Connection terminal module and connection terminal arrangement formed thereby

Abstract

The invention relates to a connection terminal module for constructing a connection terminal arrangement, which consists of a plurality of such connection terminal modules arranged next to one another in the arrangement direction, said connection terminal modules comprising at least one first, one second and one third connection terminal which are electrically separated from one another and are used for connecting electrical conductors. The first connection terminal is a single terminal or a double terminal for connecting one wire or two wires. The second connection terminal and the third connection terminal are double terminals for connecting two wires, respectively. The first connection terminal, the second connection terminal and the third connection terminal are arranged side by side in a stacking direction extending transversely to the arrangement direction, and the first connection terminal and the third connection terminal are each provided with a contact point. The connection terminal modules are used for electrically connecting the corresponding connection terminals with the corresponding connection terminals of the adjacent connection terminal modules in the arrangement direction in the assembly state of the connection terminal device according to the regulations.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a connecting terminal module and a connecting terminal device formed by a plurality of such modules. Background Art

[0002] For a long time, for example, DE 44 02 002 A1 has known a connecting terminal module for constructing a connecting terminal device, which is composed of a plurality of such connecting terminal modules arranged side by side in an arrangement direction. The connecting terminal module is usually used to connect a plurality of components in parallel in a simple manner, which components are simply consumers in electrical terms, regardless of their functions. For this purpose, DE 44 02 002 A1 proposes a connecting terminal module, in which a plurality of single terminals for connecting wires, which are electrically isolated from each other, are arranged side by side, wherein each single terminal can be connected to a corresponding single terminal of an adjacent connecting terminal module via a lateral contact portion.

[0003] It should be noted here that the term "conductor" is understood here to mean all types of metal wires and strands for electrically connecting different components. The term "single terminal" is understood here to mean a connecting element that is provided with a receptacle for connecting a single conductor, wherein of course a plurality of conductors, for example twisted together, can also be introduced into such a single terminal, although in reality the terminal is not provided for this purpose. In addition, the single terminal has at least one contact point, for example a lateral contact as shown in the aforementioned DE 44 02 002 A1, in order to electrically connect the conductor to another component of the circuit.

[0004] The term "double terminal" is understood here to mean a connecting element which has two receptacles for each conductor, wherein the two receptacles are typically electrically connected to one another via a conductor track, so that the conductors introduced into the receptacles are also electrically connected to one another. Of course, it is also possible here to insert a plurality of conductors, which are twisted together, for example, into the receptacles, but this does not correspond to the intended use, since a connecting terminal of the type involved here should precisely enable particularly fast and simple wiring of different conductors, wherein it is clear to a person skilled in the art which conductors are connected to one another.

[0005] For example, double terminals are known from DE 10 2020 120 151 A1 and DE 10 2014 119 421 A1. DE 10 2020 120 151 A1 shows a double terminal with a so-called "non-openable" clamping spring, into which the wire is simply inserted and then securely held in the connecting terminal without any further aids, and DE 10 2014 119 421 A1 shows a double terminal with two clamping springs that can be opened by lever actuation, so that the wire introduced into the terminal can be easily removed again by actuating the corresponding lever.

[0006] Furthermore, it should be noted that when “electrically isolated terminals” are mentioned here, it means that a plurality of such terminals are insulated from one another unless they are connected to one another via wires. Correspondingly, “electrically connected” means that an electrically conductive connection is established.

[0007] Although the connection terminals and connection terminal modules known from the above-mentioned documents have proven to be completely advantageous for their respective purposes of use in practice, there are installation situations that cannot yet be solved optimally with the known connection modules. Thus, for example, when constructing a specific control circuit, for example, when constructing a circuit for regulating floor heating, there is a desire to connect different thermostats supplied via a common current supply device to the servomotors of the corresponding valves in a very compact, but still clear and quickly operable manner, wherein the thermostat and servomotor are grounded together, but the servomotor is supplied with current via a single thermostat. Although such wiring can be constructed by corresponding double terminals, it typically results in a very unclear cable tangle, in which the association of which thermostat is connected to which servomotor cannot be easily identified. In addition, the construction of such a circuit with many single double terminals requires assembly time, which leads to increased costs. Similar problems also exist in other circuit purposes, especially in the field of building installations, for example in the construction of ventilation facilities. Summary of the invention

[0008] The object on which the present invention is based is to provide an improved connecting terminal module and a connecting terminal device formed by the connecting terminal module, which can realize, for example, the following circuit in a particularly simple and fast manner, in which different components are connected in parallel and are jointly supplied with current, while each component controls different other components and all components are jointly grounded, so that a particularly compact but at the same time clear connection is obtained.

[0009] The object is achieved by a connecting terminal module having the features of the invention or a connecting terminal device having the features of the invention. Advantageous embodiments and improvements of the invention are the subject matter of the present application.

