terminal block

Abstract

A terminal is described, having an insulating material housing with a conductor introduction channel, a busbar in the insulating material housing, and a clamping spring. The clamping spring has a bearing leg bearing on the busbar, a spring bow connected to the bearing leg, a clamping leg connected to the spring bow, the clamping leg having a clamping edge which, together with the busbar, forms a clamping point for clamping an electrical conductor, and a pull tab projecting from the clamping leg. Furthermore, the terminal has an operating lever which is pivotably mounted in the insulating material housing, wherein the operating lever has a catch projection and is configured for engaging the pull tab by means of the catch projection and for displacing the pull tab when the operating lever is pivoted in order to open and close the clamping point.

Description

[0001] The present application is a divisional application of the patent application for invention with application number 201980021475.X, filed on March 28, 2019, and titled "Terminal". TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present application relates to a terminal having an insulating material housing with a conductor lead introduction channel, a busbar in the insulating material housing, and a clamping spring, the clamping spring having a support leg supported on the busbar, a spring bow connected to the support leg, a clamping leg connected to the spring bow, the clamping leg having a clamping edge which, together with the busbar, forms a clamping point for clamping an electrical conductor, and a pull tab protruding from the clamping leg, and an operating lever pivotably supported in the insulating material housing, wherein the operating lever has a drive lug and is configured for engaging the pull tab with the drive lug and for displacing the pull tab when the operating lever is pivoted in order to open and close the clamping point. BACKGROUND

[0003] Such terminals are used, for example, in the form of terminal blocks, circuit board terminals, box terminals, etc., in order to clamp electrical conductors and to electrically connect them to a busbar and to circuit components which are electrically connected to the busbar.

[0004] In particular in order to remove an electrical conductor which is clamped by means of the clamping edge on the busbar, the clamping point has to be opened by displacing the clamping leg. For this purpose, a lever-operable terminal is known, which has an operating element which is pivotably mounted in the insulating material housing.

[0005] DE 10 2011 110 640 A1 discloses such a terminal having an insulating material housing, a spring clamping connection with a clamping spring and a busbar, and an operating lever which is pivotably supported in a lever support contour of the insulating material housing about a pivot axis by means of a pivot bearing. The clamping spring is connected to the operating lever by means of an operating leg which protrudes from the clamping leg towards the operating lever. For this purpose, a curved end of the operating leg is suspended into an operating section which is located between the pivot axis and a lever arm section which protrudes from the insulating material housing.

[0006] DE 10 2014 114 026 A1 shows a terminal having an insulating material housing, a contact insert provided therein having a contact piece and a clamping spring, and an operating lever pivotably supported in the insulating material housing for operating the clamping spring. The operating lever has a pull arm which engages from behind a carrier element of the clamping spring. The carrier face of the pull arm extends substantially radially with respect to the support pin, wherein the support of the clamping spring on the pull arm remains approximately constant during the pivoting movement of the operating lever. SUMMARY

[0007] On the basis thereof, it is the object of the present application to provide an improved terminal which, with a compact, short construction of the terminal, ensures a good and reliable lever guidance with improved force action.

[0008] The object is achieved by a terminal according to the application. Advantageous embodiments are described in the following.

[0009] It is proposed that the operating face which, in the engaged state, is in contact with the pull tab extends in a concentric section about the centre of rotation of the operating lever. The distance of the operating face of the carrier projection from the centre of rotation increases over the length of the carrier projection towards the free end of the carrier projection. That is to say, the operating face extends in a helical section towards the centre of rotation. By means of this arcuate, rotation centre-oriented operating face, it is achieved that, if the operating lever is pivoted from the closed position into the open position for opening the clamping point, the section of the pull tab which is supported on the operating face slides along the carrier projection and is guided here towards the centre of rotation. The centre of rotation is predetermined, for example, by a rotation axis which is present structurally or virtually of the operating lever.

[0010] The pull tab can have an engagement opening for accommodating the carrier projection. The engagement opening can be delimited by a transverse web having a support tab which projects transversely from the plane of the pull tab and at least one lateral web. The carrier projection of the operating lever is then formed and oriented such that, when the operating lever is pivoted into the open position, the operating face of the carrier projection engages the support tab from below. The support tab is then supported on the operating face and displaced together with the transverse web towards the rotation axis, such that the distance of the support tab from the rotation axis is reduced by pivoting the operating lever from the parked position to the open position.

