Insulation displacement connector and terminal

Abstract

This invention relates to a clip-on connector for clamping a cable with an insulating sheath without stripping the insulation, wherein at least one electrical conductor is disposed within the insulating sheath, and the clip-on connector has at least one first cutting blade fixedly disposed in position, the first cutting blade being configured to cut through the insulating sheath of the cable and make electrical contact with the internal electrical conductor. The first cutting blade may, for example, be fixedly disposed in the insulating material housing of the terminal block, within which a spring-loaded clamping connector is disposed. The invention also relates to a terminal block having such a clip-on connector.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a clip-on connector for clamping a cable with an insulating sheath without stripping the insulation, wherein at least one electrical conductor is disposed within the insulating sheath, and the clip-on connector has at least one first cutting blade fixedly disposed in position, the first cutting blade being configured to cut through the insulating sheath of the cable and make electrical contact with the internal electrical conductor. The first cutting blade may, for example, be fixedly disposed in the insulating material housing of the terminal block, within which a spring-loaded clamping connector is disposed. The invention also relates to a terminal block having such a clip-on connector. Background Technology

[0002] Clip-on connectors for connecting to insulated cables without stripping the insulation are known, for example as so-called clip-on contacts or IDC contacts (IDC – Insulation Displacement Contact). With this contact element, direct electrical contact can be made with the conductors housed within the insulation sheath without the need for a separate de-insulation process, in which a section of the insulation sheath is removed from the conductor. Alternatively, this contact element can be pressed directly onto the cable, whereby it automatically separates the insulation sheath and contacts the conductors inside. Connecting without stripping the insulation refers to a connection process that does not require a separate de-insulation process.

[0003] A connecting terminal for electrical conductors that does not require stripping the insulation is known from DE 198 35 459 C2, the connecting terminal having a fixed-position conductive cutting element. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a correspondingly improved clip-on connector and a terminal block comprising said clip-on connector.

[0005] The objective is achieved in the case of the type of clip-on connector mentioned at the beginning by having at least one second cutting blade configured to cut the insulating sheath of the cable and make electrical contact with the inner conductor, wherein the second cutting blade is movably supported relative to the first cutting blade, and the conductor can be clamped in a receiving area between the first and second cutting blades. Therefore, the clip-on connector according to the invention has at least two counter-movable cutting blades, each used to cut the insulating sheath and the inner conductor. In this manner, the insulating sheath can be cut from two opposing sides, allowing for better contact with the inner conductor. Thus, the inner conductor can be electrically contacted by both the first and second cutting blades and clamped between them. In this manner, in the connected state, multiple contact points exist on the circumference of the conductor, which enables improved electrical contact.

[0006] To connect the electrical wire, the second cutting blade is positioned relative to the first cutting blade such that sufficient space exists in the receiving area between the first and second cutting blades for introducing the cable to be connected (i.e., including the insulating sheath). This is called the open position. Then, when the cable is positioned at the desired location in the receiving area, the second cutting blade can be moved toward the first cutting blade by relative movement of the second cutting blade relative to the first cutting blade, thereby automatically cutting the insulating sheath and clamping the electrical wire by the two cutting blades. This is called the clamped position. The movement of the second cutting blade toward the first cutting blade can be performed, for example, by manual operation by a user, such as by a clip-on connector or a terminal block with a clip-on connector having a manual operating element by means of which the second cutting blade can perform the desired relative movement with respect to the first cutting blade.

[0007] According to an advantageous design of the invention, the clamping connector has at least one clamping spring, through which at least the second cutting blade is loaded with a spring force toward the first cutting blade. This has the advantage that a permanent spring preload between the first and second cutting blades can be effectively achieved by the clamping spring, allowing the electrical wire clamped between the first and second cutting blades to be permanently loaded with a spring force, thereby ensuring reliable electrical contact over time. The electrical wire can then be pressed against the corresponding cutting edges of the first and second cutting blades by means of the spring force.

[0008] Furthermore, it is feasible, via a clamping spring, for the second cutting blade to automatically move from the open position to the clamped position, in which the electrical wire is clamped between the first and second cutting blades. In this case, the user does not necessarily have to manually move the second cutting blade toward the first cutting blade. According to embodiments of the clip-on connector, the user can, for example, operate a release element, by which the movement of the second cutting blade toward the first cutting blade is released by means of the clamping spring.

[0009] In the described embodiment, the clip-on connector is also advantageously suited for automated wire connection, wherein the release of the spring-force-operated movement of the second cutter toward the first cutter can be triggered by the introduced cable itself.

