Connection terminal and electronic device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a connecting terminal (100) for connecting an electrical conductor, having a housing (110), a clamping spring (120), a current bar (160), and a clamping lever (140) disposed in the housing (110), wherein the clamping spring (120) has a contact arm (121) for elastically tensioning the electrical conductor to be connected relative to the current bar (160), wherein the clamping lever (140) is fixed to the housing (110), wherein the clamping lever (140) is pivotable about a pivot axis (141) between an open position and a closed position, wherein the contact arm (121) has a through opening (123), and the connecting terminal has a support section (111) passing through the through opening (123) of the contact arm (121) and abutting against a retaining arm (124) of the clamping spring (120).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a connection terminal for connecting electrical conductors. Furthermore, this invention also relates to an electronic device having at least one such connection terminal. Background Technology

[0002] Connection terminals for electrical conductors are used to allow for releasable contact with the electrical conductor. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The object of this invention is to provide an improved connection terminal for connecting electrical conductors.

[0004] According to the invention, this objective is achieved using the features of the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments and improvements of the invention are given in the dependent claims.

[0005] The connecting terminal according to the invention has a housing, a clamping spring, a current bar, and a clamping lever arranged in the housing, wherein the clamping spring has a contact arm for elastically tensioning the conductor to be connected towards the current bar, wherein the clamping lever is fixed to the housing, wherein the clamping lever is pivotable about a pivot axis between an open position and a closed position, wherein the contact arm has a through opening, and the connecting terminal has a support section that passes through the through opening of the contact arm and abuts against the retaining arm of the clamping spring.

[0006] The support section is used to prevent the clamping spring from bending or deforming due to improper use, such as when a tool, such as a screwdriver, is inserted into the connecting terminal.

[0007] In particular, a support section can be formed on the housing. The support section also serves to guide and position the clamping spring relative to the housing. Thus, a clamping spring with a through opening can be pushed onto the support section, thereby positioning the clamping spring on the housing by means of a contact arm shape fit.

[0008] It can be specified that the end section of the support segment that abuts against the retaining arm of the clamping spring has a curved or rounded portion, so that the shape of the support segment at least partially matches the different bending radii of the clamping spring under different tension states. Compared to supports with sharp edges, the curved or rounded portion can reduce spring wear and, in addition, reduce friction when the spring abutting against the support segment deforms. Therefore, compared to support solutions with sharp edges or flat surfaces, the tensioning mechanism consisting of the clamping lever, the clamping spring, and the corresponding support segment is easier to operate by providing a curved or rounded portion on the end side of the support segment.

[0009] The clamping spring can be surrounded by the housing on both sides, thus avoiding the provision of lateral openings in the housing for mounting the clamping spring, and the clamping spring can be mounted in the housing by pushing it onto the support section and thereby pushing it between the two side housing walls of the housing.

[0010] According to an alternative design, the support section can be set on the current bar or part of the current bar.

[0011] Furthermore, it can be specified that the clamping lever has a driving element corresponding to a tab of the clamping spring, which is disposed on the contact arm of the clamping spring. By disposing the tab, which interacts with the driving element, on the contact arm of the clamping spring, a particularly compact and robust construction of the clamping spring within the connecting terminal can be provided.

[0012] Furthermore, the tab can be integrally formed with the clamping spring and stamped from the contact arm of the clamping spring, wherein the through opening can substantially correspond to the size of the stamped tab. In this way, the tab can be provided as an integrated component of the clamping spring at a low cost and reliably.

[0013] It can be specified that the tab extends freely between the contact arm and the retaining arm of the clamping spring, wherein the contact arm and the retaining arm can be connected to each other through a bent connecting section. Therefore, the tab can be integrated as compactly as possible into the structural space used to accommodate the clamping spring.

[0014] The connection section between the contact arm and the retaining arm can be an arc-shaped portion, with a pre-set angle of less than 90° between the retaining arm and the contact arm. Therefore, the sections of the contact arm and the retaining arm adjacent to the arc-shaped portion can form an angle of less than 90°.

[0015] Furthermore, it can be specified that when the clamping lever is in the closed position, there is a gap between the driving member and the contact plate, and when the clamping lever is in the open position, the driving member rests against the contact plate. In the closed position, this ensures that the full spring force of the spring clamp can be used to clamp the conductor in the direction of the current strip, and that no part of the spring force is lost due to resting against the driving member. Accordingly, the driving member can initially travel without contact from the closed position of the clamping lever until it rests against the contact plate, wherein the subsequent further opening movement causes deformation of the clamping spring through the contact plate and the driving member.

