Busbar terminal and busbar terminal block

Abstract

The present invention relates to a row-type terminal (1) for distributing electric potential, having a terminal housing (4) with a first connection side (2) and a second connection side (3), and having at least one busbar (6, 61, 62) arranged in a receiving portion (5) in the terminal housing (4), wherein a plurality of conductor connection portions (7) for connecting conductors are respectively constructed not only on the first connection side (2) of the terminal housing (4) but also on the second connection side (3), and wherein a functional area (8) is constructed between the first connection side (2) and the second connection side (3).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a row-type terminal for distributing electric potential, the row-type terminal having a terminal housing with a first connection side and a second connection side, and having at least one bus rail arranged in a receiving portion in the terminal housing, wherein a plurality of conductor connection portions for connecting a conductor are respectively constructed not only on the first connection side of the terminal housing but also on the second connection side, and wherein a functional area is constructed between the first connection side and the second connection side.

[0002] Furthermore, the present invention also relates to a row terminal block having a plurality of row terminals arranged side by side, a feed terminal for connecting at least two potentials, and at least one bridging element. Background Technology

[0003] Terminal blocks have been known for decades and have been used millions of times in the wiring of electrical equipment and instruments. These terminals are mostly mounted on carrier rails, which can be arranged in multiples within a switch cabinet. The basic type of terminal block is the through-type terminal, which has a terminal housing with at least two conductor connecting elements electrically connected to each other via conductive connecting rails, also known as bus rails. Besides this basic type, which is also sometimes referred to as a connecting terminal, there are numerous other types of terminal blocks specifically tailored to their respective applications. Examples include multi-layer terminals, isolation terminals, fuse terminals, structural element terminals, and mounting terminals.

[0004] To power multiple loads, multiple row terminals are typically arranged side-by-side on a support rail to form a row terminal block. This row terminal block usually has rows of terminals configured as feed terminals (for connecting at least one potential). The potential applied to the feed terminal via a conductor connected to the conductor connection point can be distributed to one or more other row terminals via bridging elements (also called crossbridges), such that all row terminals (with contact legs in their functional wells containing bridging elements) are connected to the potential applied to the feed terminal.

[0005] Such row terminal blocks and the row terminals described at the beginning are known, for example, from DE 202 20 108 U1. In this document, disadvantages are described, particularly that the various row terminals, especially the feed terminals and other row terminals constructed as through terminals, have different dimensions. The feed terminals have a larger width compared to the through terminals, which may result in the inability to use comb-shaped bridging elements with a fixed pitch between the various contact segments in the row terminal block. In the direction transverse to the arrangement direction of the row terminals, the size of the feed terminals is smaller than the corresponding size of the through terminals, which may result in one side of the through terminal adjacent to the feed terminal not being covered by the feed terminal, and thus at least partially open.

[0006] To address these drawbacks, DE 202 20 108 U1 recommends using spacers on both sides of the power supply terminals. Here, the width of the spacers is chosen such that the spacing between the bridging wells of the power supply terminals and the bridging wells of adjacent through terminals corresponds to the grid pitch of the comb-shaped bridging elements, so that in the transition region between two rows of terminals, only one contact segment of the bridging element needs to be removed. Furthermore, the dimensions of the spacers transverse to the arrangement direction are chosen such that these spacers completely cover the adjacent rows of terminals.

[0007] DE 10 2014 105 316 A1 also discloses a row terminal block having a plurality of row terminals arranged side by side, a power supply terminal, and at least one bridging element. In this row terminal block, all the row terminals are configured to have the same dimension transverse to the row terminal arrangement direction, thereby aiming to avoid unclear connection diagrams.

[0008] In the second embodiment disclosed in DE 10 2014 105 316 A1, each row terminal has multiple conductor connection portions through which the potential applied to each row terminal can be distributed to multiple loads. Each row terminal is connected to a feed terminal via a bridging element, the feed terminal having a conductor connection portion for connecting the potential. Therefore, on one side of the terminal housing, two functional wells for bridging elements are constructed not only for the row terminals but also for the feed terminals, enabling the potential applied to the feed terminals to be applied to the other row terminals via the bridging elements.

[0009] Even though known terminal blocks have proven effective in practice, they have the disadvantage that they cannot, or can only, with great difficulty match the different energy supply requirements of multiple loads. Summary of the Invention

[0010] The objective of this invention is to improve the row-type terminal block described at the beginning, making it suitable for additional application scenarios or having additional application possibilities.

[0011] The task is solved in the row terminal having the features of claim 1 described at the beginning by constructing two bridging wells in the terminal housing in the functional area, and constructing a receiving portion in the terminal housing such that the receiving portion can selectively accommodate a bus rail that runs continuously from the first connection side to the second connection side, or accommodate a first bus rail disposed on the first connection side and a second bus rail disposed on the second connection side.