[0010] The connecting terminal module according to the present invention is used to construct a connecting terminal device composed of a plurality of such connecting terminal modules arranged side by side in an arrangement direction, comprises at least one first connecting terminal, a second connecting terminal and a third connecting terminal which are electrically isolated from each other and are used to connect electrical wires, wherein the first connecting terminal is a single terminal or a double terminal for connecting one wire or two wires, wherein the second connecting terminal and the third connecting terminal are double terminals for connecting two wires respectively, wherein the first connecting terminal, the second connecting terminal and the third connecting terminal are arranged side by side in a stacking direction extending transversely to the arrangement direction, and wherein the first connecting terminal and the third connecting terminal are respectively provided with contact portions for electrically connecting the corresponding connecting terminals to corresponding connecting terminals of connecting terminal modules adjacent in the arrangement direction in the connecting terminal device in a specified assembled state.

[0011] It should be pointed out here that the term "side by side" refers to the spatial relative relationship of two or more terminal modules and does not mean, for example, purely horizontal side by side from left to right. Depending on the positioning of the terminal device in space, the individual terminal modules of such a terminal device can actually be arranged side by side on the left and right, and the connecting terminals are arranged in the terminal modules one above the other. This is typically the case when the terminal device is arranged on or in the floor of a building. However, the terminal device formed by the terminal modules can also be fastened to a wall, for example, so that the so-called arrangement direction in which the modules are arranged side by side extends horizontally for an observer and the terminal modules form a row of modules arranged side by side on the left and right for an observer, but the so-called stacking direction in which the connecting terminals of the terminal modules are arranged also extends horizontally, so that the connecting terminals are not arranged one above the other for an observer, but are arranged one after another.

[0012] The invention makes it possible to realize a connecting terminal module which can be designed very compactly and with which the circuit purposes mentioned above in the field of building installation can be realized in a simple, rapid and clear manner.

[0013] A particular advantage of the present invention is its “scalability”, i.e., as many connecting terminal modules as required (ultimately limited by the space available in the arrangement direction and the electrical power to be conducted, in particular the current intensity) can be arranged next to each other and electrically coupled to each other in the desired manner, so that large circuits, such as control circuits with a very large number of thermostats and servomotors, can also be advantageously implemented, so that exactly the required number of connecting terminal modules is present, which saves costs and resources.

[0014] The first terminal can be a single terminal. Since, for many circuit purposes, as will be explained further below in conjunction with the description of the exemplary embodiment, only one conductor must be connected to the first connection terminal, the design not only saves material, but also allows the connection terminal module to be constructed more compactly, and the space thus created can be used, for example, to arrange a lever or a pressure piece for opening a clamping spring and / or a connection point for a bridging element or a test element for a test device, such as a voltage measuring device, on the module.

[0015] The second connection terminal can be arranged between the first connection terminal and the third connection terminal. Since the first connection terminal and the third connection terminal are respectively provided with a contact portion for electrically connecting the corresponding connection terminal to a corresponding connection terminal of a connection terminal module adjacent in the arrangement direction in a predetermined assembled state of the connection terminal device, the design allows increasing the spacing between the contact portions of the first connection terminal and the third connection terminal, which is not only advantageous during wiring, but also can lead to a particularly stable design when the contact portion is configured as a side contact as explained below.

[0016] The second connection terminal can be provided with a connection point for a bridging element or a test element. As explained below, in the case of specific circuit purposes, it may be advantageous to also electrically connect and / or test the wires connected to two or more adjacent second connection terminals to see whether current flows through the second connection terminals during operation. In particular, when the first connection terminal is a single terminal, the first connection terminal can be configured so that the first connection terminal is shorter than the second connection terminal in a longitudinal direction extending not only transversely to the stacking direction but also transversely to the arrangement direction. This then advantageously achieves that the connection point for the bridging element or the test contact is arranged in an area of ​​the second connection terminal that is not covered by the first connection terminal in a top view of the connection terminal module along the stacking direction, which ensures a compact design of the module.

[0017] The contact locations can be designed for electrical connection between adjacent first connecting terminals and / or the contact locations can be designed for electrical connection between adjacent third connecting terminals for accommodating a bridge element. The term "bridge" is understood here to mean an electrically conductive element which, for example, can be pressed into a corresponding contact location and then electrically conductively connects connecting terminals of adjacent connecting terminal modules, such as, in particular, a transverse bridge.

[0018] The contact site for electrical connection between adjacent first connection terminals and / or the contact site for electrical connection between adjacent third connection terminals, preferably both contact sites, can have a side contact portion on at least one side of the connection terminal module facing the adjacent connection terminal module in the arrangement direction in the specified assembled state of the connection terminal module. This has various advantages. Therefore, the desired electrical connection of adjacent connection terminals is obtained directly when a plurality of connection terminal modules are arranged side by side, without the need to arrange additional conductive elements for this purpose.

[0019] If side contacts are provided, in another preferred embodiment, a certain connecting terminal module can be configured to be arranged as an "intermediate module" between two other connecting terminal modules in a connecting terminal device, for which the connecting terminal module is provided with side contacts on two sides opposite to each other, while other connecting terminal modules can be configured to act as "terminating modules" in such a connecting terminal device, for which the connecting terminal modules are provided with side contacts only on one side.

[0020] The side contacts can advantageously be designed such that they are at least partially complementary to the side contacts of the adjacent modules in the intended assembly state. To this end, the side contacts can be designed, for example, as so-called knife and fork contacts or button contacts.