[0016] The driving element may be, for example, a pin or connecting piece extending along the width of the clamping spring, which is formed on the clamping lever.

[0017] Specifically, it can be stipulated that the clamping lever pivoting from the closed position to the open position can cause an increase in the gap between the current bar and the contact arm, wherein the spring can be tensioned between the driving member and the stop.

[0018] In addition, it can be specified that additional clamping levers are provided for additional clamping springs so as to elastically clamp the additional conductor springs to be connected toward the current bar.

[0019] The additional clamping spring and the additional clamping lever can be designed in a manner similar to the clamping lever and the clamping spring described above.

[0020] Specifically, the connecting terminals are configured to be mirror symmetrical, allowing two conductors to be connected to be introduced into the connecting terminals from both sides, so as to achieve a conductive connection between the conductors to be connected.

[0021] To achieve a compact structure for the connecting terminals, the clamping springs can be configured such that the clamping springs have end sections that abut against each other, wherein when the clamping lever is in the open position, the clamping springs are tensioned between the drive member and the end sections of the other spring, and when the other clamping lever is in the open position, the other spring is tensioned between the end sections of the clamping spring and the drive member of the other clamping lever.

[0022] The clamping springs can then support each other inside the connecting terminal, enabling the clamping springs to be compactly integrated into the housing of the connecting terminal.

[0023] In addition, it can be configured such that the clamping levers corresponding to the clamping springs are also in contact with each other in their open positions, so as to limit the pivoting stroke of the corresponding clamping levers in the open positions.

[0024] To achieve a simple and cost-effective structure for the clamping spring, it can be specified that the clamping spring is a multi-bent strip, especially a spring steel strip, wherein the strip can have a constant width. If the strip has a constant width, this means that the total width of the strip laid out on a plane is constant, and the spring is formed from this strip. It should be understood that, for example, stamping the tab results in the tab itself having a smaller width than the original strip. Nevertheless, the total width of the clamping section from which the tab is stamped remains the same and, in addition, corresponds to the width of the retaining arm. In particular, the width of the section of the clamping arm that rests against the conductor to be connected is equivalent to the width of the retaining arm.

[0025] To predefine the position of the contact arm, it can be specified that the current bar has a shoulder, on which the contact arm rests when the clamping lever is in the closed position and no conductor is inserted into the housing in the area of ​​the clamping lever. By placing the clamping lever against the current bar in the closed position, conductors of different diameters can be inserted between the contact arm and the current bar, wherein the contact arm moves or squeezes away from the current bar by a distance equal to the diameter of the conductor end, and thus the conductor end is clamped onto the current bar by the contact arm.

[0026] The restricted opening between the current bar and the contact arm, designed to accommodate conductors, can therefore automatically match the diameter of each conductor to be contacted. Thus, the conductor can contact the current bar and be secured in the connection terminal without requiring the clamping lever to move from its closed position to its open position.

[0027] Alternatively, the clamping lever can be moved to its open position to lift the contact arm off the current bar, thereby facilitating the insertion of the conductor end. In this way, the conductor can be introduced into the housing first without having to press the clamping arm with the conductor end. This prevents deformation of the conductor end when inserting the connection terminal. The pivoting of the clamping lever from its open to closed position then causes tension of the contact spring in the direction of the current bar, with the conductor end clamped between the clamping arm of the clamping spring and the current bar.

[0028] It can be specified that the casing is made of plastic or made of plastic.

[0029] Furthermore, the clamping lever can be configured to have a handle so that the connecting terminal can be manipulated without tools and thus the electrical conductor can be connected to and released from the connecting terminal without tools.

[0030] In addition, the housing may have a stop corresponding to the clamping lever in order to limit the pivoting stroke of the clamping lever.

[0031] The connection terminals can be constructed, for example, as junction boxes, block terminals, or potential terminals.

[0032] Furthermore, the solution according to the present invention is achieved by means of an electronic device, which may have at least one connection terminal with the configuration and improvements described above. Attached Figure Description

[0033] The invention will now be explained in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and exemplary embodiments. The following are schematically illustrated:

[0034] Figure 1A The connection terminals according to the invention are shown in a perspective view from above;

[0035] Figure 1B The side longitudinal section shows Figure 1A The connection terminals in the middle;

[0036] Figure 1C A portion of the housing for the connecting terminals is shown in a perspective view from above;

[0037] Figure 1D Show Figure 1A Side view of the connecting terminals;

[0038] Figure 2 The clamping spring is shown in a perspective view from above;

[0039] Figure 3 The clamping body is shown in a perspective view from above;

[0040] Figure 4 The side longitudinal section shows Figure 1A The connecting terminal has a conductor to be clamped and a clamping body in a closed position;