[0012] By providing two bridging wells in the functional area, and by selectively having either a continuous busbar or two separate busbars according to the invention, it becomes possible to selectively apply one potential or two different potentials to the busbar. For this purpose, at least one connection possibility corresponding to one of the two bridging wells is constructed in the continuous busbar, and connection possibilities corresponding to bridging wells are respectively constructed in the first busbar and the second busbar, each for a bridging element that can be inserted into the bridging well.

[0013] If only one potential is to be applied to the row-type terminals according to the invention, a continuous busbar is arranged in the receiving portion of the terminal housing, electrically connected not only to the conductor connection portions on the first connection side but also to the conductor connection portions on the second connection side. Then, a bridging element can be inserted into the bridging well such that the contact section of the bridging element contacts the corresponding connection possibility in the busbar. The busbar is then connected to the potential via the bridging element, allowing the potential to be distributed to the corresponding number of loads through the respective conductor connection portions or through the conductors connected thereto.

[0014] If two different potentials are to be applied to the row-type terminals according to the invention, two separate busbars are arranged in the receiving portion of the terminal housing, namely, a first busbar disposed on the first connection side and a second busbar disposed on the second connection side. Here, the first busbar is electrically connected to the conductor connection portion on the first connection side, and the second busbar is electrically connected to the conductor connection portion on the second connection side.

[0015] Then, a first bridging element can be inserted into one bridging well, and a second bridging element can be inserted into another bridging well. Here, the first bridging element contacts the corresponding connection possibility in the first busbar with its contact section, while the second bridging element contacts the corresponding connection possibility in the second busbar with its contact section. Therefore, by connecting the two busbars to two different potentials through the two bridging elements, these two potentials can be distributed to the corresponding number of loads through the conductor connection points on the first connection side and the second connection side, or the conductors connected thereto.

[0016] According to an advantageous design, two connection possibilities corresponding to two bridging wells are constructed within the continuous busbar. This allows the user to choose which of the two bridging wells to insert the bridging element into, making the operation of the terminal block very convenient. Furthermore, the risk of "misinsertion" when the user inserts the bridging element into the bridging well is avoided, as there is no corresponding connection possibility provided in the busbar, so the contact section of the bridging element will not reliably contact the busbar. The connection possibility constructed in the busbar is preferably constructed as an opening in the busbar into which the free end of the contact section of the bridging element can be inserted.

[0017] According to a preferred design of the row-type terminal according to the invention, the receiving portion in the terminal housing has a first receiving section disposed on a first connection side, a second receiving section disposed on a second connection side, and a third receiving section disposed in a functional area. Here, the third receiving section is connected to the first receiving section on one side and to the second receiving section on the other side, such that a busbar continuously extending from the first connection side to the second connection side can be received by a continuous receiving portion consisting of the three receiving sections. Simultaneously, the first receiving section is separated from the second receiving section by the third receiving section, such that the first busbar (received in the first receiving section) and the second busbar (received in the second receiving section) are spatially and thus electrically separated.

[0018] As explained at the beginning, the row-type terminal according to the present invention has a plurality of conductor connection portions on each of the two connection sides. Preferably, the same number of conductor connection portions are provided on both connection sides, particularly three or four conductor connection portions on each side, so that the row-type terminal has six or eight conductor connection portions. However, the invention is not limited to this, and in principle, different numbers of conductor connection portions can also be provided on the two connection sides.

[0019] According to a preferred embodiment of the row-type terminal according to the invention, the conductor connection portion on the first connection side and / or the conductor connection portion on the second connection side each have a conductor connection element. Here, each conductor connection element interacts with a section of the continuous busbar, or with one of the two busbars, such that the conductor end can be connected to the corresponding section of the busbar by means of the conductor connection element, and thus generally connected to the corresponding busbar. Different types of conductor connection elements are possible, particularly threaded joints, tension spring joints, spring-clamping joints, crimp joints, or cut-type joints.

[0020] According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, each conductor connecting element is configured as a spring-loaded clamping joint, each having a clamping spring with clamping legs and a busbar, which, together with the clamping legs, forms a clamping portion for the stripped conductor to be connected. Here, these busbars are electrically connected to a corresponding bus rail (i.e., a continuous bus rail or one of two bus rails). Advantageously, each busbar is part of the corresponding bus rail, i.e., integrally constructed with the bus rail, and, if necessary, bent from the bus rail, or freely punched and bent.

[0021] To easily open the corresponding clamping parts, operating elements, particularly operating buttons, can be movably arranged within the terminal housing. In the first position of the operating element, the clamping leg of the clamping spring is deflected by the operating element against its spring force, thereby opening the clamping part. Conversely, in the second position of the operating element, the clamping leg is no longer deflected by the operating element, causing the clamping leg to push the conductor introduced into the clamping part against the busbar, whereby the stripped end of the conductor contacts the busbar.

