamping edge 139, 140, by means of which the clamping feet 133, 134 can clamp the conductor to be connected directly against the current bar 112.

[0038] The clamping feet 133, 134 of the corresponding clamping springs 113, 114 are connected to the retaining feet 143, 144 of the corresponding clamping springs 113, 114 in one piece through the arcuate sections 141, 142. The arcuate sections 141, 142 of the corresponding clamping springs 113, 114 are in contact with the inner walls 145, 146 of the housing 110, so that the clamping springs 113, 114 are supported on the inner walls 145, 146 of the housing 110.

[0039] The retaining legs 143, 144 of the corresponding clamping springs 113, 114 are fixed to the current bar 112, so that the clamping springs 113, 114 are also retained on the current bar 112. Figures 1 to 3 In the illustrated embodiment, the retaining legs 143, 144 have retaining tabs 147, 148 at their free ends, which are hooked into openings 149 formed in the current bar 112. The opening 149 is constructed centrally along the length of the current bar 112, so that the retaining tabs 147, 148 of the two clamping springs 113, 114 can be hooked into the same opening 149. Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the retaining tabs 147 , 148 of the retaining legs 143 , 144 are bent in each case toward the clamping legs 133 , 134 of the corresponding clamping spring 113 , 114 .

[0040] The two clamp springs 113, 114 are mechanically decoupled from each other, specifically, a spacer 150 is formed between the clamp springs 113, 114, in particular, between the two retaining legs 143, 144 of the clamp springs 113, 114, which holds the two clamp springs at a certain distance from each other. The spacer 150 is formed by the wall of the housing 110. The spacer 150 has snap-fitting flanges 151, 152, which can protrude through window-like openings 153, 154 formed in the retaining legs 143, 144 of the corresponding clamp springs 113, 114, thereby also reliably holding the clamp springs 113, 114 on the spacer 150.

[0041] exist Figures 4 to 61 shows a technical solution of the connecting terminal 100, which is similar to the technical solution in the embodiment of the present invention in terms of the support of the operating levers 115, 116 on the current bar 112, the technical solution of the operating levers 115, 116 and the current bar 112, the interaction of the clamping springs 113, 114 with the operating levers 115, 116, and the support of the clamping springs 113, 114 in the housing 110. Figures 1 to 3 The only difference is that in Figures 4 to 6 In the technical solution shown, the two clamp springs 113 and 114 are connected by a connecting piece 155, and are thus formed in one piece by an elastic sheet. The connecting piece 155 extends parallel to the current bar 112. The connecting piece 155 spans the spacer 150 of the housing 110, so that when the clamp springs 113 and 114 are installed, the connecting piece 155 is arranged between the current bar 112 and the spacer 150.

[0042] The two clamping springs 113, 114 are fixed to the current bar 112 via the connecting piece 155. The fixing is carried out by riveting 156. For this purpose, openings 157 are formed on the connecting piece 155, through which the rivets 156 can pass, in order to fix the connecting piece 155 and thus the clamping springs 113, 114 to the current bar 112.

[0043] In such Figures 1 to 6 It can be seen from the two technical solutions shown that the operating rods 115 and 116 are attached to the current bar 112 through the accommodating sections 117 and 118 on the first side 158 of the current bar 112, and the conductor to be connected is clamped by the clamp springs 113 and 114 on the second side 159 of the current bar 112 away from the first side 158 of the current bar 112. The operating rods 115 and 116 are hung on the current bar 112 through the accommodating sections 117 and 118, which can also be called accommodating chambers. Figures 1 to 6 As shown, the actuating levers 115 , 116 are arranged substantially above the current bar 112 , in particular above the first side 158 of the current bar 112 , while the clamping springs 113 , 114 are arranged below the current bar 112 , in particular below the second side 159 of the current bar 112 .

[0044] The connecting terminal 100 can be designed, for example, as a connecting strip which can be clipped onto a mounting rail.

[0045] Figure 7 The wiring terminal 100 is shown, wherein the internal structure of the wiring terminal 100 can be as shown in FIG. Figures 1 to 3 The technical solution shown or according to Figures 4 to 6 The technical solution shown is constructed such that both actuation levers 115 , 116 extend from the housing 110 by means of their gripping sections 129 , 130 so as to be gripped by the user.