[0011] The bearing surface can have a curved, in particular convex, bearing surface for the carrier projection. This has the advantage that the friction between the carrier projection and the bearing web is thus reduced, and the penetration of the carrier projection is reduced with a reduced risk of tilting when penetrating the engagement opening.

[0012] The bearing of the carrier projection on the pull web can be located in the region of a line between the center of rotation of the operating lever and the clamping edge of the clamping leg. The bearing does not necessarily have to lie exactly on the line here. The bearing can be arranged next to the line within a tolerance range of a few millimeters. By orienting the bearing to the line, self-locking during opening and closing is prevented. By this kinematics, the deflection of the pull web perpendicular to the extension direction of the pull web of the clamping spring is also reduced as far as possible. During the pivoting movement of the operating lever from the closed position into the open position, the reduction of the distance between the center of rotation and the operating surface of the carrier projection leads to a reduction of the lever arm acting between the center of rotation and the carrier surface, so that the increasing spring force with increasing deflection of the clamping spring can be compensated. The operating force required for the operator thus remains essentially constant or only slightly increases during the pivoting movement. With a corresponding design of the geometric proportions, the operating force can also be reduced during the pivoting movement of the operating lever from the closed position into the open position.

[0013] The housing of the insulating material can have a latching contour with a latching recess, and the operating lever can have a stop edge. In the open position in which the clamping site of the operating lever is opened, the stop edge penetrates into the latching recess and forms a stop which holds the operating lever in the open position. The operating lever is thus pulled into the locked position in the open position by the spring force of the clamping spring which automatically holds the clamping edge in the open position. In order to close the clamping site, the stop must then be overcome by displacing the operating lever.

[0014] The insulating-material housing can have a part-circular rotary bearing profile. The rotary center of the operating lever can then be rotatably supported in the curved rotary bearing profile of the insulating-material housing when the operating lever is pivoted between the parked position and the open position. The operating lever is then movably supported in the part-circular rotary bearing profile by the tension of the clamping spring in the open position. The operating lever is thus rotatably supported about the intended or structurally present rotary axis when pivoted from the closed position into the open position. In the open position, however, a radial linear displacement relative to the rotary axis is possible. By means of the tension of the clamping spring acting on the operating lever, the rotary center of the operating lever can be radially led out of the part-circular rotary bearing profile relative to the rotary axis in order thus to be able to achieve the displacement of the stop profile into the latching recess. The operating lever is then held in this locked open position by the tension of the clamping spring, which is applied to the operating lever via the pull tab.

[0015] To this end, the operating lever can have at least one rotary pin, which extends into a long hole of the insulating-material housing forming the rotary bearing profile. It is also conceivable, however, that the operating lever has at least one long hole into which a rotary pin of the insulating-material housing forming the rotary bearing profile extends.

[0016] However, the operating lever can also be floatingly supported in the insulating-material housing with its rotary center without a structurally intended, protruding rotary axis. The part-circular bearing profile can here be formed by a curved end face of the operating lever, which is supported in a correspondingly configured curved guide face of the insulating-material housing.

[0017] The operating lever can have a guide wall, which is spaced apart from the carrier projection by an intermediate space. The tab of the insulating-material housing is then arranged in the intermediate space between the carrier projection and the guide wall. By means of such a guide wall, the support stability of the operating lever is improved, in particular to prevent tilting, which can be configured laterally on the operating lever as at least sectionally, segmentally circular guide disc, for example. Furthermore, an increase in the air gap and the creepage distance between the electrically conductive part of the terminal and the outer surface of the insulating-material housing is thus achieved in a structurally simple and space-saving manner.