[0022] A particular advantage is that the actuating element can be locked in its first position within the terminal housing, thereby opening the clamping portion. Preferably, the triggering element is adjustablely arranged within the terminal housing such that when actuated, it releases the locking of the actuating element in its first position. Actuation of the triggering element is preferably performed by inserting the conductor to be connected into the open clamping portion. Therefore, no additional tools are required for actuating the triggering element.

[0023] The conductor to be connected can then be easily and effortlessly inserted into the open clamping portion, regardless of whether the conductor is flexible or rigid. Once the conductor end is fully inserted into the clamping portion, the triggering element is activated via the conductor end, thereby releasing the locking mechanism of the actuating element in its first position. This directly results in the clamping legs no longer deflecting against their spring force via the actuating element, causing the clamping legs to push the conductor introduced into the clamping portion against the busbar. In the case of this type of terminal block configuration, multiple conductors can be quickly, easily, and tool-free connected to the terminal block or its conductor connection points, and can also be released from the conductor connection points of the terminal block again if needed.

[0024] In principle, the aforementioned possible designs of the conductor connection portions in the row-type terminal block according to the invention can be combined with each other. If all conductor connection portions have conductor connection elements, they are generally all constructed identically, i.e., all constructed as spring-loaded clamping joints, thereby making the operation of the row-type terminal block easy for the assembler. However, the invention is not limited to this design. Depending on the application, different types of conductor connection elements may also be provided in the row-type terminal block.

[0025] In the row-type terminal according to the invention, the terminal housing preferably has a foot region constructed such that the terminal housing can be snapped onto a support rail. For this purpose, the foot region may have one or two locking spring legs that engage from below at least one leg of the support rail, as is known in principle from practice.

[0026] Furthermore, advantageously, a metallic protective conductor element that contacts the busbar is arranged in the base region of the terminal housing. For this purpose, a recess can be constructed on the underside of the terminal housing facing the support rail, into which the protective conductor element can be inserted and preferably locked. By constructing a recess in the terminal housing, the same terminal housing can be used regardless of whether the row of terminals is to be used as the protective conductor terminal.

[0027] Preferably, the protective conductor element has a spring element, particularly a spring fork with two spring arms that can be inserted into an opening constructed in a continuous busbar. Here, the spring element extends substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the metal base and perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the support rail (on which the row of terminals should be placed). Additionally, the protective conductor element preferably also has at least one spring member for securing the protective conductor element to the support rail.

[0028] In addition to a single row of terminals, the present invention also relates to a row of terminal blocks having a plurality of row of terminals arranged side by side, feed terminals for connecting at least two potentials, and at least one bridging element. Here, the feed terminal has a terminal housing, at least two conductor connection portions, at least two bus rails, and two bridging wells constructed in the terminal housing. In the two bus rails of the feed terminal (each electrically connected to a conductor connection portion), connection possibilities for the bridging element are respectively constructed corresponding to the two bridging wells, such that the potential applied to the bus rail, or the potential connected through the corresponding conductor connection portion, can be distributed to the row of terminals through the bridging element.

[0029] Depending on whether each row of terminals has a continuous busbar or two individual busbars, different possibilities arise, namely, whether one or two potentials are distributed through the row of terminal blocks.

[0030] In the first design of the row-type terminal block, continuous busbars are arranged in the receiving portion of the terminal housing of the row-type terminal. The row-type terminal is connected to the first potential applied to the first conductor connection portion of the feed terminal through a bridging element. Thus, the same potential is applied to all conductor connection portions of each row-type terminal, and this potential can be further distributed through the conductors connected to the conductor connection portions.

[0031] If a row terminal block has at least n+m row terminals arranged side-by-side, wherein continuous busbars are arranged in the receiving portions of the terminal housings of the row terminals, then according to an alternative design with two bridging elements, the two different potentials of the feed terminal can be distributed to the respective row terminals of the row terminal block. Here, n row terminals are connected to the first potential, for example, a positive potential, of the feed terminal via a first bridging element, and m row terminals are connected to the second potential, for example, a negative potential, of the feed terminal via a second bridging element.

[0032] Here, although each row of terminals has only one potential, the row of terminals has two different potentials in total. n rows of terminals have a first potential, for example, a positive potential, and m rows of terminals have a second potential, for example, a negative potential. In principle, the number n of rows of terminals with the first potential can be different from the number m of rows of terminals with the second potential. If the row of terminals has an even number of rows of terminals, then usually the number of rows of terminals connected to the first potential is equal to the number of rows of terminals connected to the second potential, thus making n = m.