[0046] Description of Reference Numerals

[0047] 100 Terminal Blocks

[0048] 110 Housing

[0049] 111, 160 conductor socket

[0050] 112 Current Bar

[0051] 113, 114 Clamp spring

[0052] 115, 116 Joystick

[0053] 117, 118 Accommodation section

[0054] 119, 120 terminal section

[0055] 121, 122 Rotation axis

[0056] 123, 124 Wall

[0057] 125, 126 Opening

[0058] 127, 128 Support surface

[0059] 129, 130 Grip Section

[0060] 131, 132 Operation section

[0061] 133, 134 Foot clamp

[0062] 135, 136 Tongue

[0063] 137, 138 Tongue

[0064] 139, 140 Clamping edge

[0065] 141, 142 Arched section

[0066] 143, 144 Keep your feet

[0067] 145, 146 Inner wall

[0068] 147, 148 Retaining sheet

[0069] 149 Opening

[0070] 150 Spacer

[0071] 151, 152 snap-fit ​​flange

[0072] 153, 154 Window-like opening

[0073] 155 Connecting piece

[0074] 156 Riveting

[0075] 157 Opening

[0076] 158 First side

[0077] 159 Second side

Claims

1. A terminal (100) for connecting at least one electrical conductor, the terminal having a housing (110) having at least one conductor insertion opening (111, 160) for inserting at least one electrical conductor to be connected into the housing (110), - a current bar (112) arranged in the housing (110), at least one clamping spring (113, 114) arranged in the housing (110) for clamping the at least one electrical conductor against the current bar (112), and at least one rotatably mounted actuating lever (115, 116) for actuating the at least one clamping spring (113, 114), in, The current bar (112) has at least one receiving section (117, 118), the at least one operating lever (115, 116) is rotatably supported on the receiving section, the at least one receiving section (117, 118) has an opening (125, 126), and the opening is closed by a wall (123, 124) of the housing (110), It is characterized in that the operating rod (115, 116) is hung on the current bar (112) by means of the accommodating sections (117, 118) on the first side surface (158) of the current bar (112), and the conductor to be connected is clamped by means of the clamping springs (113, 114) on the second side surface (159) of the current bar (112) facing away from the first side surface (158) of the current bar (112).

2. The connecting terminal (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that: The at least one operating lever (115, 116) has a rotation axis (121, 122) which is received in the at least one receiving section (117, 118) in such a way that the at least one receiving section (117, 118) surrounds the rotation axis (121, 122) at least partially.

3. The connecting terminal (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The at least one accommodation section (117, 118) is formed on an end section (119, 120) of the current bar (112).

4. The connecting terminal (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that: In the region of the at least one receiving section (117, 118), the current bar (112) is bent in a C-shape.

5. The connection terminal (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that: The clamping foot (133, 134) of the at least one clamping spring (113, 114) has at least one tongue (135, 136, 137, 138) formed at a distance from the clamping edge (139, 140) of the clamping foot (133, 134) and cooperating with the operating lever (117, 118).

6. The connecting terminal (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that: The retaining legs (143, 144) of the at least one clamping spring (113, 114) are fixed to the current bar (112).

7. The connecting terminal (100) according to claim 6, characterized in that: The current bar (112) has an opening (149) in which the retaining legs (143, 144) are hooked.

8. The connecting terminal (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that: A first clamping spring (113, 114) for clamping a first conductor and a second clamping spring (113, 114) for clamping a second conductor against the current bar (112) are provided, wherein the current bar (112) has a first receiving section (117, 118) on which a first operating lever (115, 116) for operating the first clamping spring (113, 114) is rotatably supported, and wherein the current bar (112) has a second receiving section (117, 118) on which a second operating lever (115, 116) for operating the second clamping spring (113, 114) is rotatably supported.

9. The connecting terminal (100) according to claim 8, characterized in that: A spacer (150) is provided between the first clamp spring (113, 114) and the second clamp spring (113, 114), which is used to achieve mechanical force decoupling of the first clamp spring (113, 114) and the second clamp spring (113, 114), wherein the spacer (150) is formed by the wall of the housing (110).

10. The connecting terminal (100) according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that: The retaining legs (143, 144) of the first clamping spring (113, 114) and the retaining legs (143, 144) of the second clamping spring (113, 114) are integrally constructed via a connecting piece (155), wherein the connecting piece (155) is fixed on the current bar (112).

11. The connecting terminal (100) according to claim 10, characterized in that: The connecting piece (155) is fixed to the current bar (112) by riveting (156).

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