[0018] In the sense of the present application the indefinite article "a" is to be understood as such, but not as a numeral. Thus, the terminal can also have a plurality of busbars and a plurality of clamping springs for clamping a plurality of electrical conductors and more than one operating lever. It is also conceivable to combine different wire connection technologies, for example to combine spring force clamping connections with clamping springs in one part of the busbar with IDC connections (Schneid-Klemm-Anschluss) in another part of the busbar. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0019] The application is explained below in detail with the aid of the drawings. The drawings show:

[0020] Figure 1 a side sectional view of a terminal in a parked position with a partial section;

[0021] Figure 2 a side sectional view of a terminal in an open position Figure 1 in a terminal in an open position

[0022] Figure 3 a top view of a terminal block with a plurality of side-by-side arranged terminals without and with operating levers in different positions;

[0023] Figure 4 a side view of the operating lever. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] Figure 1 A side sectional view of a terminal 1 is shown in a partial section. The terminal 1 has an insulating material housing 2 into which a conductor lead-in channel 3 leads. A busbar 4 is accommodated in the insulating material housing 2. In the shown embodiment, the busbar 4 has a material passage with a conductor insertion opening 5 which is delimited by a flange 6. The flange 6 projects transversely to the plane of the busbar 4 which unfolds the plane in the region of the conductor insertion opening 5. The flange 6 also has a contact face 7 which does not project transversely to the plane like the adjoining flange wall, but is arranged at an angle to the plane.

[0025] A clamping spring 8 is suspended into the conductor insertion opening 5. The clamping spring 8 has a support leg 9, the free end of which projects into the conductor insertion opening 5 and bears on the busbar 4. The free end can have an S-shaped bend in order to orient the position of the clamping spring 8. A spring bow 10 is connected to the support leg 9. The spring bow 10 can then be guided about a bearing pin 11 of the insulating material housing 2, by means of which an undesired tilting of the clamping spring 8 is prevented. A clamping leg 12 is connected to the spring bow 10, the free end of which projects into the conductor insertion opening 5. In the embodiment shown, the free end of the clamping leg 12 has a bend 14, so that the free end of the clamping leg 12 does not run approximately parallel to the support leg 9, but rather points obliquely away from the direction of extension of the support leg 9. A pull tab 13 is formed integrally with the clamping leg 12. The pull tab is cut out of the clamping leg 12 and is bent from the clamping leg 12 in the region of the bend 14 towards the support leg 9. This results in the fact that the width of the free end of the clamping leg 12 is smaller than the width of the section of the clamping leg 12 which is connected to the spring bow 10, since a part of the material of the clamping leg 12 is used to form the pull tab 13. The pull tab 13 can be formed from the material on one lateral edge of the clamping leg 12. However, it is also advantageous if the pull tab 13 projects from this side on both sides of the clamping leg 12 which are opposite one another and is formed by two tabs which converge together at their free ends by means of a transverse tab 15. As shown, a bearing tab 16 can be provided on the transverse tab 15, which projects transversely from the plane of the pull tab 13 and has a curved bearing face 22, as shown. The transverse tab 15 is also curved out of the plane of the pull tab 13 in order to form a U-shaped cross section together with the bearing tab 16.

[0026] It can be seen that the free end of the clamping leg 12 has a clamping edge 17 which, in the shown unoperated position, lies on the contact face 7 without an inserted electrical conductor. In this position, the clamping site for clamping an electrical conductor which is formed by the clamping edge 17 and the contact face 7 is closed. A rigid or sufficiently firm multi-stranded electrical conductor can be inserted through the conductor introduction channel 3. The electrical conductor then reaches onto the free end of the clamping leg 12 and displaces the free end towards the support leg 9, so that the electrical conductor is guided along between the clamping edge 17 and the contact face 7 of the flange 6. It is thus possible to insert and clamp such an electrical conductor without previously opening the clamping site by operating the clamping spring 8.

[0027] In the case of flexible electrical conductors, the strand will be deformed when attempting to insert the electrical conductor directly. Therefore, the clamping site must be opened before clamping such electrical conductors. The electrical conductors are clamped by means of the clamping force of the clamping spring 8 by means of the clamping edge 17, which grips on the electrical conductor. Therefore, the electrical conductors cannot simply be pulled out of the clamping site. In order to release the electrical conductors, in particular flexible electrical conductors, the clamping spring 8 must be opened.