[0021] The side contacts can advantageously be designed as dual-function elements for establishing not only an electrical connection between adjacent first connection terminals and an electrical connection between adjacent third connection terminals in a specified mounted state of two connection terminal modules arranged side by side in the arrangement direction, but also a form-fitting and / or force-fitting connection between adjacent connection terminal modules. The connection terminal modules can then be arranged side by side in a simple manner without tools, wherein further connection means, such as latching projections, can optionally be omitted.

[0022] The side contacts can be formed in one piece with the conductor tracks arranged in the corresponding connecting terminals. This advantageously allows to omit separate components and directly provide the conductor tracks with such a shape, for example by stamping, so that the side contacts can be shaped in a simple manner by bending the stamped conductor tracks.

[0023] The connecting terminal module can have means for connecting the connecting terminal module to the carrying rail, in particular latching means.

[0024] Each double terminal can have two wire receiving openings for connecting two wires, which are arranged on opposite sides of the double terminal and into which the electrical wires can be introduced in insertion directions that are substantially parallel to each other. In theory, the wire receiving openings of the double terminal can also be located side by side on the same side, but this design widens the double terminal and also makes the wiring unclear when multiple double terminals are to be equipped with wires.

[0025] If the wire receiving openings are arranged on opposite sides of the double terminal and the first connecting terminal is a single terminal, the single terminal can have a wire receiving opening for connecting the wire, and the wire can be introduced into the wire receiving opening along an introduction direction substantially parallel to the introduction direction. It can be preferably provided that one of the wire receiving openings of the first connecting terminal and the wire receiving openings of each double terminal is arranged on one side of the connecting terminal module, and the other wire receiving opening of each double terminal is arranged on the opposite side of the connecting terminal module. All wires are then uniformly connected to the connecting terminal module only from two mutually opposite sides, so that a wiring diagram that can be easily understood is obtained.

[0026] At least one of the connecting terminals can have at least one clamping spring. Preferably, all connecting terminals contain a clamping spring. Compared to other clamping mechanisms, such as screws, clamping springs allow the wire to be accommodated and held in the corresponding connecting terminal particularly quickly, but still reliably. The clamping spring can advantageously be a spring that is optimally adapted to the respective application taking into account the wire diameter, possible tensile forces, etc. and can be present, for example, as a U-shaped leg spring or cage tension spring. Of course, other connection technologies are also feasible, such as connecting terminals using cutting and clamping technology. Preferably, the double terminals each contain two clamping springs.

[0027] The clamping spring can be a clamping spring that can be opened by means of at least one pressing piece or a lever. At this, at least one operating element, such as a pressing piece or a lever, can be configured to be used to open a plurality of clamping springs simultaneously.

[0028] It can be provided that at least one clamping spring, preferably a plurality of clamping springs, cannot be opened. If, for example, for fixed laying arrangements with rigid single-core conductors or with multi-core conductors, including fixed stranded conductors, conductor classes 1 and 2 according to DIN VDE 0295 are used, the conductors can be connected simply by pushing them into the connecting terminal without additional manipulations, such as actuating a push piece. If flexible conductors with thin-core conductors or highly flexible conductors with the thinnest conductors are used, such as, in particular, the thinnest stranded conductors according to conductor classes 5 and 6 according to DIN VDE 0295, in contrast, clamping springs that can be opened are preferred.

[0029] Usually, wiring is implemented as follows, in which both rigid and flexible conductors are used. Therefore, in another preferred embodiment in which all connecting terminals contain clamping springs, it is proposed that the clamping spring of the first connecting terminal and one clamping spring of each double terminal associated with the corresponding double terminal wire receiving opening on the side (referred to as the front side) where the wire receiving opening of the first connecting terminal of the connecting terminal module is located are clamping springs that cannot be opened, and the clamping spring of each double terminal associated with the wire receiving opening on the opposite side (referred to as the rear side) of the connecting terminal module is a clamping spring that can be opened. It can be proposed that at least one pressing piece or lever is arranged in the area of ​​the second connecting terminal that is not covered by the first connecting terminal.

[0030] The connecting terminals can be arranged in a common housing. Alternatively, in another preferred embodiment, the connecting terminal module is modularly constructed and each connecting terminal is arranged in its own housing, so that the connecting terminal module can be equipped and assembled as required.

[0031] One or more further connecting terminals designed in the same manner as the third connecting terminal can be provided in the stacking direction, which can be necessary for specific circuit purposes when four or more conducting paths are required.

[0032] In the connecting terminal device according to the present invention, a plurality of the connecting terminal modules are arranged side by side along the arrangement direction.

[0033] The connecting terminal device can advantageously include a housing for accommodating the connecting terminal module. The housing can advantageously have additional devices, such as, in particular, a carrier rail for fastening the connecting terminal module in the housing, one or more strain relief devices for strain relief of connected conductors, a marking area for marking the connecting terminal module, and a sealing device for sealing the housing.

[0034] Further details and advantages of the invention result from the following purely exemplary and non-limiting description of an exemplary embodiment in conjunction with the drawing comprising 7 figures.

[0035] Quite generally, in the context of the present application, unless explicitly defined differently, the term "a" is not to be understood as a numeral but rather as an indefinite article with the meaning of "at least one". BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] The present invention allows for various embodiments and is described in detail below by way of example with reference to an exemplary embodiment. The accompanying drawings show:

[0037] Figure 1A schematic side view of a connecting terminal module according to the invention is shown, viewed along the so-called row direction, along which a plurality of the modules shown are arranged next to one another.