[0033] In another design of the row terminal block, a first bus rail and a second bus rail are respectively arranged in the receiving portion of the terminal housing of the row terminal. The first bus rail of the row terminal is connected to a first potential, such as a positive potential, of the feed terminal connected to the first conductor connection portion through a first bridging element, and the second bus rail of the row terminal is connected to a second potential, such as a negative potential, of the feed terminal connected to the second conductor connection portion through a second bridging element.

[0034] Therefore, in this design, each row terminal or its two bus rails has two different potentials, namely, a first potential on the first connection side of the first bus rail and a second potential on the second connection side of the second bus rail.

[0035] The different designs of the row terminal blocks described above can also be combined with each other. Therefore, the row terminal block can not only have row terminals with continuous bus rails, but also row terminals with two separate bus rails.

[0036] Furthermore, not all row terminals of a terminal block must be connected to the feed terminal via bridging elements. Therefore, a terminal block may have one or more row terminals that are electrically connected to the support rail via protective conductor elements arranged in the foot area of ​​the terminal housing, rather than being electrically connected to the feed terminal via bridging elements.

[0037] If such a terminal block has, for example, a total of eight terminal blocks, then three terminal blocks can be connected to a positive potential, three terminal blocks to a negative potential, and two terminal blocks to a reference potential or ground potential of the bearing rail. Here, not only the three terminal blocks connected to the positive potential, but also the three terminal blocks connected to the negative potential are connected to each other via bridging elements and to the feed terminal, so that only one conductor with a positive potential and one conductor with a negative potential need to be connected to the feed terminal. Additionally, a conductor for ground potential can also be connected to the third conductor connection point of the feed terminal. Attached Figure Description

[0038] Specifically, there are various possibilities for designing and improving the bar-type terminals and bar-type terminal blocks according to the present invention. Therefore, preferred embodiments are described below with reference to the dependent claims and the accompanying drawings. The drawings show: Figure 1 A perspective view of an embodiment of a busbar terminal block without a busbar is shown. Figure 2 A perspective view of an embodiment of a row-type terminal block with two busbars is shown. Figure 3 A perspective view of a first embodiment of a row of terminals with continuous busbars is shown. Figure 4 A perspective view of a second embodiment of a row of terminals with continuous busbars is shown. Figure 5 shows a perspective view and a top view of a first embodiment of a row terminal block, which has three row terminals, one feed terminal, and one bridging element. Figure 6 shows a perspective view and a top view of a second embodiment of a row terminal block, which has three row terminals, one power supply terminal, and two bridging elements. Figure 7 shows a perspective view and a top view of a third embodiment of the row-type terminal block, and Figure 8 shows a perspective view and a top view of a fourth embodiment of the row-type terminal block. Detailed Implementation

[0039] Figures 1 to 4A perspective view of a row-type terminal block 1 for distributing potential according to the present invention is shown. The row-type terminal block has a terminal housing 4 having a first connecting side 2 and a second connecting side 3. The terminal housing 4, typically made of plastic, has a receiving portion 5 for at least one bus rail 6, 61, 62. Multiple conductor connection portions 7, currently four in total, are constructed not only on the first connecting side 2 of the terminal housing 4 but also on the second connecting side 3, each for connecting one conductor. Furthermore, a functional region 8 is constructed in the terminal housing 4 between the first connecting side 2 and the second connecting side 3.

[0040] exist Figure 1 The diagram shows a row of terminals 1, or terminal housing 4, without a busbar inserted into the receiving portion 5. As can be seen from the diagram, the receiving portion 5 in the terminal housing 4 has a first receiving section 51 disposed on the first connecting side 2, a second receiving section 52 disposed on the second connecting side 3, and a third receiving section 53 disposed in the functional area 8. Therefore, the third receiving section 53 is arranged between the first receiving section 51 and the second receiving section 52, wherein the third receiving section 53 is connected to the first receiving section 51 on one side and to the second receiving section 52 on the other side. Here, the receiving portion 5 is generally constructed as a groove, making it well-suited for accommodating and retaining at least one busbar.

[0041] Figure 2 A perspective view of the row-type terminal 1 is shown, wherein a first busbar 61 is arranged in a first receiving section 51, and a second busbar 62 is arranged in a second receiving section 52. Here, the first busbar 61 and the second busbar 62 are spaced apart, such that free space exists in a third receiving section 53 between the two busbars 61 and 62. Conversely, Figure 3 and Figure 4 A row-type terminal 1 is shown, wherein a busbar 6 is arranged in the receiving portion 5, extending continuously from the first connecting side 2 to the second connecting side 3. Therefore, the continuous busbar 6 is jointly received by three receiving sections 51, 52, and 53.