[0028] To this end, the terminal 1 has an operating lever 18 which is pivotably supported in the housing 2 of insulating material. The operating lever 18 has an operating arm 19 which projects from the housing 2 of insulating material and which merges into a main body 20. The main body 20 has a carrying lug 21 on the side opposite the operating arm 19. In the closed position shown, the carrying lug 21 does not engage the pull tab 13. Rather, its free end is spaced apart from the pull tab 13 and the transverse web 15 of the pull tab 13.

[0029] It is also clear that the operating lever 18 has a centre of rotation D which, in the embodiment shown, is formed as a rotation pin with a defined axis of rotation. However, it is also conceivable for the operating lever 18 to be floatingly supported with a mobile centre of rotation D.

[0030] It is also conceivable for the curved bearing face of the bearing plate 16 to rest on the transverse web 15 in the region of the line between the centre of rotation D, in particular the axis centre point of the axis of rotation, and the clamping edge 17.

[0031] If the operating lever 18 is now pivoted clockwise about the centre of rotation D by holding the operating arm 19, the free end of the carrying lug 21 moves towards the pull tab 13. The carrying lug 21 then slides past at least one lateral web of the pull tab 13 from below and engages the bearing plate 16 from below. The bearing plate 16 then slides on the curved operating face 23 which extends in concentric sections about the centre of rotation D of the operating lever 18 over the length of the carrying lug 21. It is clear that the curved operating face 23 here has a helical stretch, wherein the distance of the operating face 23 of the carrying lug 21 from the centre of rotation D, in particular from the centre point of the centre of rotation D, increases over the length of the carrying lug 21 from the transition of the carrying lug 21 to the main body 20 towards the free end of the carrying lug 21. If the bearing plate 16 of the pull tab 13, which bears on the operating face 23, slides on the operating face 23 when the operating lever 18 is pivoted clockwise, the helical section of the operating face 23 about the centre of rotation D reduces the distance of the bearing plate 16 from the centre of rotation D.

[0032] This is shown in the open position in Figure 2.Figure 2 As can be seen, it is shown in the open position. Figure 1 Terminal 1 in the middle. Here, the curved support surface 22 of the support plate 16 is also in the area of ​​the line connecting the rotation center D and the clamping edge 17. It is clear that the clamping edge 17 now moves away from the contact surface 7, thereby opening the clamping portion in the outlet of the wire introduction channel 3. The clamping leg 12 here moves toward the support leg 9. In this state, the spring force of the pre-tightened clamping spring 8 now applies a pulling force to the pull plate 13, which acts on the drive arm 23 via the support surface 22 of the support plate 16. The operating lever 18 here is pulled downward toward the busbar 4. It is identifiable that the rotating pin forming the rotation center D is supported in the elongated hole 24 of the insulating material housing 2. Therefore, the operating lever 18 can be pulled upward again. In the open position shown, the operating lever 18 is locked to the insulating material housing 2 in such a way that the stop edge 25 of the operating lever 18 extends into the locking recess 26 of the insulating material housing 2. Therefore, even when the clamping spring 8 applies a pulling force to the operating lever 18, the operating lever 18 remains locked in the open position, whereby the pulling force would cause the operating lever 18 to spring back. Figure 1 In the parking position. By pulling the operating lever 18 upward in the elongated hole 24, the stop edge 15 can be lifted from the locking recess 26 so that the operating lever 18 can then be pivoted counterclockwise back to the parking position. Alternatively, when the torque exceeds the torque required to keep the stop edge 25 of the operating lever 18 locked in the locking recess 26, the counterclockwise pivoting of the operating lever causes overpressure on the locking part, thereby causing the operating lever 18 to move upward, wherein the locking pin at the rotation center D still moves upward in the elongated hole 24.

[0033] Figure 3 A top view of junction box 27 is shown, which has a plurality of terminals 1 of the type described above arranged side by side with their sides adjacent to each other. Here, the operating lever 18 is in different positions. The operating lever 18 of the lower terminal 1 is in the position corresponding to... Figure 1 In the closed position. It can be identified here that the operating lever 18 has a test opening 28 on the lever arm 19, which leads to a test channel 29 guiding toward the spring bow 10. Thus, a test tool can be guided through the test opening 28 into the test channel 29 to measure the potential applied to the clamping spring 8.