[0041] Figure 5A The side longitudinal section shows Figure 1A The connecting terminal has a conductor to be clamped and a clamping body in the open position;

[0042] Figure 5B The side longitudinal section shows Figure 1A The connecting terminal in the middle has a conductor to be clamped and a clamping body in the closed position;

[0043] Figure 6 The clamping body, clamping spring, and current bar of the connecting terminal are shown in a side longitudinal sectional view. Detailed Implementation

[0044] The connecting terminal 100 for connecting electrical conductors has a housing 110. A clamping spring 120 and another clamping spring 130 are arranged in the housing 110. The connecting terminal 100 has a clamping lever 140 corresponding to the clamping spring 120. The connecting terminal 100 has another clamping lever 150 corresponding to the other clamping spring 130. The connecting terminal 100 has a current bar 160.

[0045] The clamping spring 120 has a contact arm 121 for elastically tensioning the conductor spring to be connected toward the current bar 160. The additional clamping spring 130 has a contact arm 131 for elastically tensioning the conductor spring to be connected toward the current bar 160.

[0046] A clamping lever 140 is fixed to the housing 110, wherein the clamping lever 140 is pivotable about a pivot axis 141 between an open position and a closed position. The clamping lever 140 has a drive member 142. A tab 122 of the clamping spring 120 corresponds to the drive member 142. The tab 122 is disposed on the contact arm 121 of the clamping spring 120.

[0047] The additional clamping lever 150 is fixed to the housing 110, and is pivotable about a pivot axis 151 between an open position and a closed position. This additional clamping lever 150 has a drive member 152. A tab 132 of the additional clamping spring 130 corresponds to the drive member 152. The tab 132 is disposed on the contact arm 131 of the additional clamping spring 130.

[0048] The connecting terminal 100 has a mirror-symmetrical construction, wherein the geometry of the clamping spring 120 corresponds to the geometry of the clamping spring 130. Similarly, the geometry of the clamping lever 140 corresponds to the geometry of the other clamping lever 150. See below. Figure 2 The geometry of clamping springs 120 and 130 is illustrated by way of example using clamping spring 120. Furthermore, refer to... Figure 3 The geometry of clamping levers 140 and 150 is illustrated by way of example using clamping lever 140.

[0049] Figure 2 The clamping spring 120 itself is shown in a perspective view from above. The tab 122 is integrally formed with the clamping spring 120 and is stamped from the contact arm 121 of the clamping spring 120. The contact arm 121 has a through opening 123 corresponding to the size of the stamped tab 122.

[0050] The contact piece 122 extends freely and is arranged between the contact arm 121 and the retaining arm 124 of the clamping spring 120. The contact arm 121 and the retaining arm 124 are connected to each other by a curved connecting section 125.

[0051] The through opening 123 is used to position the clamping spring 120 on the housing 110. Therefore, the housing 110 has a support section 111 that passes through the through opening 123 of the contact arm 121 and rests against the retaining arm 124 of the clamping spring 120. The clamping spring 120 is a multi-bent band having a constant width B1.

[0052] Similarly, housing 110 has a support section 112 that passes through the through opening 133 of clamping spring 130 and rests against the retaining arm 134 of clamping spring 130. Clamping spring 130 is a multi-bent band with a constant width.

[0053] Therefore, the corresponding clamping springs 120 and 130 can be pushed onto the corresponding support sections 111 and 112 with their through openings, so that the corresponding clamping springs 120 and 130 are positioned on the housing 110 in a shape matching with their contact arms 121 and 131.

[0054] The support sections 111 and 112 of the housing 110 have curved or rounded portions 115 and 116 at their ends so that the shapes of the support sections 111 and 112 at least partially match the different bending radii of the clamping springs 120 and 130 in different clamping states.

[0055] The clamping springs 120 and 130 are surrounded on both sides by the housing 110, thus particularly eliminating lateral openings in the housing for mounting the clamping springs 120 and 130, and the clamping springs 120 and 130 can be fitted into the housing 110 by pushing them onto the support sections 111 and 112 and thus inserting them between the two side housing walls 117 and 118 of the housing 110. Figure 1C ).

[0056] Figure 1D An example of misuse of the connecting terminal 100 is shown, in which a screwdriver 400 is inserted. Here, the support section 112 prevents the clamping spring 130 from deforming or being damaged.

[0057] Figure 3 The clamping lever 140 itself is shown in a perspective view from above. The clamping lever 140 has a handle 143 to enable manual, tool-free operation. In the region of the pivot axis 141, the clamping lever 140 has pivot feet 144, 145, which are shaped to fit into the housing 110 and provide rotatable support for the clamping lever 140 on the housing 110. Furthermore, the clamping lever 140 has a stop surface 146 and an additional stop surface 147.