[0042] As previously described, functional region 8 is located between the first connection side 2 and the second connection side 3. Within functional region 8, two bridging wells 81 and 82 are constructed within the terminal housing 4, and contact sections of bridging elements (not shown here) can be inserted into these bridging wells respectively. According to... Figure 2 In the row-type terminal 1, for the contact section of the electrical contact bridging element, connection possibilities 9 corresponding to bridging wells 81 and 82 are constructed not only in the first busbar 61 but also in the second busbar 62, respectively, which take the form of openings in the corresponding busbars 61 and 62. According to... Figure 3 and Figure 4In the row terminal 1, two connection possibilities 9 corresponding to two bridging wells 81 and 82 are provided in the continuous bus rail 6. These connection possibilities are also constructed as openings in the bus rail 6.

[0043] exist Figures 1 to 4 In the illustrated row terminal 1, a marking area 83 is constructed between the two bridging wells 81 and 82 in the functional area 8. Specifically, the marking area 83 is provided to accommodate and lock a marking plate 84, as can be seen, for example, in Figures 5 and 6. The marking plate 84 allows for simple and convenient identification of the corresponding row terminals.

[0044] exist Figures 1 to 4 In the illustrated row-type terminal 1, each conductor connection portion 7 has a conductor connection element, which is constructed as a spring-loaded clamping connector. Therefore, a clamping spring 71 is arranged in a corresponding recess in the terminal housing 4 for each spring-loaded clamping connector. The clamping leg 72 of this clamping spring, together with the busbar 73, forms a clamping portion for the stripped conductor to be connected. Here, each busbar 73 of the spring-loaded clamping connector is composed of continuous busbar rails 6 (… Figure 3 and Figure 4 Or, to put it another way, the two busbars 61 and 62 ( Figure 2 The corresponding curved sections of the busbar 73 constitute the busbar 6. Therefore, the busbar 73 is part of the continuous busbar 6, or part of the first busbar 61 and the second busbar 62.

[0045] In the preferred design of the row terminal 1 or each conductor connection part 7 shown in the attached drawings, a special type of elastic clamping connector is provided. The characteristic is that the conductor to be connected can be inserted into the open clamping part with almost no effort, regardless of whether the conductor is flexible or rigid. If the end of the conductor is fully inserted into the clamping part, the clamping part automatically closes, causing the clamping leg 72 of the clamping spring 71 to push the conductor inserted into the clamping part against the busbar 73.

[0046] In order to preload the clamping springs 71 in this type of spring-loaded clamping connector, i.e., to deflect the clamping legs 72 and thereby open the clamping portion, each clamping spring 71 is provided with an actuating element 12 adjustablely arranged in the terminal housing 4. Here, the actuating element 12, configured as an actuating button, can be locked in its first position in the terminal housing 4 (in which the clamping legs 72 of the clamping spring 71 are deflected against their spring force). Furthermore, each conductor connection portion 7 has a trigger element 13 adjustablely arranged in the terminal housing 4, which releases the locking of the actuating element 12 in its first position when the trigger element 13 is actuated by inserting the conductor to be connected into the open clamping portion. Then, the end of the introduced conductor is pushed against the trigger element 13, thereby releasing the locking of the actuating element 12 in its first position, causing the clamping legs 72 to spring back, and clamping the introduced conductor onto the busbar 73.

[0047] To reopen the clamping portion, for example, to pull the connected conductor out of the terminal block 1, the actuating element 12 must be pressed back into the terminal housing 4, thereby deflecting the clamping leg 72 and simultaneously lifting it from the connected conductor. The connected conductor can then be pulled out through the conductor inlet opening 41 in the terminal housing 4. Simultaneously, the actuating element 12 is locked back into its first position, thus reopening the clamping portion. To operate the actuating element 12, for example using a screwdriver tip, a corresponding actuating opening 42 is constructed in the terminal housing 4 adjacent to each conductor inlet opening 41.

[0048] The row-type terminal 1, or its terminal housing 4, shown in the accompanying drawings, has a foot region 43, which is constructed such that the terminal housing 4 can be snapped onto the support rail 14. Figure 4 As can be seen, the foot area 43 can be constructed such that it can accommodate the metal protective conductor element 15, which contacts the carrier rail 14 on one hand and the bus rail 6 on the other hand when the terminal housing 4 is snapped onto the carrier rail 14.

[0049] Figures 5 to 8 illustrate different embodiments of the row terminal block 20, each having a plurality of row terminals 1 arranged side by side, a feed terminal 30 for connecting at least two potentials, and one or two bridging elements 10, 11. The feed terminal 30 has a terminal housing 31, three conductor connection portions 32, 33, 34, and three bus rails 35, wherein each bus rail 35 is electrically connected to one of the conductor connection portions 32, 33, 34. Furthermore, two bridging wells 36, 37 are constructed in the terminal housing 31, and the two bus rails 35 of the feed terminal 30 have corresponding connection possibilities 38 for the bridging elements 10, 11. As in the row terminal 1, these connection possibilities 38 are also constructed as openings in the bus rails 35 in the feed terminal 30, into which the free ends of the contact sections 100, 110 of the bridging elements 10, 11 can be inserted.