[0010] Depending on the configuration of the clip-on connector, the clamping spring can be configured as a compression spring or a tension spring. Alternatively, the clamping spring can be configured as a device of multiple single springs, each single spring including at least one compression spring and / or at least one tension spring.

[0011] According to an advantageous design of the invention, a first cutting blade has a V-shaped cutting edge pointing towards the receiving area, and / or a second cutting blade has a V-shaped cutting edge pointing towards the receiving area. With this V-shaped cutting edge, the electrical conductor is centered during clamping and can be electrically contacted particularly well. Furthermore, the insulating sheath can be cut evenly from both sides. When the first and second cutting blades each have a V-shaped cutting edge, the V-shaped cutting edges are oriented towards each other, such that the electrical conductor can be received and held from opposite sides through the first and second cutting blades in each of the V-shaped cutting edges.

[0012] According to an advantageous design of the invention, the second cutting blade has a wider or narrower cutting edge in the width direction than the first cutting blade. In this manner, the centering of the wire between the first and second cutting blades can be further improved. The width direction can here be a spatial direction orthogonal to the direction of movement of the second cutting blade and orthogonal to the direction in which the cable extends into the spring-forced clamping connector.

[0013] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the second cutting blade is relatively movable relative to the first cutting blade in the linear direction of movement. This allows for reliable and safe guidance of the second cutting blade during relative movement. The second cutting blade may be guided, for example, in a linear guide, such as a guide rail. Alternatively, the second cutting blade may also be relatively movable in other ways, such as being pivotable relative to the first cutting blade.

[0014] According to an advantageous design of the invention, the first cutting blade and the second cutting blade are electrically connected. This allows for particularly good electrical contact between the connected wires via the first and second cutting blades. Thus, the corresponding outer contact portion of the clip-on connector only needs to be electrically connected to one of the first and second cutting blades.

[0015] According to an advantageous design of the invention, the clip-on connector has a busbar for transmitting current from or to a conductor clamped at the clip-on connector, wherein a first or second cutting blade is coupled to or integrally formed with the busbar. This busbar enables good current transmission, especially even with larger currents. The busbar can be made of a particularly conductive material, such as copper or a copper alloy. The current transmission from the cutting blade to the busbar is further optimized by coupling at least one of the cutting blades to the busbar. When the cutting blade and the busbar are integrally formed, the number of components can be minimized and installation costs reduced.

[0016] According to an advantageous design of the invention, the bus has a pass-through opening for threading through electrical wires to be connected. This pass-through opening can be largely or completely surrounded by the bus material on its circumferential side. In this manner, the electrical wires are securely held within the receiving area and do not undesirably shift to one side. The bus can, for example, have a body in which the pass-through opening is formed. The body can be configured as an elongated, flat, substantially flat plate.

[0017] According to an advantageous design of the invention, the first cutting blade is disposed inside the through opening. This allows for a particularly advantageous integral, one-piece design of the first cutting blade and the busbar. Here, in the manufacturing process, it is only necessary to form the corresponding cutting edge, such as the previously mentioned V-shaped cutting edge, inside the through opening.

[0018] According to an advantageous design of the invention, the clip-on connector has a retaining element configured to hold the second cutter relative to the first cutter in an open position, in which the cable to be connected can be introduced into a receiving area between the first and second cutters. This has particular advantages in embodiments of the clip-on connector with a pre-tensioned clamping spring, as it eliminates the need for manual holding of the clip-on connector, or the second cutter, in the open position. The automatic holding of the second cutter in the open position via the retaining element also allows this state to be maintained for a longer period, especially without the need for prolonged manual operation.

[0019] According to an advantageous design of the invention, the clip-on connector has a release element that, by manipulating the release element, can deflect a retaining element such that a second cutting blade held at the retaining element is released from the retaining element. This release element allows the second cutting blade to be released from the retaining element in a desired manner. The release element can be a manually operable component of the clip-on connector.

[0020] According to an advantageous design of the invention, when the conductor to be clamped applies an actuating force to the release section of the release element, the second cutter, held in the retaining element in the open position, can be released from the retaining element. This has the advantage that the second cutter can be released from the retaining element simply by inserting the cable into the clip-on connector, so that the conductor can be automatically exposed and clamped through the cutter.

[0021] The aforementioned objective is also achieved through a terminal block having an insulating housing and at least one clip-on connector, of the type described previously, which is at least substantially disposed within the insulating housing, wherein the insulating housing has at least one wire entry opening for introducing a cable in the wire entry direction. This also allows the previously described advantages to be achieved.