[0058] When the clamping lever 140 is in the closed position, such as in Figure 1B , Figure 4 , Figure 5B and Figure 6 As can be seen, the drive member 142 and the connecting piece 122 have a distance A. When the clamping lever 140 is in the open position, as in Figure 5A As shown, the drive component 142 is attached to the connector 122.

[0059] The pivoting of the clamping lever 140 from the closed position to the open position causes an increase in the distance between the current bar 160 and the contact arm 121, wherein the clamping spring 120 is tensioned between the drive member 142 and the stop 136. The stop 136 is part of the clamping spring 130 and forms the end section 136 of the clamping spring 130. Similarly, the end section 126 of the clamping spring 120 forms the stop 126 for clamping the spring 130.

[0060] Clamping springs 120 and 130 therefore have end sections 126 and 136 that abut against each other. Clamping spring 120 is tensioned between the drive member 142 and the end section 136 of the other clamping spring 130 as long as clamping lever 140 is in the open position. Similarly, another clamping spring 136 is tensioned between the end section 126 of clamping spring 120 and the drive member 152 of the other clamping lever 150 as long as the other clamping lever 150 is in the open position. Thus, clamping springs 120 and 130 support each other abuttingly at their ends.

[0061] The current bar 160 has a shoulder 161 on which the contact arm 121 rests, provided that the clamping lever 140 is in the closed position and no conductor is inserted into the housing 110 within the area of ​​the clamping lever 140. The current bar 160 has another shoulder 162 on which the contact arm 131 rests, provided that the clamping lever 150 is in the closed position and no conductor is inserted into the housing 110 within the area of ​​the clamping lever 150. Figure 1B ).

[0062] To establish a conductive connection between the two electrical conductors 200 and 300, conductors 200 and 300 can be pushed into the connecting terminal 100, while clamping levers 140 and 150 are in their closed position (see [link]). Figure 4 Therefore, the end section 210 of the electrical conductor 200 is inserted into the opening 113 of the housing 110 of the connecting terminal 100.

[0063] Here, the end section 210 compresses the clamping arm 121 of the clamping spring 120, so that the end section 210 is tensioned between the clamping arm 121 and the current bar 160 due to the spring force of the clamping spring 120. The end section 126 of the clamping spring 120 here forms a stop for the end section 210 of the conductor 200.

[0064] Similarly, the end section 310 of the conductor 300 can be inserted into the opening 114 of the housing 110 to be tensioned between the clamping arm 131 of the clamping spring 130 and the current bar 160.

[0065] Therefore, a conductive connection is established between conductors 200 and 300 through the conductive current bar 160. Not only the clamping arms 121 and 131, but also the shoulders 161 and 162 of the current bar 160, combined with the clamping force of the springs 120 and 130, prevent conductors 200 and 300 from being pulled out of the connecting terminal 100. Figure 5B The diagram shows the state in which two conductors 200 and 300 are tensioned within the connecting terminal 100 with their end sections 210 and 310.

[0066] Alternatively, before inserting conductors 200 and 300, clamping levers 140 and 150 can be opened, as in Figure 5A As exemplarily illustrated. Once the conductor ends 210, 310 are positioned into the corresponding housing openings 113, 114, the clamping levers 140, 150 are... Figure 5A The open position shown pivots back to Figure 5B In the closed position shown, conductors 200 and 300 are tensioned within the connecting terminal 100 and come into contact with each other through the current bar 160.

[0067] In order to limit Figure 5A In the open position shown, the clamping lever 140 rests against the housing 110 with its stop surface 147. Similarly, the clamping lever 150 rests against the housing 110 with its stop surface 157. Furthermore, the stop surface 146 of the clamping lever 140 is supported on the stop surface 156 of the clamping lever 150.

[0068] To further illustrate the working principle of the clamping mechanism of the connecting terminal 100 formed by the clamping levers 140 and 150, the corresponding clamping springs 120 and 130, and the current bar 160, these components... Figure 6 The clamping lever 140 is shown in the closed position and the clamping lever 150 is shown in the open position.

[0069] As can be seen, the drive member 142 is spaced apart from the tab 122 according to the closed position of the clamping lever 140, and the pivoting, as exemplarily shown for the clamping spring 130 and the clamping lever 150 in the open position, causes the spring 130 to be tensioned.