[0034] from Figure 1 As can also be seen in the cross-sectional view, this orientation aligns the test opening 28 with the test channel 29 in the closed position.

[0035] If the operating lever 18 is then pivoted upward away from the insulating material housing 2, the driving lug 21 engages the support web 16 of the pull web 13 from below when the operating position is reached. This operating position is reached in the position as shown in the second terminal 1 from below.

[0036] In the case of the second terminal 1 from above, the operating lever 18 is now displaced about the operating travel from the operating position into the open position. It is now clear that the protrusion of the driving lug 21 beyond the rest of the crosspiece 15 extends freely toward the test channel 29 and the conductor lead-in channel 3.

[0037] It can be seen that the operating lever 18 has a guide wall 30 which is spaced apart from the driving lug 21 by an intermediate space. It is clear that a crosspiece 31 of the insulating material housing 2 is arranged in the intermediate space between the guide wall 30 and the driving lug 21. The anti-tilt of the orientation of the operating lever 18 in the insulating material housing 2 is thus improved, and the air and creepage distances are increased.

[0038] The uppermost terminal 1 of the terminal block 27 is drawn without the operating lever 18 inserted. It can be seen here that the crosspiece 31 projects into the free space of the insulating material housing 2 which is provided for the driving lug 21 and the guide wall 30.

[0039] Figure 4 A side view of the operating lever 18 is shown. It can be seen that the driving lug 21 extends from the main body 20 in a curved, tapering stretch toward the free end. It is clear that the operating face 23 of the driving lug 21 is oriented transversely to the radius of the center of rotation D and thus concentrically to the center of rotation D. The operating face 23 here realizes a decreasing spacing from the center of rotation D toward the transition into the main body 20 which is helical with respect to the center of rotation D.

[0040] It is clear that the partially circular, disc-shaped guide wall 30 projects from the main body 20 spaced apart from the driving lug 21 by partially overlapping the driving lug 21. Here, there is an intermediate space between the driving lug 21 and the guide wall 30 as can be seen in Figure 3 .

[0041] It can also be seen that the free end of the driving lug 21 is rounded so as to thus easily penetrate into the pull web 13.

[0042] List of reference signs:

[0043] 1 terminal

[0044] 2 insulating material housing

[0045] 3 conductor introduction channel

[0046] 4 busbar

[0047] 5 conductor insertion opening

[0048] 6 flange

[0049] 7 contact surface

[0050] 8 clamping spring

[0051] 9 support leg

[0052] 10 spring bow

[0053] 11 support pin

[0054] 12 clamping leg

[0055] 13 pull tab

[0056] 14 bend

[0057] 15 crosspiece

[0058] 16 support tab

[0059] 17 clamping edge

[0060] 18 operating lever

[0061] 19 operating arm

[0062] 20 main body

[0063] 21 carrying protrusion

[0064] 23 operating surface

[0065] 24 slot

[0066] 25 stop edge

[0067] 26 latching recess

[0068] 27 terminal block

[0069] 28 test opening

[0070] 29 test channel

[0071] 30 guide wall

[0072] 31 tab

[0073] D center of rotation

Claims

1. A terminal block (1) comprising: an insulating material housing (2) having a wire introduction channel (3); a busbar (4) in the insulating material housing (2); a clamping spring (8); and an operating lever (18), the clamping spring having: a support leg (9) supported on the busbar (4); a spring bow (10) connected to the support leg (9); and a clamping leg (12) connected to the spring bow (10), the clamping leg having a clamping edge (17), the clamping edge... Together with the busbar (4), a clamping portion is formed for clamping electrical conductors; and a pull plate (13) extends from the clamping leg (12), the operating lever (18) being pivotally supported in the insulating housing (2), wherein the operating lever (18) has a carrying protrusion (21) and is configured to engage the pull plate (13) by means of the carrying protrusion (21) and to displace the pull plate (13) when the operating lever (18) is pivoted, so as to open and close the clamping portion. Its features are, The operating lever (18) has a guide wall (30) spaced apart from the carrying protrusion (21) by an intermediate space, wherein the tab (31) of the insulating material housing (2) is disposed in the intermediate space in the installed state, the insulating material housing (2) has a rotational support profile that is at least partially circular, and the rotation center (D) of the operating lever (18) is rotatably supported in the curved rotational support profile of the insulating material housing (2) when the operating lever (18) pivots between the closed position and the open position.