[0022] In the context of this invention, the indefinite article "a" is not understood as a numeral. Therefore, if, for example, one component is referred to, it should be interpreted in the sense of "at least one component." As long as the angle is described in degrees, the angle description refers to a circle of 360 degrees (360º). Attached Figure Description

[0023] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. The drawings show:

[0024] Figure 1 The wiring terminals are shown in the side view.

[0025] Figure 2 The top view shows the data according to... Figure 1 The wiring terminals,

[0026] Figure 3 The side sectional view shows the... Figure 1 The wiring terminals,

[0027] Figure 4 Another embodiment of the terminal block is shown in the side view.

[0028] Figure 5 The side sectional view shows the... Figure 4 The wiring terminals,

[0029] Figure 6 Two busbars are shown in the side sectional view. Detailed Implementation

[0030] Figures 1 to 3 A terminal block 1 with an insulating housing 2 is shown, in which a clip-on connector is provided. Figure 3 In Figure 2 The cross-sectional plane AA marked in the middle shows terminal 1.

[0031] The clip-on connector has a first cutting blade 31 and a second cutting blade 41 disposed opposite to the first cutting blade 31. The first cutting blade 31 and the second cutting blade 41 each have a V-shaped cutting edge. A receiving area for accommodating the cable 9 is formed between the first cutting blade 31 and the second cutting blade 41, or between the V-shaped cutting edges of the first and second cutting blades. The clip-on connector is used to clamp the cable 9, which has an insulating sheath 90 and electrical conductors 91, such as metal wire or stranded wire, disposed within the insulating sheath 90, without stripping the insulation. Here, the cable 9 can be introduced into the clip-on connector or into the insulating material housing 2 in the conductor introduction direction L. The insulating material housing 2 may, for example, have a conductor introduction opening 20 through which the cable 9 can be introduced.

[0032] The first cutting blade 31 is fixedly positioned such that it is at least substantially immobile relative to the insulating material housing 2. The first cutting blade 31 may be part of a busbar 3 of a clip-on connector. The busbar 3 may have a body 30 in which a through opening 32 is formed. The first cutting blade 31 may be integrally formed with the body 30 and its V-shaped cutting edge may be positioned, for example, inside the through opening 32.

[0033] The second cutting blade 41 can be connected to or integrally formed with the clamping element 4. For example, the clamping element 4 can have a clamping body 40, which is similar to the main body 30 of the busbar 3, configured as an elongated, flat body and, for example, slidably supported on the main body 30. The clamping element 4 can have a support section 42 connected to the clamping body 40. The clamping element 4 is preloaded against the clamping spring 7 via the support section 42. According to the accompanying drawings, the clamping spring 7, which can be configured as a helical pressure spring, is supported at its other end against the wall 21 of the insulating material housing 2. By means of the clamping spring 7, the clamping element 4, together with the second cutting blade 41, is supported in the direction of action of the first cutting blade 31 under a certain spring preload.

[0034] For better support, a helical pressure spring can be guided within the metal frame, even in other sizes. A second cutting blade 41 can, for example, be positioned at the end of the clamping body 40 opposite to the support section 42.

[0035] Instead of the pressure spring shown, which is supported at the wall 21 of the insulating material housing 2, the clip-on connector can also have a tension spring as the clamping spring 7, for example, such that the clamping element 4 and the busbar 3 are respectively connected to the ends of the tension spring at opposite ends. In this manner, a self-supporting clip-on connector can be provided, wherein the insulating material housing 2 is substantially not subjected to the force of the clamping spring 7.

[0036] Therefore, by clamping the spring 7, the second cutting blade 41 is subjected to a spring force toward the first cutting blade 31. The spring force causes the second cutting blade 41 to move toward the first cutting blade 31, thereby cutting the insulating sheath 90 at opposite sides by the first cutting blade 31 and the second cutting blade 41, and the internal electrical wires 91 are electrically contacted and clamped between the first cutting blade 31 and the second cutting blade 41 respectively.

[0037] according to Figure 4 and Figure 5 Another embodiment of the terminal block 1 is described, which is shown in slightly more detail regarding its structural features, particularly the insulating material housing 2. The remaining construction and operating principle of the terminal block 1 correspond to those previously described. Figures 1 to 3 The structure and working principle described are particularly evident in the busbar 3 and the clamping element 4, as well as the first cutting blade 31 and the opposite cutting blade 41.