[0050] In the embodiment of the row terminal block 20 shown in Figure 5, continuous bus rails 6 are arranged in the receiving portion 5 of the terminal housing 4 of a single row terminal 1. The conductor connection portion 7 on both the first connection side 2 and the second connection side 3 is electrically connected to the bus rail 6. To apply a potential to each row terminal 1, a bridging element 10 is provided, wherein each contact segment 100 of the bridging element 10 (which in...) Figure 5b (Schematably shown as a wide black line) The bridging element 10 is inserted into the first bridging well 81 of each row terminal 1 and into the first bridging well 36 of the feed terminal 30. Thus, each row terminal 1 is connected via the bridging element 10 to a potential, for example a positive potential, applied to the first conductor connection portion 32 of the feed terminal 30. If the bridging element 10 is inserted into the second bridging well 37 of the feed terminal 30, and correspondingly also into the second bridging well 82 of each row terminal 1, then each row terminal 1 can be connected via the bridging element 10 to a potential, for example a negative potential, applied to the second conductor connection portion 33 of the feed terminal 30.

[0051] Figure 6 illustrates an alternative design for the row terminal block 20, wherein a first bus rail 61 and a second bus rail 62 are respectively arranged in the receiving portion 5 of the terminal housing 4 of a single row terminal 1. In this row terminal block 20, the conductor connection portion 7 of the first connection side 2 is connected to the first bus rail 61, while the conductor connection portion 7 of the second connection side 3 is connected to the second bus rail 62. In the row terminal block 20, by using two bridging elements 10 and 11, two different potentials applied to the feed terminal 30 can be distributed to each row terminal 1.

[0052] For this purpose, the contact sections 100 of the first bridging element 10 are inserted into the first bridging wells 36 of the feed terminal 30 and into the first bridging wells 81 of each row terminal 1. Furthermore, the contact sections 110 of the second bridging element 11 are inserted into the second bridging wells 37 of the feed terminal 30 and into the second bridging wells 82 of each row terminal 1. Therefore, the first bridging element 10 distributes a first potential, such as a positive potential, applied to the first conductor connection portion 32 of the feed terminal 30, while the second bridging element 11 distributes a second potential, such as a negative potential, applied to the second conductor connection portion 33 of the feed terminal 30. Then, the first potential is applied to the conductor connection portion 7 of the first connection side 2 of each row terminal 1 through the first bridging element 10 and each first bus rail 61, while the second potential is applied to the conductor connection portion 7 of the second connection side 3 of each row terminal 1 through the second bridging element 11 and each second bus rail 62. Therefore, different potentials can be connected to the two connection sides 2 and 3 on each row terminal 1 or its conductor connection part 7.

[0053] Figure 7 shows another embodiment of the row terminal block 20. Unlike the embodiment according to Figure 5, this row terminal block 20 has nine row terminals 1 instead of three, in addition to the feed terminal 30. In each row terminal 1, a continuous busbar 6 is again arranged in the receiving portion 5 within the terminal housing 4, such that the conductor connection portion 7 on the first connection side 2 and the conductor connection portion 7 on the second connection side 3 are electrically connected to the busbar 6. However, instead of having only one bridging element 10, the row terminal block 20 has two bridging elements 10 and 11, allowing two different potentials to be distributed from the feed terminal 30 to the row terminals 1 of the row terminal block 20.

[0054] Here, the three rows of terminals 1, namely the second, seventh, and ninth rows of terminals 1 counting from the feed terminal 30, are connected to a first potential, such as a positive potential, applied to the feed terminal 30 through the first conductor connection portion 32, via the correspondingly constructed first bridging element 10. Conversely, the four rows of terminals 1, namely the first, third, sixth, and eighth rows of terminals 1 counting from the feed terminal 30, are connected to a second potential, such as a negative potential, applied to the feed terminal 30 through the second conductor connection portion 33, via the correspondingly constructed second bridging element 11. Therefore, the difference between the two bridging elements 10 and 11 lies in the number and position of the respective contact sections 100 and 110.