[0038] Figure 2 Show according to Figure 1 Partially cut away and very schematic interior view of a connection terminal module.

[0039] Figure 3 Show according to Figure 2 The connection terminal module is along Figure 2 A highly schematic and partially cut-away interior view as viewed in the direction of arrow 72 in FIG.

[0040] Figure 4 Show according to Figure 2 A connecting terminal module having wires introduced into the connecting terminals.

[0041] Figure 5 Show according to Figure 3 A connecting terminal module having wires introduced into the connecting terminals.

[0042] Figure 6 A circuit which can be realized with the aid of the connecting terminal module according to the invention is shown.

[0043] Figure 7 A further circuit which can be realized with the aid of the connecting terminal module according to the invention is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] In the drawings, unless otherwise indicated, components having the same function are always provided with the same reference numerals. For reasons of clarity, it is omitted to provide reference numerals to all components in the drawings in order to avoid overloading the drawings with reference numerals.

[0045] exist Figures 1 to 5 1 shows very schematically a connecting terminal module, which is designated as a whole by 10 , for forming a connecting terminal arrangement consisting of a plurality of such connecting terminal modules 10 , 10 ′, 10 ″.

[0046] In the embodiment, the connection terminal module 10 has a first connection terminal 12, a second connection terminal 14 and a third connection terminal 16. In the embodiment, the connection terminal module 10 has a latching mechanism 18 in the form of a latching protrusion on the side of the connection terminal 16 facing away from the second connection terminal 14, for latching the connection terminal module 10 to a corresponding support rail 20. Such a support rail 20 can be placed directly on a wall or a floor. However, the support rail is preferably in a housing, not further shown here, which is specially designed to accommodate a plurality of connection terminal modules 10 or a connection terminal device formed by the modules, and the housing can advantageously be provided with other additional devices, such as a known strain relief device for stress relief of the connected wires, a marking area for marking the connection terminal module and a sealing device for sealing the housing.

[0047] The connection terminals 12, 14 and 16 are arranged side by side in a stacking direction 22 such that the second connection terminal 14 is located between the first connection terminal 12 and the third connection terminal 16. It is clear to a person skilled in the art that the stacking direction indicated by the arrow 22 is selected for a purely exemplary explanation of the invention, since the connection terminals 12, 14 and 16 can of course also be arranged side by side in the opposite direction, which also includes an arrangement adjacent to one another one above the other, depending on the viewing angle.

[0048] As especially in Figure 2 and Figure 4 As can be clearly seen in the figure, the second connection terminal 14 and the third connection terminal 16 are each double terminals, while in the embodiment, the first connection terminal 12 is designed as a single terminal. This design has many advantages. Therefore, if the first connection terminal 12 is designed to connect a single wire, it is suitable for many applications, such as for combining Figure 6 and Figure 7 On the other hand, the design allows the first connecting terminal 12 to be shorter than the second connecting terminal 14 in a longitudinal direction 26 extending both transversely to the stacking direction 22 and transversely to the arrangement direction 24, so that an area 28 ( Figure 2 ), which is not covered by the first connecting terminal 12, so that a connection point 30 for establishing an electrical contact with a conductor track 32 arranged in the second connecting terminal 14 can be formed there in an easily accessible manner, and a tester, for example a voltage tester for testing the function of a connected consumer, can then be brought into electrical contact with the second connecting terminal 14 via this connection point, and the connection point can also be combined with the connection point. Figure 3 , Figure 5 and Figure 6The arrangement direction is discussed. However, a so-called bridge can also be easily connected via the connection point 30, with which two or more second connection terminals 14, 14', 14" of adjacent connection terminal modules 10 can be electrically connected to each other, which is for example used to realize Figure 7 Since the region 28 is located on the side of the connecting terminal module 10 that is opposite the carrying rail 20, it is advantageously accessible even in the assembled state of the connecting terminal module 10, if necessary after opening the corresponding housing, if the connecting terminal module 10 is arranged in such a housing.

[0049] However, the region 28 also allows that the pressure piece 34 is advantageously arranged next to the connection point 30 so that it can be easily actuated. The illustrated embodiment of the pressure piece 34 is a double-acting pressure piece, which acts not only on the clamping spring 36 of the second connecting terminal 14 but also on the clamping spring 38 of the third connecting terminal 16 so that the clamping springs can be opened for the insertion or removal of a conductor 40 or 42 ( Figure 4 and Figure 5 ). Instead of a double-acting pressure piece 34, i.e., one that opens both clamping springs at the same time, other known mechanisms for opening the clamping springs 36 and 38 can of course also be provided, as long as an openable clamping spring is particularly required, which depends primarily on the type of wire used. If the wire is a stranded wire, an openable clamping spring is advantageous. On the contrary, if the electrical wire is a relatively rigid metal wire, a clamping spring that cannot be opened can be used. It is clear to a person skilled in the art that other known mechanisms for connecting the wire to the connecting terminal can of course also be used instead of the clamping spring, but the clamping spring has been particularly proven to be suitable because it enables a quick and tool-free connection of the wire. Correspondingly, in the illustrated embodiment, all connecting terminals 12, 14 and 16 are provided with clamping springs. In particular, the second connecting terminal 14 has a second clamping spring 44, and the third connecting terminal 16 has a second clamping spring 46. The first connecting terminal 12 has a clamping spring 48. All clamping springs 44 , 46 , 48 interact with the corresponding conductor track 32 , 50 or 52 in the respective connection terminal and ensure that a conductor introduced into the respective connection terminal 12 , 14 , 16 is pressed against the respective conductor track 32 , 50 or 52 , so that good electrical contact is established.