[0038] Relative to according to Figures 1 to 3 The implementation methods described Figure 4 and Figure 5 Additionally, a manual operating element 6, which is part of the terminal block 1, is shown. The manual operating element 6 has a manually accessible operating section 60 outside the insulating housing 2, at which it can be manually operated. For example, the operating element 6 can be configured as a pivotable lever, or as a movable pressing element as shown. When the manual operating element 6 is operated at the operating section 60, i.e., when pressure is applied, the pressure is transmitted via the operating element 6 to the support section 42, thereby causing the support section 42, and thus the entire clamping element 4, to shift to the left into the open position, where the clamping spring 7 is compressed. Here, Figure 4 and Figure 5 The diagram shows the unoperated state of the control element 6, i.e., the clamped position where the electrical wire 91 is clamped at the cutting blades 31 and 41.

[0039] The first cutting blade 31 and the second cutting blade 41 can be designed differently in terms of the geometry of their blade cross-sections, such as... Figure 6As shown. In the embodiment shown on the left, the first cutting blade 31 may have blades that are symmetrically or asymmetrically inclined on both sides. In the embodiment shown on the right, the first cutting blade 31 may have blades that are inclined on only one side. The second cutting blade 41 may optionally be configured with blades that are inclined on both sides or on one side.

[0040] List of reference numerals

[0041] 1 terminal block

[0042] 2. Insulating material housing

[0043] 3 bus

[0044] 4 clamping elements

[0045] 6 control elements

[0046] 7 clamping springs

[0047] 9 cables

[0048] 20 wires introduced into the opening

[0049] 21. Wall of the insulating material casing

[0050] 30 main bodies

[0051] 31 First Cutting Blade

[0052] 32 through openings

[0053] 40 compression body

[0054] 41 Second Cutting Blade

[0055] 42 Support Section

[0056] 60 manual control section

[0057] 90 insulation sheath

[0058] 91 electrical conductor

[0059] L-direction of wire introduction

Claims

1. A clip-on connector for clamping cables without stripping insulation, wherein the clip-on connector has at least one first cutting blade (31) fixedly disposed in position, the first cutting blade being configured to cut open the insulation sheath of the cable and make electrical contact with at least one electrical conductor disposed inside the insulation sheath, characterized in that, The cut-and-clamp connector has at least one second cutter (41) configured to cut the insulating sheath of the cable and make electrical contact with the internal electrical wire, wherein the second cutter (41) is movably supported relative to the first cutter (31), and wherein the electrical wire can be clamped in a receiving area between the first cutter (31) and the second cutter (41).

2. The clamp-type connector according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cutting clamp connector has at least one clamping spring (7), through which at least the second cutting blade (41) is loaded with spring force toward the first cutting blade (31).

3. The clip-on connector according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The first cutting blade (31) has a V-shaped cutting edge pointing towards the receiving area, and / or the second cutting blade (41) has a V-shaped cutting edge pointing towards the receiving area.

4. The clip-on connector according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The second cutting blade (41) has a wider or narrower blade in the width direction (B) than the first cutting blade (31).

5. The clip-on connector according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The second cutting blade (41) is capable of relative movement with respect to the first cutting blade (31) in the linear direction of movement.

6. The clip-on connector according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The first cutting blade (31) is electrically connected to the second cutting blade (41).

7. The clip-on connector according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The clip-on connector has a busbar (3) for transmitting current from an electrical conductor clamped at the clip-on connector or for transmitting current to the clamped electrical conductor, wherein the first cutter (31) or the second cutter (41) is coupled to or integrally formed with the busbar (3).

8. The clamp-type connector according to claim 7, characterized in that, The busbar (3) has a pass-through opening (32) for passing through the electrical wire to be connected.

9. The clamp-type connector according to claim 8, characterized in that, The first cutting blade (31) is located inside the through-hole (32).

10. The clip-on connector according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The clip-on connector has a retaining element configured to hold the second cutter (41) in an open position relative to the first cutter (31), in which the cable to be connected can be introduced into a receiving area between the first and second cutters (31, 41).

11. The clip-on connector according to claim 10, characterized in that, The clip-on connector has a release element that, by manipulating the release element, can deflect the retaining element such that the second cutter (41) held at the retaining element is released from the retaining element.

12. The clamp-type connector according to claim 11, characterized in that, When the wire to be clamped applies a manipulating force to the release section of the release element, the second cutting blade (41) held in the holding element in the open position can be released from the holding element.

13. A terminal block (1) having an insulating material housing (2) and at least one clip-on connector according to any one of the preceding claims, which is at least substantially disposed in the insulating material housing (2), wherein the insulating material housing (2) has at least one wire introduction opening (20) for introducing a cable in the wire introduction direction (L).

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