[0055] In the row terminal block 20 shown in Figure 7, n=3 row terminals 1 are connected to the positive potential of the feed terminal 30 via a first bridging element 10, and m=4 row terminals 1 are connected to the negative potential of the feed terminal 30 via a second bridging element 11. Furthermore, the row terminal block 20 also has two additional row terminals 1, namely the fourth and fifth row terminals 1 counting from the feed terminal 30, which are not connected to the feed terminal 30 via either the first bridging element 10 or the second bridging element 11. Alternatively, these two row terminals 1 are connected to the support rail 14 via a protective conductor element 15 arranged in the foot region 43 of the terminal housing 4. In order to prevent the two row terminals 1 from being connected to the two potentials of the power supply terminal 30 when the bridging elements 10 and 11 are inserted, contact sections 100 and 110 in the two bridging wells 81 and 82 of the two row terminals 1 are not provided at the corresponding positions of the bridging elements 10 and 11.

[0056] The PE potential can be applied to the bus rail 35 connected to the third conductor connection portion 34 through the third conductor connection portion 34. When the feed terminal 30 is mounted on the support rail 14, the bus rail 35 is connected to the support rail 14 through the protective conductor element 15 arranged in the foot area of ​​the terminal housing 31. Thus, the fourth and fifth row terminals 1 described above are also connected to the PE potential of the feed terminal 30 through their respective protective conductor elements 15 and support rails 14.

[0057] Finally, Figure 8 shows another embodiment of the row terminal block 20 according to the invention, wherein nine row terminals 1 and one power supply terminal 30 are again provided. As in the embodiment according to Figure 7, there are also two row terminals 1 here (i.e., the fourth and fifth row terminals 1 counting from the power supply terminal 30), which are not electrically connected to the power supply terminal 30 via one of the two bridging elements 10, 11, but are electrically connected to the carrying rail 14 via the protective conductor element 15 respectively.

[0058] Other row terminals 1 each have a first busbar 61 and a second busbar 62, allowing two different potentials to be connected to these row terminals 1 via two bridging elements 10 and 11 respectively. In these row terminals 1, the conductor connection portion 7 of the first connection side 2 of each row terminal 1 is connected to a first potential, such as a positive potential, applied to the feed terminal 30 via the first conductor connection portion 32 through the first bridging element 10, or its contact section 100. Conversely, the conductor connection portions 7 of the second connection side 3 of each row terminal 1 are connected to a second potential, such as a negative potential, applied to the feed terminal 30 via the second conductor connection portion 33 through the second bridging element 11, or its contact section 110.

[0059] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the number of row terminals 1 in the row terminal block 20 shown in the accompanying drawings, which are merely illustrative examples. Similarly, the allocation of the two potentials to the respective row terminals 1 may differ from the allocation shown.

[0060] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0061] 1 row terminal

[0062] 2 First connecting side

[0063] 3 Second connecting side

[0064] 4-terminal housing

[0065] 41 Conductor introduction opening

[0066] 42 Operating opening

[0067] 43 base area

[0068] 5. Reception area

[0069] 51 First Accommodation Section

[0070] 52 Second Accommodation Section

[0071] 53 Third Accommodation Section

[0072] 6 continuous merging tracks

[0073] 61 First Busbar

[0074] 62 Second Busbar

[0075] 7 Conductor connection points

[0076] 71 Clamping Spring

[0077] 72. Clamp your legs together.

[0078] 73 busbar

[0079] 8 functional areas

[0080] 81 First Bridge Connection Shaft

[0081] 82 Second Bridge Connection Shaft

[0082] 83 marked area

[0083] 84 marker

[0084] 9 connection possibilities

[0085] 10 bridging components

[0086] 100 contact section

[0087] 11 Bridging components

[0088] 110 contact section

[0089] 12 control elements

[0090] 13 trigger elements

[0091] 14 bearing rails

[0092] 15 Protective conductor elements

[0093] 20-row terminal block

[0094] 30 feed terminals

[0095] 31 terminal housing

[0096] 32. Conductor connection point (positive potential)

[0097] 33. Conductor connection point (negative potential)

[0098] 34. Conductor connection point (PE potential)

[0099] 35 busbars

[0100] 36 First Bridge Connection Shaft

[0101] 37 Second Bridge Connection Shaft

[0102] 38 connection possibilities

Claims

1. A row terminal (1) for distributing electric potential, having a terminal housing (4) with a first connection side (2) and a second connection side (3), and having at least one busbar (6, 61, 62) arranged in a receiving portion (5) in the terminal housing (4). in, Not only on the first connection side (2) of the terminal housing (4), but also on the second connection side (3), multiple conductor connection portions (7) for connecting conductors are respectively constructed, and A functional area (8) is constructed between the first connecting side (2) and the second connecting side (3). Its features are, Two bridging wells (81, 82) are constructed in the functional area (8) within the terminal housing (4). The receiving portion (5) in the terminal housing (4) is constructed such that it can selectively accommodate a continuous busbar (6) from the first connection side (2) to the second connection side (3), or accommodate a first busbar (61) disposed on the first connection side (2) and a second busbar (62) disposed on the second connection side (3), and At least one connection possibility (9) corresponding to one of the two bridging wells (81, 82) is constructed in the continuous bus rail (6), and connection possibilities (9) corresponding to the bridging wells (81, 82) are constructed in the first bus rail (61) and the second bus rail (62), respectively, for bridging elements (10, 11) that can be inserted into the bridging wells (81, 82).