[0050] In the exemplary embodiment shown, it is advantageously provided that the electrical lines 40, 42, 54, 56 and 58 ( Figure 4) can be inserted into the connection terminal module 10 from the sides opposite to each other, i.e. from the front side F and the rear side R. For this purpose, the second connection terminal 14 and the third connection terminal 16 respectively have two wire receiving openings 60, 62, 64 and 66, and the first connection terminal 12 has a wire receiving opening 68, through which the electrical wires 40, 42, 54, 56 and 58 can be introduced into the corresponding connection terminal along the introduction directions 72, 74 that are substantially parallel to each other. The introduced electrical wires 40, 42, 54, 56 and 58 also extend substantially parallel to each other in the connected state, wherein as Figure 4 As shown, the electrical lines can of course also be tilted to a certain extent, depending on the thickness of the lines 40, 42, 54, 56 and 58. However, a neat and clearly associable cable pattern is ensured, and in particular the cables of consumers, such as thermostats or servomotors, to be connected on one side of the connection terminal module do not have to be shortened to different lengths in order to guide them to different sides of the connection module 10.

[0051] In the illustrated embodiment, clamping springs 44 , 46 and 48 are designed as non-openable clamping springs, i.e., conductors 40 , 42 , 54 , 56 and 58 are simply inserted into said clamping springs and then held by spring force, whereas clamping springs 36 and 38 are openable clamping springs as described above.

[0052] The contact locations of the first connection terminal 12 or the third connection terminal 16, which are implemented as side contacts 76 and 78, are provided for electrically connecting the corresponding connection terminal to a corresponding connection terminal of a connection terminal module that is adjacent in the arrangement direction 24 in the connection terminal device in the specified assembled state. The contact locations can be designed in the same manner as the contact locations 30, i.e., they are provided for accommodating corresponding bridges. However, if Figure 3 and Figure 5 As can be clearly seen in FIG. 1 , the contact locations are preferably configured as side contacts 76 , 78 , so that when the connection modules are arranged next to each other, an electrical connection is automatically established between adjacent first connection terminals 12 and an electrical connection is automatically established between adjacent third connection terminals 16 .

[0053] In the illustrated embodiment, the side contacts 76 and 78 are designed so that they are at least partially complementary to the side contacts of the adjacent modules in the specified assembled state, for which purpose they are designed here as so-called knife and fork contacts ( Figure 3 and Figure 5 ).although Figure 3 and Figure 5The same connection terminal module 10 is shown in different states (one without connected wires, one with connected wires), but the figure also allows the functioning of the side contacts 76, 78 to be recognized. Figure 5 The connecting terminal module 10 shown in FIG. Figure 3 The connecting terminal module shown in FIG. 2 is adjacent to the module, and the connecting terminal module can be inserted into the module along the arrangement direction 24. Figure 3 , and the knife sections 76A and 78A are then moved into the fork sections 76B or 78B. Other suitable side contacts, such as button contacts, may also be provided instead of the knife and fork contacts.

[0054] As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, in particular from Figure 3 and Figure 5 As can be seen in the figure, the side contacts 76, 78 can advantageously be dual-functional elements and not only establish an electrical connection between adjacent first connecting terminals and an electrical connection between adjacent third connecting terminals 16, 16', 16", but also ensure a form-fitting and / or force-fitting connection between adjacent connecting terminal modules 10, 10', 10", so that the connecting terminal modules form a compact unit after being arranged side by side, which unit as a whole can be locked onto a supporting rail 20, for example.

[0055] The connecting terminals 12, 14 and 16 can be designed as modular elements, so that the connecting terminal module 10 shown can be formed by, for example, locking the individual connecting terminals 12, 14 and 16 to each other. However, the connecting terminals can also be arranged in a common housing. The modular design is particularly advantageous when further connecting terminals are to be provided in addition to the three connecting terminals 12, 14, 16 shown.

[0056] exist Figure 6 and Figure 7 2 shows two examples of circuits that can be realized using the connecting terminal modules 10, 10', 10" according to the invention, wherein three connecting terminal modules 10, 10', 10" symbolically represented here by a dashed rectangle are arranged next to each other in the arrangement direction 24. However, as indicated by the symbol […], in practice any number of further connecting terminal modules 10, 10', 10" can be arranged in the arrangement direction, wherein the number of connecting terminal modules is ultimately limited by the available space on the carrier rail 20 in the arrangement direction. If the side contacts 76, 78 and the connecting terminals 12, 14, 16 are dimensioned accordingly, the number of connecting terminal modules 10, 10', 10" that can be arranged next to each other can be relatively large.