[0070] Furthermore, it can be seen that once the corresponding driving components 142 and 152 are in contact with the corresponding contact pieces 122 and 132 when the corresponding clamping levers 140 and 150 pivot from the closed position to the open position, the corresponding clamping arms 121 and 131 move away from the current bar 160 through the pivoting of the clamping levers 140 and 150.

[0071] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0072] 100 connection terminals

[0073] 110 Housing

[0074] 111 Support Section

[0075] 112 Support Section

[0076] 113 Opening

[0077] 114 Opening

[0078] 115 Rounded part

[0079] 116 Rounded part

[0080] 117 Side shell wall

[0081] 118 Side shell wall

[0082] 120 clamping spring

[0083] 121 Contact Arm

[0084] 122 stitching

[0085] 123 Through opening

[0086] 124 Keep arm

[0087] 125 Connecting Section

[0088] 126 End Section

[0089] 130 Clamping Spring

[0090] 131 Contact Arm

[0091] 132 stitching

[0092] 133 Through opening

[0093] 134 Keep arm

[0094] 136 End Section

[0095] 140 Clamping lever

[0096] 141 Pivot axis

[0097] 142 drive component

[0098] 143 Handle

[0099] 144 Pivot foot

[0100] 145 Pivoting foot

[0101] 146 Stop surface

[0102] 147 Stop surface

[0103] 150 clamping lever

[0104] 151 Pivot axis

[0105] 152 drive components

[0106] 156 Stop surface

[0107] 157 Stop surface

[0108] 160 Current Bar

[0109] 161 Stop

[0110] 162 Stop

[0111] 200 conductor

[0112] 210 End Section

[0113] 300 conductor

[0114] 310 End Section

[0115] 400 screwdriver

[0116] A Spacing

[0117] B1 width

Claims

1. A connecting terminal (100) for connecting an electrical conductor, comprising a housing (110), a clamping spring (120) disposed in the housing (110), a current bar (160), and a clamping lever (140), wherein the clamping spring (120) has a contact arm (121) for elastically tensioning the electrical conductor to be connected relative to the current bar (160), wherein the clamping lever (140) is fixed to the housing (110), wherein the clamping lever (140) is pivotable about a pivot axis (141) between an open position and a closed position, wherein the contact arm (121) has a through opening (123), and the connecting terminal has a support section (111) passing through the through opening (123) of the contact arm (121) and abutting against a retaining arm (124) of the clamping spring (120), wherein, The housing (110) has a support section (111), or the support section is provided on the current bar, and the end section of the support section (111) that abuts against the retaining arm (124) of the clamping spring (120) has a bent portion or a rounded portion (115).

2. The connecting terminal (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The clamping lever (140) has a drive member (142), wherein the drive member (142) corresponds to a contact piece (122) of the clamping spring (120), the contact piece being disposed on a contact arm (121) of the clamping spring (120).

3. The connecting terminal (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that, The tab (122) is integrally formed with the clamping spring (120) and is stamped from the contact arm (121) of the clamping spring (120), wherein the through opening (123) has substantially the same size as the stamped tab (122).

4. The connecting terminal (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that, The tab (122) extends freely between the contact arm (121) and the retaining arm (124) of the clamping spring (120), wherein the contact arm (121) and the retaining arm (124) are connected to each other by a curved connecting section (125).

5. The connecting terminal (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that, When the clamping lever (140) is in the closed position, the drive member (142) is spaced from the contact piece (122), and when the clamping lever (140) is in the open position, the drive member (142) rests against the contact piece (122).

6. The connecting terminal (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that, The pivoting of the clamping lever (140) from the closed position to the open position causes an increase in the distance between the current bar (160) and the contact arm (121), wherein the clamping spring (120) is tensioned between the drive member (142) and the stop (136).

7. The connecting terminal (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that, Additional clamping levers (150) are provided for the additional clamping springs (130) so as to elastically tension the additional conductor springs to be connected relative to the current bar (160).

8. The connecting terminal (100) according to claim 7, characterized in that, The clamping springs (120, 130) have end sections (126, 136) that abut against each other, wherein when the clamping lever (140) is in the open position, the clamping spring (120) is tensioned between the drive member (142) and the end section (136) of the other clamping spring (130), and when the other clamping lever (150) is in the open position, the other clamping spring (130) is tensioned between the end section (126) of the clamping spring and the drive member (152) of the other clamping lever (150).

9. The connecting terminal (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The clamping spring (120) is a multi-bent strip (120) having a constant width (B1), and / or the current bar (160) has a shoulder (161) on which the contact arm (121) rests when the clamping lever (140) is in the closed position and no conductor is introduced into the housing (110) in the area of ​​the clamping lever (140).

10. An electronic device having at least one connection terminal (100) constructed according to claim 1.

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