2. The row-type terminal (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, In the continuous merging track (6), there are two connection possibilities (9) corresponding to the two bridging wells (81, 82).

3. The row terminal (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The receiving portion (5) in the terminal housing (4) has a first receiving section (51) disposed on the first connecting side (2), a second receiving section (52) disposed on the second connecting side (3), and a third receiving section (53) disposed on the functional area (8), wherein the third receiving section (53) is connected to the first receiving section (51) on one side and to the second receiving section (52) on the other side.

4. The row terminal (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, A marking area (83) is constructed in the functional area (8), wherein the marking area (83) is preferably arranged between two bridging wells (81, 82).

5. The row terminal (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The conductor connection portion (7) on the first connection side (2) of the terminal housing (4) and / or the conductor connection portion (7) on the second connection side (3) of the terminal housing (4) respectively have conductor connection elements.

6. The row-type terminal (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that, The conductor connection elements are configured as spring-loaded clamping joints, each having a clamping spring (71) with clamping legs (72) and a busbar (73), which together with the clamping legs (72) form a clamping portion for the conductor to be connected.

7. The row-type terminal (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that, The operating element (12) is arranged in the terminal housing (4) in such an adjustable manner that in the first position of the operating element (12), the clamping leg (72) of the clamping spring (71) deflects against its spring force, thereby opening the clamping part, while in the second position of the operating element (12), the clamping leg (72) of the clamping spring (71) pushes the conductor introduced into the clamping part against the busbar (73).

8. The row-type terminal (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that, The actuating element (12) can be locked in its first position in the terminal housing (4), and the triggering element (13) is thus adjustablely arranged in the terminal housing (4) such that when the triggering element (13) is actuated by being inserted into the open clamping portion through the conductor to be connected, the triggering element (13) releases the locking of the actuating element (12) in its first position.

9. The row terminal (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, The terminal housing (4) has a foot area (43) which is configured such that the terminal housing (4) can be snapped onto the support rail (14).

10. The row terminal (1) according to claim 9, having a continuous busbar (6) arranged in the receiving portion (5), characterized in that, A protective conductor element (15) is arranged in the foot area (43) of the terminal housing (4) to contact the metal of the continuous bus rail (6), wherein the protective conductor element (15) preferably has a spring element.

11. A row terminal block (20) having a plurality of row terminals (1) arranged side by side according to any one of claims 1 to 10, having a feed terminal (30) for connecting at least two potentials, and having at least one bridging element (10, 11). in, Continuous busbars (6) are arranged in the receiving part (5) of the terminal housing (4) of the row terminal (1). The power supply terminal (30) has a terminal housing (31), at least two conductor connection portions (32, 33, 34), at least two bus rails (35), and two bridging wells (36, 37) constructed in the terminal housing (31). In the two bus rails (35) of the power supply terminal (30), corresponding to the two bridging wells (36, 37), connection possibilities (38) for bridging elements (10, 11) are respectively constructed. Among them, the row terminal (1) is connected to the first potential of the power supply terminal (31) and the conductor connection part (32) through the bridging element (10).

12. The row terminal block (20) according to claim 11, having at least n+m row terminals (1) arranged side by side and having two bridging elements (10, 11), characterized in that, n row terminals (1) are connected to the first potential of the feed terminal (30) connected to the first conductor connection portion (32) via the first bridging element (10), and m row terminals (1) are connected to the second potential of the feed terminal connected to the second conductor connection portion (33) via the second bridging element (11).

13. A row terminal block (30) having a plurality of row terminals (1) arranged side by side according to any one of claims 1 to 10, having feed terminals (30) for connecting at least two potentials, and having two bridging elements (10, 11). in, A first busbar (61) and a second busbar (62) are respectively arranged in the receiving part (5) of the terminal housing (4) of the row terminal (1). The power supply terminal (30) has a terminal housing (31), at least two conductor connection portions (32, 33, 34), at least two bus rails (35), and two bridging wells (36, 37) constructed in the terminal housing (31). In the two bus rails (35) of the power supply terminal (30), corresponding to the two bridging wells (36, 37), connection possibilities (38) for bridging elements (10, 11) are respectively constructed. The first busbar (61) of each row terminal (1) is connected to the first potential of the feed terminal (31) connected to the first conductor connection portion (32) through the first bridging element (10), and the second busbar (62) of each row terminal (1) is connected to the second potential of the feed terminal (31) connected to the second conductor connection portion (33) through the second bridging element (11).

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