[0057] The connecting terminal module 10 can be a terminating module, which is provided with side contacts 76, 78 only on one side, namely the side facing the adjacent connecting terminal module 10', while the connecting terminal module 10' as an intermediate module is provided with side contacts 76, 78 on two sides opposite to each other. If further connecting terminal modules 10 are to be arranged, the connecting terminal module 10" can also be an intermediate module having side contacts on opposite sides, otherwise the connecting terminal module can be designed as a terminating module, wherein the contacts of the terminating module are of course also arranged on the side facing the adjacent connecting terminal module 10'. Since in the connecting terminal modules 10, 10', 10", the first connecting terminal 12 is typically designed as a single terminal as described above, two different terminating modules are required in the design scheme with terminating modules, and the side contacts 76, 78 of the terminating modules are respectively arranged on different sides. However, it is usually not necessary to provide a completely separate terminating module. If it is desired to cover the unoccupied side contacts, this can be done, for example, by means of corresponding electrically insulating plastic covers which are simply mounted on the end face of the connecting terminal arrangement or by means of electrically insulating plastic plugs which are plugged onto the respective side contacts 76 , 78 .

[0058] exist Figure 6 and Figure 7 In the two circuits shown in FIG. 1 , two servomotors St1 and St2 should be controlled, wherein Figure 6 In the example of FIG. 1 , each servomotor St1 and St2 is controlled by only the thermostat Th1 or Th2 associated therewith, while in Figure 7 In the example of the thermostat Th1 controls two servomotors St1 and St2. In this case, the circuit realized by means of the present invention proposes that a supply voltage, the so-called phase L0, is applied to the first connection terminal 12 of the first connection terminal module 10, and the supply voltage then reaches the thermostat Th1 or Th2 via the first connection terminals 12' and 12" of the second or third connection terminal module 10 as phase LTh1 or LTh2 via the side contacts (not shown). Therefore, the first connection terminals 12, 12' and 12" form a continuous conductive path 80 for the supply voltage via the side contacts 76, 78. As can be directly derived from the circuit diagram, this is sufficient here when the first connection terminals 12, 12' and 12" are each single terminals as described above.

[0059] The neutral line N0 is applied to the third connection terminal 16 of the first connection terminal module 10, which is indicated by the corresponding arrow in Figure 6 and Figure 7 From a current-conducting perspective, the current naturally flows via the first connecting terminal 12 into the connecting terminal module 10 and then in a correspondingly closed current loop flows out of the connecting terminal module 10 via the third connecting terminal 16 .

[0060] The third connection terminals 16, 16' and 16" are connected to each other via corresponding side contacts 76, 78 to form a continuous conductive path 82 for the neutral line. The neutral line NTh1 of the thermostat Th1 is connected to the third connection terminal 16' of the second connection terminal module 10', and the neutral line NTh2 of the second thermostat Th2 is connected to the third connection terminal 16" of the third connection terminal module 10". The neutral line NSt1 of the first servomotor St1 is also connected to the third connection terminal 16' of the second connection terminal module 10', and in the same way the neutral line NSt2 of the second servomotor St2 is connected to the third connection terminal 16" of the third connection terminal module 10".

[0061] During operation, the control voltage L'Th1 output by the thermostat Th1 passes as the control voltage LSt1 via the second connection terminal 14' of the second connection terminal module 10' to the servomotor St1. In a similar manner, during operation, the control voltage L'Th2 output by the thermostat Th2 passes as the control voltage LSt2 via the second connection terminal 14" of the second connection terminal module 10" to the servomotor St2. The servomotors St1 and St2 are controlled in a manner known per se via the control voltages.

[0062] exist Figure 7 , how the thermostat Th1 can control the two servomotors St1 and St2. For this purpose, during operation, the control voltage L'Th1 output by the thermostat Th1 is applied not only to the second connection terminal 14' of the second connection terminal module 10' but also to the second connection terminal 14" of the third connection terminal module 10", which can be realized in a simple manner by connecting the corresponding wire from the thermostat Th1 to the second connection terminal 14' of the second connection terminal module 10' and via the second connection terminals 14' and 14", which are not shown here and can be, for example, Figure 2 At a connection point designed as the connection point 30 shown, the connection terminals 14' and 14" of adjacent terminal modules 10' and 10" are connected to one another by means of so-called bridges, i.e. electrically conductive connecting elements that can be simply pressed into the connection point, so that the connection terminals are at the same potential. The output of the thermostat Th1 is thus directed to the two servomotors St1 and St2.

[0063] Many variations and improvements are possible within the scope of the inventive concept, which relate, for example, to the number and design of the connection terminals present in the connection terminal module. For example, the clamping spring shown to be openable by means of a pressure piece can also be a clamping spring that can be opened by means of a lever or cannot be opened at all. In a similar manner, the clamping spring shown to be non-openable can be openable, wherein, for example, a pressure piece or a lever can be provided on the first connection terminal module, which acts synchronously on the clamping springs 44, 46 and 48 similarly to the pressure piece 34 shown.