2. A terminal block (1) comprising: an insulating material housing (2); a busbar (4) within the insulating material housing (2); a clamping spring (8); and an operating lever (18), the clamping spring having: a support leg (9) supported on the busbar (4); a spring bow (10) connected to the support leg (9); and a clamping leg (12) connected to the spring bow (10), the clamping leg having a clamping edge (17) forming a clamp together with the busbar (4). The clamping mechanism includes a clamping section for clamping electrical conductors; and a pull plate (13) extending from the clamping leg (12). The operating lever (18) is pivotally supported in the insulating housing (2) about a rotation center (D), wherein the operating lever (18) has a carrying protrusion (21) and is configured to engage the pull plate (13) by means of the carrying protrusion (21) and to displace the pull plate (13) when the operating lever (18) pivots, so as to open and close the clamping section. Its features are, The carrying protrusion (21) has an operating surface (23) that contacts the pulling plate (13) when engaged. The operating surface (23) is oriented concentrically with the rotation center (D) in a radius transverse to the rotation center (D), such that the operating surface (23) achieves a distance from the rotation center (D) that decreases spirally from the free end of the carrying protrusion (21) toward the transition portion in the body (20) of the operating lever (18) relative to the rotation center (D).

3. The terminal block (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The insulating material housing (2) has a locking profile with a locking recess (26), and the operating lever (18) has a stop edge (25), wherein in the open position of the operating lever (18), the stop edge (25) extends into the locking recess (26) and forms a stop, which holds the operating lever (18) in the open position.

4. The terminal block (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, In the open position of the operating lever (18), the rotation center (D) of the operating lever is movably supported in the rotational support profile of a partially circular shape of the insulating material housing (2) by the tension of the clamping spring (8).

5. The terminal block (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The operating lever (18) has at least one rotating pin that extends into an elongated hole (24) in the rotating support profile of the insulating material housing (2).

6. The terminal block (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The operating lever (18) has at least one elongated hole into which the rotating pin of the rotating support profile of the insulating material housing (2) extends.

7. The terminal block (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The operating lever (18) is floatingly supported in the insulating material housing (2) by means of its rotation center (D).

8. The terminal block (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The operating surface (23) that contacts the carrying protrusion (21) and the pulling plate (13) when they are engaged extends from the concentric section of the carrying protrusion (21) around the rotation center (D).

9. The terminal block (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that, The carrying protrusion (21) extends from the body (20) of the operating lever (18) in a curved, tapered extension toward the free end of the carrying protrusion (21).

10. The terminal block (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that, The distance between the spiral operating surface (23) and the rotation center (D) increases along the length of the carrying protrusion (21) toward the free end of the carrying protrusion (21).

11. The terminal block (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The traction plate (13) and the clamping leg (12) are integrally formed.

12. The terminal block (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that, The width of the free end of the clamping leg (12) is less than the width of the section of the clamping leg (12) connected to the spring bow (10), such that a portion of the material of the clamping leg (12) is used to form the tension plate (13).

13. The terminal block (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that, The tension plate (13) is formed of material on one side edge of the clamping leg (12).

14. The terminal block (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that, The traction plate (13) is formed by two tabs extending from two opposing sides of the clamping leg (12), which converge at their free ends by a transverse tab (15).

15. The terminal block (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that, The pull plate (13) is cut out from the clamping leg (12) and bends from the clamping leg (12) toward the support leg (9) in the region of the bend (14) of the clamping leg (12).

16. The terminal block (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that, The pull plate (13) has an engagement opening for receiving the carrying protrusion (21), wherein the engagement opening is limited by a transverse tab (15) and at least one lateral tab, the transverse tab having a support tab (16) extending transversely from the plane of the pull plate (13).

17. The terminal block (1) according to claim 16, characterized in that, The support plate (16) has a curved support surface (22) for carrying the protrusion (21).

Images