[0064] Reference numerals list

[0065] 10, 10', 10" terminal blocks

[0066] 12, 12', 12" First connection terminal

[0067] 14, 14', 14" Second connection terminal

[0068] 16, 16', 16" Third connection terminal

[0069] 18 Locking mechanism (locking protrusion)

[0070] 20 Carrying rails

[0071] 22 Stacking direction

[0072] 24 Arrangement direction

[0073] 26 Vertical direction

[0074] 28 Regions

[0075] 30 Connection parts

[0076] 32 Wire Track

[0077] 34 Press piece

[0078] 36 Clamping spring

[0079] 38 Clamping spring

[0080] 40 Wire

[0081] 42 Wire

[0082] 44 Clamping spring

[0083] 46 Clamping spring

[0084] 48 Clamping spring

[0085] 50 Wire Track

[0086] 52 Wire Track

[0087] 54 Wire

[0088] 56 Wire

[0089] 58 Wire

[0090] 60 Wire Receiving Opening

[0091] 62 Wire receiving opening

[0092] 64 Wire Receiving Opening

[0093] 66 Wire receiving opening

[0094] 68 Wire Receiving Opening

[0095] 72 Introduction direction

[0096] 74 Introduction direction

[0097] 76 side contact part

[0098] 76A: Blade portion of the side contact portion 76

[0099] 76B Fork portion of the side contact portion 76

[0100] 78 side contact part

[0101] 78A: Blade portion of side contact portion 78

[0102] 78B Fork portion of the side contact portion 78

[0103] 80 Conductive path for supply voltage

[0104] 82 Conductive path of neutral conductor

[0105] F Front

[0106] L0 Supply voltage ("phase")

[0107] LSt1 Control voltage to the first servo motor

[0108] LSt2 Control voltage to the second servo motor

[0109] LTh1 to the first thermostat

[0110] LTh2 Phase to the second thermostat

[0111] L'Th1 Control voltage output from Th1

[0112] L'Th2 Control voltage output from Th2

[0113] N0 Neutral line

[0114] NSt1 Neutral line of the second servo motor

[0115] NSt2 Neutral line of the second servo motor

[0116] NTh1 Neutral line of the first thermostat

[0117] NTh2 Neutral line of the second thermostat

[0118] R Rear

[0119] St1 1st servo motor

[0120] St2 Second servo motor

[0121] Th1 First thermostat

[0122] Th2 Second thermostat

Claims

1. A connection terminal module (10), wherein a plurality of the connection terminal modules (10, 10', 10") can be arranged side by side along an arrangement direction (24) in an assembled state to form a connection terminal device, the connection terminal module comprising: at least one first, second and third connection terminal (12, 14, 16) electrically isolated from one another for connecting electrical conductors (40, 42, 54, 56, 58), - wherein the first connecting terminal (12) is a single terminal for connecting one wire (40, 42, 54, 56, 58) or a double terminal for connecting two wires (40, 42, 54, 56, 58) respectively, - wherein the second connection terminal and the third connection terminal (14, 16) are double terminals for connecting two wires (40, 42, 54, 56, 58) respectively, - wherein the first, second and third connecting terminals (12, 14, 16) are arranged side by side in a stacking direction (22) extending transversely to the arrangement direction (24), and - wherein the first and third connecting terminals (12, 16) are respectively provided with contact portions (76, 78) for electrically connecting the corresponding connecting terminals (12, 16) to corresponding connecting terminals (12, 16) of connecting terminal modules (10', 10") adjacent in the arrangement direction (24) in an assembled state.

2. The connection terminal module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first connecting terminal (12) is a single terminal.

3. The connection terminal module according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The second connecting terminal (14) is arranged between the first connecting terminal (12) and the third connecting terminal (16).

4. The connecting terminal module according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The second connecting terminal (14) is provided with a connecting portion (30) for a bridging element or a testing element.

5. The connection terminal module according to claim 4, characterized in that: The first connecting terminal (12) is shorter than the second connecting terminal (14) in a longitudinal direction (26) extending both transversely to the stacking direction (22) and transversely to the arrangement direction (24), and the connecting point (30) is arranged in an area (28) of the second connecting terminal (14) that is not covered by the first connecting terminal (12) in a top view of the connecting terminal module (10) along the stacking direction (22).

6. The connecting terminal module according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The contact locations (76) for electrical connection between adjacent first connecting terminals (12) and / or the contact locations (78) for electrical connection between adjacent third connecting terminals (16) are designed to accommodate a bridge.

7. The connecting terminal module (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: A contact portion for electrical connection between adjacent first connecting terminals (12) and / or a contact portion for electrical connection between adjacent third connecting terminals (16) is a side contact portion (76, 78) on at least one side of a connecting terminal module (10') adjacent in the arrangement direction (24) in an assembled state.

8. The connection terminal module (10') according to claim 7, characterized in that: The connecting terminal module is designed to be arranged as an intermediate module in a connecting terminal arrangement between two further connecting terminal modules (10, 10") and is provided with side contacts (76, 78) on two mutually opposite sides.

9. The connection terminal module (10) according to claim 7, characterized in that: The connecting terminal module is designed to be arranged as a terminating module (10) in a connecting terminal arrangement and is provided with side contacts (76, 78) only on one side.

10. The connecting terminal module (10) according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that: The side contacts (76, 78) are designed such that they are at least partially complementary to side contacts (76, 78) of adjacent connecting terminal modules (10', 10") in the assembled state and are preferably designed as knife-and-fork contacts or pressure-bend contacts.

11. The connecting terminal module (10) according to any one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that: The side contact portions (76, 78) are configured as dual-function elements for establishing not only an electrical connection between adjacent first connection terminals (12) and an electrical connection between adjacent third connection terminals (16) when two connection terminal modules (10, 10', 10") are arranged side by side along the arrangement direction (24) in an assembled state, but also a form-fitting and / or force-fitting connection between adjacent connection terminal modules (10, 10', 10").

12. The connecting terminal module (10) according to any one of claims 7 to 11, characterized in that: The side contacts (76, 78) are each formed integrally with a conductor track (50, 52) provided in the respective connecting terminal (12, 16).

13. The connecting terminal module (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that: The connecting terminal module (10) is provided with a mechanism, in particular a locking mechanism (18), for connecting the connecting terminal module (10) to a supporting rail.

14. The connecting terminal module (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that: Each double terminal (14, 16) has two wire receiving openings (60, 62, 64, 66, 68) arranged on opposite sides of the double terminal (14, 16) for connecting two wires (40, 42, 54, 56, 58), wherein a wire (40, 42, 54, 56, 58) can be introduced into the wire receiving openings (60, 62, 64, 66, 68) on each side of the double terminal (14, 16) and the wires (40, 42, 54, 56, 58) can be introduced along introduction directions (72, 74) that are substantially parallel to each other.

15. The connection terminal module (10) according to claim 14, wherein the first connection terminal (12) is a single terminal, characterized in that: The single terminal has a wire receiving opening (60, 62, 64, 66, 68) for connecting wires, and the wires can be introduced into the wire receiving opening along an introduction direction substantially parallel to the introduction direction (74).

16. The connection terminal module (10) according to claim 15, characterized in that: One of the wire receiving openings (60, 62, 64, 66, 68) of the first connecting terminal (12) and the wire receiving openings (60, 62, 64, 66, 68) of each double terminal is arranged on one side of the connecting terminal module (10), and the other wire receiving openings (60, 62, 64, 66, 68) of each double terminal is arranged on an opposite side of the connecting terminal module (10).

17. The connecting terminal module (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein at least one of the connecting terminals (12, 14, 16), preferably all of the connecting terminals (12, 14, 16), comprises at least one clamping spring (36, 38, 44, 46, 48).

18. The connecting terminal module (10) according to claim 17, wherein the double terminals (14, 16) each contain two clamping springs (36, 38, 44, 46).

19. The connection terminal module (10) according to claim 17 or 18, characterized in that: At least one clamping spring (36, 38, 44, 46, 48), preferably a plurality of clamping springs (36, 38, 44, 46, 48), can be opened by means of at least one actuating element, in particular a push piece (34) or a lever.

20. The connection terminal module (10) according to claim 19, characterized in that: The at least one actuating element can be used to simultaneously open a plurality of clamping springs (36, 38, 44, 46, 48).

21. The connecting terminal module (10) according to any one of claims 17 to 20, characterized in that: At least one clamping spring (36, 38, 44, 46, 48), preferably a plurality of clamping springs (36, 38, 44, 46, 48), cannot be opened.

22. The connecting terminal module (10) according to claim 21 and claim 16, wherein all connecting terminals (12, 14, 16) contain clamping springs (36, 38, 44, 46, 48), characterized in that: The wire receiving opening (68) of the first connecting terminal (12) is located on the front side (F) of the connecting terminal module (10), the clamping spring (48) of the first connecting terminal (12) and one clamping spring (36, 38, 44, 46) of each double terminal associated with the wire receiving opening (60, 62, 64, 66) on the front side (F) are clamping springs (44, 46, 48) that cannot be opened, and The clamping spring (36, 38) associated with the wire receiving opening (64, 66) on the rear side (R) opposite the front side (F) of each double terminal is an openable clamping spring (36, 38).

23. The connecting terminal module (10) according to any one of claims 5 and 22 and claim 19 or 20, characterized in that: The at least one actuating element is arranged in a region (28) of the second connecting terminal (14) that is not covered by the first connecting terminal (12).

24. The connecting terminal module (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 23, characterized in that: The connecting terminals (12, 14, 16) are arranged in a common housing.

25. The connecting terminal module (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 23, characterized in that: The connecting terminal module (10) is modularly constructed, and each connecting terminal (12, 14, 16) is arranged in its own housing.

26. The connecting terminal module (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 25, characterized in that: One or more further connecting terminals are provided in the stacking direction and are designed in the same manner as the third connecting terminal (16).

27. A connecting terminal device, comprising a plurality of connecting terminal modules (10, 10', 10") according to any one of claims 1 to 26 arranged side by side along an arrangement direction (24).

28. The connecting terminal device according to claim 27, further comprising a housing for accommodating the connecting terminal module (12, 14, 16).

29. The connecting terminal device according to claim 28, characterized in that: The housing is provided with additional devices, such as, in particular, a carrier rail (20) for fastening the connecting terminal module (10, 10', 10") in the housing, one or more strain relief devices for relieving strain on connected wires, a marking area for marking the connecting terminal module (10, 10', 10") and a seal for sealing the housing.

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